Norway: Same-Sex Marriage Permitted

[goddess40]

Early this morning I was flipping through the channels and saw something that once again made me embarrassed of our government. They were announcing that Norway had made gay marriage legal. That didn't surprise me but when they showed the world map showing where else it was legal the embarrassment was that South Africa has made it legal - we're behind South Africa in acknowledging the rights of our fellow countrymen/women - Truly sad.


http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/18/world/europe/18briefings-SAMESEXMARRI_BRF.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: June 18, 2008

Gay men and lesbians in Norway will be granted the same rights as heterosexuals to marry and to adopt children under a law approved by the upper house of Parliament. It replaces a 1993 law that gave gay men and lesbians the right to enter civil unions, but did not permit church weddings or adoption. The law also allows lesbians to have artificial insemination. Individual churches and clergy members may perform weddings for gay men and lesbians, but will not be legally obligated to do so.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4081999.stm
Although homosexuality remains a taboo subject in many African societies, South Africa is a liberal country in terms of gay rights.

The post-apartheid constitution includes a clause making discrimination based on sexual identity illegal. Homosexual couples are allowed to adopt.

In December 2005 South Africa's high court said it was unconstitutional to deny gay people the right to marry, and instructed parliament to amend marriage laws to include same-sex unions within a year.