Sweden took a
step toward allowing same-sex marriage Wednesday when a
government-appointed committee in Stockholm proposed
expanding the rights of same-sex couples. Sweden has
recognized civil unions between gay couples since 1994
but does not permit same-sex marriages.
If the new law is
passed, couples who have entered such unions would
automatically be considered legally married, said Hans
Regner, who led the committee that presented the
proposal. "Two men or two women should be able to wed
and in the future be called spouses," Regner said.
"All the rules for heterosexual spouses will be applied also
to homosexual couples."
Same-sex marriage
is legal in five other countries: Canada, Belgium, the
Netherlands, Spain, and South Africa. In the United States,
only the state of Massachusetts allows same-sex
marriage.
The Swedish
proposal needs parliamentary approval but is expected to
pass because same-sex marriage has widespread support
in the Scandinavian country, Regner said.
However, the
clergy has been divided on the issue, and the government
proposal would allow individual churches to refuse same-sex
weddings. Sweden's predominant Lutheran Church said
last week it would be willing to marry gay couples in
church if the law is changed but that the ceremony
would be given a different name than wedding.
Gays in civil
partnerships already enjoy similar rights as married
couples. One difference is that the age limit of 18 years
for civil unions is absolute, while married couples
can request an exemption. (Mattias Karen, AP)