DMB
27 Feb 2009, 03:25 PM
This is a press release from the Norwegian Humanists:
21. February 2009 the Norwegian Humanist Association organized its first legal same-sex marriage ceremony. Cecilia and Janne, two women got married in a community centre in Oslo, Cecilia dancing down the aisle in her blue dress and with a white orchid in her hair.
Our authorized celebrants have conducted partnerships/civil unions since 2007. However, as from 2009, Norway introduced a gender neutral marriage law. This implies the right for gays and lesbians to use the term marriage and spouse. The humanist act of marriage is identical for every couple irrespective of sexual orientation. There will now be full parity between straight and gay/lesbian couples, including the right to have insemination at state hospitals for lesbian married couples (although the boys will not be donated eggs to hatch).
A few states in the world have introduced similar legislation and probably individual humanist celebrants take marriage ceremonies there. For the moment we believe, however, that internationally, this is the first time a ceremony of this kind is organized by a humanist organization.
The Norwegian churches are also allowed to do same-sex marriage ceremonies, but have so far refused.
See the Norwegian newpaper Aftenpostens coverage of the marriage:
http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article2940577.ece
As usual, the Scandinavians are miles ahead of much of the rest of the world. It's good that Humanists are able to conduct legal marriage ceremonies. And it's good that gays now get full parity with straights.
21. February 2009 the Norwegian Humanist Association organized its first legal same-sex marriage ceremony. Cecilia and Janne, two women got married in a community centre in Oslo, Cecilia dancing down the aisle in her blue dress and with a white orchid in her hair.
Our authorized celebrants have conducted partnerships/civil unions since 2007. However, as from 2009, Norway introduced a gender neutral marriage law. This implies the right for gays and lesbians to use the term marriage and spouse. The humanist act of marriage is identical for every couple irrespective of sexual orientation. There will now be full parity between straight and gay/lesbian couples, including the right to have insemination at state hospitals for lesbian married couples (although the boys will not be donated eggs to hatch).
A few states in the world have introduced similar legislation and probably individual humanist celebrants take marriage ceremonies there. For the moment we believe, however, that internationally, this is the first time a ceremony of this kind is organized by a humanist organization.
The Norwegian churches are also allowed to do same-sex marriage ceremonies, but have so far refused.
See the Norwegian newpaper Aftenpostens coverage of the marriage:
http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article2940577.ece
As usual, the Scandinavians are miles ahead of much of the rest of the world. It's good that Humanists are able to conduct legal marriage ceremonies. And it's good that gays now get full parity with straights.