During 1993, the government of Norway passed legislation that created a
system of civil unions for same-sex couples. It gave such couples many of the
rights routinely assigned to opposite-sex married couples. However, church
ceremonies and the adoption of children were not allowed.
On 2008-JUN-17, the country's upper house of parliament voted 23 to 17 to
pass a gender-neutral marriage law that will allow same-sex couples to marry as
of 2009-JAN-01. The lower house had already voted 84 to 41 in favor of the law
during the previous week. The legislation will allow same-sex couples to marry,
and receive all of the rights and obligations of marriage, including the
adoption of children, and access to artificial insemination procedures.
Also under the law, clergy will be allowed to perform same-sex marriages in
churches. However they can opt out if the wish.
We will add material to this essay as it becomes
available.
