Recognition of gay unions in Norway
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Civil Unions

Norway has allowed same-sex civil unions since the April 30, 1993 act, which came into force on August 1, 1993.

The Registered Partnership Act grants the virtually all the protections, responsibilities and benefits as 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 their relationships was former Finance Minister Per-Kristian Foss.^[1]

Couple who have registered their relationships may retain their status as registered partners or "upgrade" to a marriage after the new law takes effect. However, no new registered partnerships may be created after gender neutral marriage is available.

Same sex marriage

Beginning in 2009, same-sex marriage will be available in Norway.

The first parliamentary hearing, including the vote, was held on June 11, 2008 approving by 84 votes to 41 a bill that will allow same-sex couples to marry.^[2] This came after the Norwegian government proposed a marriage law in March 14, 2008, that would give lesbian and gay couples the same rights as heterosexuals, including church weddings, adoption and assisted pregnancies. The new legislation amends the definition of civil marriage to make it gender neutral.^[3] Norway's upper house passed a new equality law with 23-17 vote in favor of the gender neutral marriage. It takes effect Jan. 1.^[4]

On May 29, 2008, the Associated Press reported that two Norwegian opposition parties came out in favour of the new bill, assuring its passage when at the June 11 vote. Prior to this, there were some disagreements with members of the current three-party governing coalition on whether the bill had enough votes to pass. With this, it became almost certain that the bill would pass.^[5]

In addition to providing a gender-neutral definition of marriage, the bill states that when a lesbian who is married to another woman becomes pregnant through in vitro fertilization, the other partner will have all the rights of parenthood "from the moment of conception".

A previous bill was proposed on November 18, 2004 by two MPs from the Socialist Left Party to abolish the existing civil union 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 second cabinet Stoltenberg announced a common, unified marriage act as part of its foundation document, the Soria Moria statement. A public hearing was opened on May 16, 2007.^[6]

Three different polls conducted by EOS Gallup Europe, Sentio and Synovate MMI in 2003, 2005 and 2007, concluded that 61%, 63% and 66%, respectively, of the Norwegian population support gender-neutral marriage laws.

References

External link

• link Partnerskapsloven Full text of the partnership act in Norwegian

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