Norway approves same-sex marriage law

Published: June 12, 2008 at 1:14 PM
Order reprints
OSLO, Norway, June 12 (UPI) -- Norwegian lawmakers said that, despite opposition from conservative critics, they have approved a law allowing same-sex couples to marry.

The new law, which was approved by a two-thirds majority vote Wednesday, also makes the adoption process easier for same-sex couples and makes lesbian couples eligible for state-funded fertility drugs, Aftenposten reported.

"I am extremely pleased that we managed to get this last stage passed. Now we have to tackle the prejudice which still exists in society," Norwegian Finance Minister Kristin Halvorsen said.

Conservative opponents argue the law compromises the institution of marriage and could cause problems for children of same-sex couples.

Making fertility treatment available to lesbian couples is the most debated part of the legislation, the report said. Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Great Britain currently offer the treatment.


© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.



UPI NewsTrack TopNews (7 min)
Expensive F-22 having maintenance woes (9 min)
GM emerges from bankruptcy, sells assets (10 min)
Armenia, Azerbaijan urged to end dispute (20 min)
Cousin: Jacko viewing was open casket (28 min)
Economic Outlook: Huffing about homes (35 min)
Poll: Most want Sotomayor confirmed (40 min)
fark
British man faces prosecution for making up news headlines. Drew cancels London travel plans
Four-year-old girl hijacks forklift, drives into heating oil tank, causes spill. That's just the...
Mynd you, møsquitø bites Kan be pretty nasti
"Sometimes, you get what you expect. Generally, you meet better people at church than you do at...
They should have known that you can't just walk down the streets of Manhattan dressed as Superman...
The coolest origami city you will see until the artist burns it down. Wait, what?