Same-sex marriage in Norway
Encyclopedia
Same-sex marriage
became legal in Norway
on January 1, 2009 when a gender neutral marriage bill was enacted after being passed by the Norwegian legislature in June 2008. Norway became the first Scandinavia
n country and the sixth country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage.
s since the April 30, 1993 act, which came into force on August 1, 1993. Norway became the second country to do so, after Denmark, which implemented a registered partnership law in 1989.
Registered partnerships
granted virtually all the protections, responsibilities and benefits of marriage
, including arrangements for the breakdown
of the relationship.
The act states that the articles in the Adoption Act relating to married couples shall not apply for registered partners. It also follows from the Act on Biotechnology that artificial insemination
can only be given to a married couple or cohabitants of opposite sexes. In 2002, however, registered partners were allowed to adopt their partner's children.
In 2002, Reuters
reported that around 150 couples registered their partnerships each year. One of the more notable people to register a relationships was former Finance Minister
Per-Kristian Foss
.
Couples who have registered their relationships may retain their status as registered partners or "upgrade" to a marriage since the new law has taken effect. However, no new registered partnerships may be created.
to abolish the existing registered partnership laws, and make marriage laws gender neutral. The move was withdrawn and replaced by a request that the cabinet further investigate the issue. The Conservative cabinet
of that time did not look into the issue. However, the Stoltenberg's Second Cabinet announced a common, unified marriage act as part of its foundation document, the First Declaration of Soria Moria
. A public hearing was opened on May 16, 2007.
On May 29, 2008, the Associated Press
reported that two Norwegian opposition parties came out in favour of the new bill, assuring its passage at the vote on June 11, 2008. Prior to this, there were some disagreements with members of the three-party governing coalition
on whether the bill had enough votes to pass.
The first parliamentary hearing, including the vote, was held on June 11, 2008, with the lower house approving by 84 votes to 41 a bill that allowed same-sex couples to marry. This came after the Norwegian government proposed a marriage law on March 14, 2008, that would give lesbian and gay couples the same rights as heterosexuals, including church weddings, full joint adoption and assisted pregnancies. The new legislation amended the definition of civil marriage to make it gender neutral. Norway's upper house passed the bill with a 23–17 vote on June 17. The King of Norway, Harald V
, granted royal assent
thereafter. The law took effect on January 1, 2009.
In addition to providing a gender-neutral definition of marriage, the bill states that when a woman who is married to another woman becomes pregnant through artificial insemination
, the other partner will have all the rights of parenthood "from the moment of conception".
Four different polls conducted by Gallup Europe
, Sentio, Synovate MMI
and Norstat in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2008, concluded that 61%, 63%, 66% and 58%, respectively, of the Norwegian population support gender-neutral marriage laws.
Same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage is marriage between two persons of the same biological sex or social gender. Supporters of legal recognition for same-sex marriage typically refer to such recognition as marriage equality....
became legal in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
on January 1, 2009 when a gender neutral marriage bill was enacted after being passed by the Norwegian legislature in June 2008. Norway became the first Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
n country and the sixth country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage.
Registered partnership
Norway has allowed same-sex registered partnershipCivil union
A civil union, also referred to as a civil partnership, is a legally recognized form of partnership similar to marriage. Beginning with Denmark in 1989, civil unions under one name or another have been established by law in many developed countries in order to provide same-sex couples rights,...
s since the April 30, 1993 act, which came into force on August 1, 1993. Norway became the second country to do so, after Denmark, which implemented a registered partnership law in 1989.
Registered partnerships
Civil union
A civil union, also referred to as a civil partnership, is a legally recognized form of partnership similar to marriage. Beginning with Denmark in 1989, civil unions under one name or another have been established by law in many developed countries in order to provide same-sex couples rights,...
granted virtually all the protections, responsibilities and benefits of marriage
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
, including arrangements for the breakdown
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
of the relationship.
The act states that the articles in the Adoption Act relating to married couples shall not apply for registered partners. It also follows from the Act on Biotechnology that artificial insemination
Artificial insemination
Artificial insemination, or AI, is the process by which sperm is placed into the reproductive tract of a female for the purpose of impregnating the female by using means other than sexual intercourse or natural insemination...
can only be given to a married couple or cohabitants of opposite sexes. In 2002, however, registered partners were allowed to adopt their partner's children.
In 2002, Reuters
Reuters
Reuters is a news agency headquartered in New York City. Until 2008 the Reuters news agency formed part of a British independent company, Reuters Group plc, which was also a provider of financial market data...
reported that around 150 couples registered their partnerships each year. One of the more notable people to register a relationships was former Finance Minister
Finance minister
The finance minister is a cabinet position in a government.A minister of finance has many different jobs in a government. He or she helps form the government budget, stimulate the economy, and control finances...
Per-Kristian Foss
Per-Kristian Foss
Per-Kristian Foss is a Norwegian politician for the Conservative Party and 2nd Vice President of the Storting.He was elected to the Norwegian Parliament from Oslo in 1981, and was re-elected on six occasions...
.
Couples who have registered their relationships may retain their status as registered partners or "upgrade" to a marriage since the new law has taken effect. However, no new registered partnerships may be created.
Same-sex marriage
A bill was proposed on November 18, 2004 by two MPs from the Socialist Left PartySocialist Left Party (Norway)
The Socialist Left Party or SV, is a Norwegian left-wing political party. At one point one of the smallest parties in Parliament, it became the fourth-largest political party in Norway for the first time in the 2001 parliamentary election, and has been so ever since...
to abolish the existing registered partnership laws, and make marriage laws gender neutral. The move was withdrawn and replaced by a request that the cabinet further investigate the issue. The Conservative cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
of that time did not look into the issue. However, the Stoltenberg's Second Cabinet announced a common, unified marriage act as part of its foundation document, the First Declaration of Soria Moria
First Declaration of Soria Moria
The Soria Moria declaration is a Norwegian political statement forming the basis of Jens Stoltenberg's second and first government.The statement outlines the focus and priority of the so-called Red-Green Coalition government of Labour, the Centre Party and Socialist Left Party.After the election...
. A public hearing was opened on May 16, 2007.
On May 29, 2008, the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
reported that two Norwegian opposition parties came out in favour of the new bill, assuring its passage at the vote on June 11, 2008. Prior to this, there were some disagreements with members of the three-party governing coalition
Coalition government
A coalition government is a cabinet of a parliamentary government in which several political parties cooperate. The usual reason given for this arrangement is that no party on its own can achieve a majority in the parliament...
on whether the bill had enough votes to pass.
The first parliamentary hearing, including the vote, was held on June 11, 2008, with the lower house approving by 84 votes to 41 a bill that allowed same-sex couples to marry. This came after the Norwegian government proposed a marriage law on March 14, 2008, that would give lesbian and gay couples the same rights as heterosexuals, including church weddings, full joint adoption and assisted pregnancies. The new legislation amended the definition of civil marriage to make it gender neutral. Norway's upper house passed the bill with a 23–17 vote on June 17. The King of Norway, Harald V
Harald V of Norway
Harald V is the king of Norway. He succeeded to the throne of Norway upon the death of his father Olav V on 17 January 1991...
, granted royal assent
Royal Assent
The granting of royal assent refers to the method by which any constitutional monarch formally approves and promulgates an act of his or her nation's parliament, thus making it a law...
thereafter. The law took effect on January 1, 2009.
In addition to providing a gender-neutral definition of marriage, the bill states that when a woman who is married to another woman becomes pregnant through artificial insemination
Artificial insemination
Artificial insemination, or AI, is the process by which sperm is placed into the reproductive tract of a female for the purpose of impregnating the female by using means other than sexual intercourse or natural insemination...
, the other partner will have all the rights of parenthood "from the moment of conception".
Four different polls conducted by Gallup Europe
The Gallup Organization
The Gallup Organization, is primarily a research-based performance-management consulting company. Some of Gallup's key practice areas are - Employee Engagement, Customer Engagement and Well-Being. Gallup has over 40 offices in 27 countries. World headquarters are in Washington, D.C. Operational...
, Sentio, Synovate MMI
Synovate
Synovate was a market research firm owned by the Aegis Group. It was formed from the acquisition of a number of smaller market research firms. It has a number of different divisions, such as Synovate Healthcare, Synovate Customer Experience, Synovate Censydiam and Motoresearch. They claimed...
and Norstat in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2008, concluded that 61%, 63%, 66% and 58%, respectively, of the Norwegian population support gender-neutral marriage laws.