Registered partnership in Finland
Registered partnerships in Finland (Finnish: rekisteröity parisuhde; Swedish: registrerat partnerskap) were created for same-sex couples in 2002. The legislation granting similar rights and responsibilities to same-sex couples as to married opposite-sex couples was passed by the parliament in September 2001 with votes 99–84.[1] In May 2009, the Parliament revised the law allowing couples to adopt the biological children of their partner.[2] Registered partnerships, which are available only to same-sex couples, are registered and dissolved using a procedure similar to that for civil marriage. The legislation also permits joint custody of children and grants immigration rights to a foreign partner.
[edit] Same-sex marriage
A December 2006 EU poll put Finnish support for same-sex marriage at 45%.[3] Currently, an August 2010 survey conducted by Finnish Broadcasting Company YLE, puts the Finnish support for gay marriage at 54%, with 35% of Finns opposing it.[4]
A poll conducted by Christian newspaper Kotimaa reported in March 2010 that a narrow majority of Finnish MPs opposed same-sex marriage. Of the 126 MPs who responded asked if they would support a gender-neutral marriage law 46% were in favour and 54% were opposed. 63% of Social Democratic representatives supported gay marriage as well all MPs from the Greens and Left Alliance. Majorities of the Centre Party and National Coalition Party opposed gender-neutral marriage law.[5][6]
However, a later survey in April 2010 by Helsingin Sanomat reported that there was cross-party support for gender-neutral marriage law and joint adoption rights. The National Coalition Party's secretary Taru Tujunen stated that an initiative would be put forward at the next party congress on gender-neutral marriage.[7][8] In the June 2010 party congress, the NCP delegates voted in favor of a gender-neutral marriage law, though the vice-chairman of NCP parliament group Ben Zyskowicz does not believe a same-sex marriage bill will be approved by the NCP during the upcoming four years, basing his view on the fact that majority of the current NCP MPs are against it.[9] Two weeks earlier the Social Democrats passed a measure in favor of same-sex marriage on their party congress.[10] Left Alliance and Green League also support it.[11][12] Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb, who held a speech at the opening ceremony of Helsinki Pride week on 28 June 2010, said he demands a gender-neutral marriage law with full adoption rights for gay couples.[13]
On 2 July 2010, Minister of Justice Tuija Brax announced that the Ministry of Justice is preparing a reform of the Marriage Act in the autumn of 2011.[14] It was considered possible that same-sex marriage would be legalized after the 2011 parliamentary elections, where it was speculated to turn into one major theme,[15] though in the August 2010 survey, only 20 % of the respondents said the issue should be a major theme.[16] According to the voting advice application of Helsingin Sanomat, 90 MPs of the current 200-seat Parliament elected in April 2011 supported the inclusion of external adoption in same-sex couples' rights, while 93 MPs opposed it.[17] As a result of the Christian Democratic participation in the new government—the Christian Democrats' chairperson Päivi Räsänen became the Minister of the Interior,[18]—a bill legalizing same-sex marriage was not included in the government platform.[19] However, according to the Left Alliance, it was agreed upon during the talks on government formation that, if proposed by an individual MP, such bill would be endorsed by all the six parties except for the Christian Democrats (the National Coalition, Social Democrats, Left Alliance, Green League and Swedish People's Party).[20]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Parliament narrowly passes law allowing same-sex registration
- ^ "Finland allows gay couples to adopt partner's children". Pink News. 2009-05-15. http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-12468.html. Retrieved 2009-05-17.
- ^ "Eight EU Countries Back Same-Sex Marriage". Angus Reid Global Monitor. 24 December 2006. http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/eight_eu_countries_back_same_sex_marriage/. Retrieved 21 July 2010.
- ^ "Survey: Majority Favour Gender Neutral Marriage Law". YLE. http://www.yle.fi/uutiset/news/2010/08/survey_majority_favour_gender_neutral_marriage_law_1921086.html. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
- ^ "Slim majority of Finnish MPs against same-sex marriage -Poll". Helsinki Times. 11 March 2010. http://www.helsinkitimes.fi/htimes/domestic-news/politics/10199-slim-majority-of-finnish-mps-against-same-sex-marriage-poll-.html. Retrieved 11 March 2010.
- ^ (Finnish) "Homoliitot jakavat eduskunnan". MTV3. 11 March 2010. http://www.mtv3.fi/uutiset/kotimaa.shtml/arkistot/kotimaa/2010/03/1075901. Retrieved 11 March 2010.
- ^ "Widespread support within Parliamentary parties for gender-neutral marriage". Helsingin Sanomat. http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Widespread+support+within+Parliamentary+parties+for+gender-neutral+marriage+/1135256061257. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
- ^ "Finnish parliamentary support for gay marriage and adoption rights". IceNews. 23 April 2010. http://www.icenews.is/index.php/2010/04/23/finnish-parliamentary-support-for-gay-marriage-and-adoption-rights/. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
- ^ (Finnish) Helsingin Sanomat. "Lehdet: Zyskowicz toppuuttelee sukupuolineutraalia avioliittolakia". http://www.hs.fi/politiikka/artikkeli/Lehdet+Zyskowicz+toppuuttelee+sukupuolineutraalia+avioliittolakia/1135258934377. Retrieved 30 July 2010.
- ^ NCP delegates endorse abolition of mandatory Swedish, gender-neutral marriage
- ^ (Finnish) Rikkaus lisääntyy jakamalla
- ^ (Finnish) Vihreä tehtävä 2010–2014 – poliittinen ohjelma
- ^ (Finnish) "Stubb vaati homopareille täyttä adoptio-oikeutta Helsinki Priden avajaisissa". Helsingin Sanomat. 28 June 2010. http://www.hs.fi/kaupunki/artikkeli/Stubb+vaati+homopareille+t%C3%A4ytt%C3%A4+adoptio-oikeutta+Helsinki+Priden+avajaisissa/1135258198237. Retrieved 20 July 2010.
- ^ "Gender-Neutral Marriage Law Possible by 2012". YLE. http://www.yle.fi/uutiset/news/2010/07/gender-neutral_marriage_law_possible_by_2012_1804013.html. Retrieved 2 July 2010.
- ^ "Marriage Act and Religion Heat up Rising Election Debate" (in Finnish). Helsingin Sanomat. Helsingin Sanomat. July 17, 2010. http://www.hs.fi/politiikka/artikkeli/Avioliittolaki+ja+uskonto+kuumentavat+alkavaa+vaalitaistoa+/1135258640022/?cmp=tm_etu_luetuimmat_uutiset. Retrieved July 20, 2010.
- ^ "Survey: Majority Favour Gender Neutral Marriage Law". Finnish Broadcasting Company. August 21, 2010. http://www.yle.fi/uutiset/news/2010/08/survey_majority_favour_gender_neutral_marriage_law_1921086.html. Retrieved July 7, 2011.
- ^ Hämäläinen, Marko; Rokka, Jussi (April 25, 2011). "Homoparien ulkopuolinen adoptio jakaa uuden eduskunnan" (in Finnish). Helsingin Sanomat. Sanoma News. http://www.hs.fi/politiikka/artikkeli/Homoparien+ulkopuolinen+adoptio+jakaa+uuden+eduskunnan/1135265642416. Retrieved July 7, 2011.
- ^ "Ms Päivi Räsänen is the New Minister of the Interior". Ministry of the Interior. June 22, 2011. http://www.intermin.fi/intermin/home.nsf/pages/C135691B2BE5D763C22578B700494D5A?OpenDocument. Retrieved July 7, 2011.
- ^ "Neuvottelutulos hallitusohjelmasta" (in Finnish) (pdf). Cabinet of Finland. June 17, 2011. http://www.valtioneuvosto.fi/tiedostot/julkinen/hallitusneuvottelut-2011/neuvottelutulos/fi.pdf. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
- ^ "Sukupuolineutraalia avioliittolakia ei hallitusohjelmaan" (in Finnish). Finnish Broadcasting Company. June 17, 2011. http://www.yle.fi/uutiset/teemat/vaalit_2011/2011/06/sukupuolineutraalia_avioliittolakia_ei_hallitusohjelmaan_2671537.html. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
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