The first nation to offer domestic partnership recognition (in 1989) appears to be on the cusp of legalizing full marriage equality. Under a bill that is currently undergoing finishing touches by the Danish government, gay and lesbian couples will be able to marry starting in June of this year, but it will be up to individual priests whether or not to perform the ceremony. From Berlingske:
At her weekly press conference, Tuesday, Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt said the government is putting the finishing touches to a bill that will come into force on June 15th, allowing homosexuals and lesbians to walk down the aisle in the church of their choice – if they can find a priest who’s willing to conduct the ceremony.
“It will always be up to the individual priest as to whether he or she is prepared to bless gay couples but this legislation provides homosexuals with the same rights as heterosexuals,” said the PM.
Some priests have responded negatively to the idea of same-sex weddings taking place in the Church, but Prime Minister Thorning-Schmidt maintains that
the government’s managed to come up with a solution that respects both points of view.
If this bill is passed as anticipated, Denmark will become the eleventh country in the world to recognize full marriage equality for gays and lesbians, joining the ranks of Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, and Sweden.
Great news for Denmark!