Civil unions in Denmark
Encyclopedia
Registered partnership
s (Danish: registreret partnerskab) in Denmark
were created by a law enacted on June 7, 1989, the world's first such law, and came into force on October 1, 1989. It was extended to Greenland
in 1996 and later amended in 1999. Registered partnerships have almost all the same qualities as marriage
. All legal and fiscal rights and obligations are like those of opposite-sex marriage, with the following two exceptions:
Divorce
for registered partners follow the same rules as opposite-sex divorces. Registered partners must meet one of the following residency requirements to form a union: (1) one partner must be a Danish citizen and be resident in Denmark, or (2) both parties must have been resident in Denmark for two years. Citizens of Finland, Iceland, and Norway are treated as Danish citizens for purposes of the residency requirements. Additionally, the Justice Minister
may order citizenship in any other country with a law similar to Denmark's be treated as a citizen of Denmark.
On March 17, 2009, the Folketing
introduced a bill that gives same-sex couples in registered partnerships the right to adopt jointly. This bill was approved on 4 May 2010 and took effect on 1 July 2010.
, the Socialist People's Party
and the Social Democrats
.
In January 2008, the Social Liberal Party's Equality Rapporteur, Lone Dybkjær, once again called for gender-neutral marriage (kønsneutrale ægteskab).
The Copenhagen Mayor for Culture and Recreation, Pia Allerslev, from the conservative governing Venstre
party, has also publicly supported same-sex marriage, as has the Lord Mayor of Copenhagen, Ritt Bjerregaard.
The Prime Minister of Denmark between November 2001 and April 2009, Anders Fogh Rasmussen
, was personally in favour of gender-neutral marriage, as well as religious marriages for same-sex couples in the Church of Denmark
, but insisted that he was speaking in his personal capacity as a church member, and not as Prime Minister. The opposition Social Democrats criticised him for a lack of action on same-sex marriage, arguing that Denmark was falling behind its Scandinavian neighbours.
In July 2009, at a human rights conference organised as part of the World Outgames
held in Copenhagen, Kamal Qureshi
of the Socialist People's Party
expressed his strong support for same-sex marriage. He stated that, by not legalising same-sex marriage, including church marriages, "Denmark has laws forbidding human rights".
In June 2010, the Parliament once again debated a same-sex marriage bill proposed by the opposition parties. It was rejected by all parties of the governing coalition, as well as the Danish People's Party
, on a 51-57 vote.
In October 2011 Manu Sareen
, Minister for Equality and Church Affairs
in the new Danish government
, announced the government is seeking to legalize same-sex marriage by spring 2012. The bill for the new marriage law is to be introduced around the New Year.
Civil union
A civil union, also referred to as a civil partnership, is a legally recognized form of partnership similar to marriage. Beginning with Denmark in 1989, civil unions under one name or another have been established by law in many developed countries in order to provide same-sex couples rights,...
s (Danish: registreret partnerskab) in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
were created by a law enacted on June 7, 1989, the world's first such law, and came into force on October 1, 1989. It was extended to Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
in 1996 and later amended in 1999. Registered partnerships have almost all the same qualities as marriage
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
. All legal and fiscal rights and obligations are like those of opposite-sex marriage, with the following two exceptions:
- laws making explicit reference to the sexes of a married couple do not apply to registered partnerships
- regulations by international treaties do not apply unless all signatories agree.
Divorce
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
for registered partners follow the same rules as opposite-sex divorces. Registered partners must meet one of the following residency requirements to form a union: (1) one partner must be a Danish citizen and be resident in Denmark, or (2) both parties must have been resident in Denmark for two years. Citizens of Finland, Iceland, and Norway are treated as Danish citizens for purposes of the residency requirements. Additionally, the Justice Minister
Ministry of Justice of Denmark
Ministry of Justice of Denmark is the Danish government ministry responsible for the general judicial system, including the police and the prosecution service, the courts of law, and prisons and the probation service...
may order citizenship in any other country with a law similar to Denmark's be treated as a citizen of Denmark.
On March 17, 2009, the Folketing
Folketing
The Folketing , is the national parliament of Denmark. The name literally means "People's thing"—that is, the people's governing assembly. It is located in Christiansborg Palace, on the islet of Slotsholmen in central Copenhagen....
introduced a bill that gives same-sex couples in registered partnerships the right to adopt jointly. This bill was approved on 4 May 2010 and took effect on 1 July 2010.
Same-sex marriage
In 2006, five Social Liberal MPs introduced a resolution that asked the Government to draft a gender-neutral marriage law. The resolution was debated in Parliament and opposed by members of the conservative governing coalition. The Minister for the Family, Carina Christensen, argued that registered partners already had the same rights as married partners except the ability to marry in church, and thus that gender-neutral marriage was unnecessary. Aside from the Social Liberals, the resolution received support from left-wing parties such as the Red-Green AllianceRed-green alliance
In politics, a red-green alliance is an alliance of "red" social-democratic or democratic socialist parties with "green" environmentalist parties. The alliance is often based on common left political views, especially a shared distrust of corporate or capitalist institutions...
, the Socialist People's Party
Socialist People's Party (Denmark)
The Socialist People's Party is a green and socialist political party in Denmark.-1959–69:The SF was founded on 15 February 1959 by Aksel Larsen, a former leader of the Communist Party of Denmark and CIA agent. Larsen was removed from the ranks of the DKP for his criticism over the Soviet...
and the Social Democrats
Social Democrats (Denmark)
The Social Democrats , is a Danish political party committed to the political ideology of social democracy. It is the major coalition partner in Denmark's government since the 2011 parliamentary election, and party leader Helle Thorning-Schmidt is the current Prime Minister of Denmark...
.
In January 2008, the Social Liberal Party's Equality Rapporteur, Lone Dybkjær, once again called for gender-neutral marriage (kønsneutrale ægteskab).
The Copenhagen Mayor for Culture and Recreation, Pia Allerslev, from the conservative governing Venstre
Venstre (Denmark)
VenstreThe party name is officially not translated into any other language, but is in English often referred to as the Liberal Party. Similar rules apply for the name of the party's youth wing Venstres Ungdom. , full name Venstre, Danmarks Liberale Parti , is the largest political party in Denmark...
party, has also publicly supported same-sex marriage, as has the Lord Mayor of Copenhagen, Ritt Bjerregaard.
The Prime Minister of Denmark between November 2001 and April 2009, Anders Fogh Rasmussen
Anders Fogh Rasmussen
Anders Fogh Rasmussen is a Danish politician, and the 12th and current Secretary General of NATO. Rasmussen served as Prime Minister of Denmark from 27 November 2001 to 5 April 2009....
, was personally in favour of gender-neutral marriage, as well as religious marriages for same-sex couples in the Church of Denmark
Church of Denmark
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark, Church of Denmark or Danish National Church, is the state church and largest denomination in Denmark and Greenland...
, but insisted that he was speaking in his personal capacity as a church member, and not as Prime Minister. The opposition Social Democrats criticised him for a lack of action on same-sex marriage, arguing that Denmark was falling behind its Scandinavian neighbours.
In July 2009, at a human rights conference organised as part of the World Outgames
World Outgames
The World Outgames are a sporting and cultural event hosted by the gay community. With over 12,000 participants, the 1st World Outgames, held in 2006, was the largest international event to be held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada since the 1976 Summer Olympiad. These first Outgames were not as...
held in Copenhagen, Kamal Qureshi
Kamal Qureshi
Kamal Hameed Qureshi is a Pakistani politician current living in Denmark. Born in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, he moved with his parents to Copenhagen, Denmark at the age of four....
of the Socialist People's Party
Socialist People's Party (Denmark)
The Socialist People's Party is a green and socialist political party in Denmark.-1959–69:The SF was founded on 15 February 1959 by Aksel Larsen, a former leader of the Communist Party of Denmark and CIA agent. Larsen was removed from the ranks of the DKP for his criticism over the Soviet...
expressed his strong support for same-sex marriage. He stated that, by not legalising same-sex marriage, including church marriages, "Denmark has laws forbidding human rights".
In June 2010, the Parliament once again debated a same-sex marriage bill proposed by the opposition parties. It was rejected by all parties of the governing coalition, as well as the Danish People's Party
Danish People's Party
The Danish People's Party is a political party in Denmark which is frequently described as right-wing populist by political scientists and commentators. The party is led by Pia Kjærsgaard...
, on a 51-57 vote.
In October 2011 Manu Sareen
Manu Sareen
Manu Sareen is the Minister for Equality and Church and Nordic Cooperation, in the Cabinet of Helle Thorning-Schmidt and former statsrevisor and member of the Copenhagen City Council, elected for the Danish Social Liberal Party....
, Minister for Equality and Church Affairs
Minister for Ecclesiastical Affairs of Denmark
Minister for Ecclesiastical Affairs of Denmark is a Danish political minister office. The main responsibility of the minister is the Danish People's Church....
in the new Danish government
Cabinet of Helle Thorning-Schmidt
The cabinet of Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt is the current cabinet of Denmark. It is a coalition government between the Social Democrats, Social Liberal Party and Socialist People's Party...
, announced the government is seeking to legalize same-sex marriage by spring 2012. The bill for the new marriage law is to be introduced around the New Year.
See also
- Axel and Eigil AxgilAxel and Eigil AxgilAxel Axgil and Eigil Axgil were Danish gay activists and a longtime couple. They were the first gay couple to enter into a registered partnership anywhere in the world following Denmark's legalisation of same-sex partnership registration in 1989, a landmark legislation which they were...
- LGBT rights in Denmark
- LGBT rights in the Faroe IslandsLGBT rights in the Faroe IslandsLesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons in the Faroe Islands may face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents...
- LGBT rights in GreenlandLGBT rights in GreenlandLesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender rights in Greenland are very similar to those in Denmark, and are among the most liberal in the world, but do not allow full marriage. Same-sex sexual activity is legal, with an equal age of consent, and there are broad anti-discrimination laws...