> From: rwockner@netcom.com (Rex Wockner)
> Date: Tue, 7 Jun 1994 00:44:19 -0700 (PDT)


                     SWEDEN EXPECTED TO LEGALIZE GAY MARRIAGE
 
                               by Rex Wockner
                         Internet: rwockner@netcom.com
 
         Sweden's parliament will vote June 7 on legislation
legalizing gay and lesbian marriage.
 
        If the measure passes, Sweden will be the third country to
let gays tie the knot. Denmark was first, in 1989, and Norway
followed in 1993.
 
        As in Denmark and Norway, the Swedish plan grants
gay/lesbian spouses all the rights of marriage except access to
adoption, artificial insemination, in-vitro fertilization, and
church weddings.
 
        And, as in the other two countries, one of the partners must
be a citizen and must be residing in his/her native land.
 
        The vote in parliament will be close, says Tobias Wikstrom
of RFSL, Sweden's national gay group.
 
        "The majority is very weak," Wikstrom said. "The Leftist
Party--14 votes, the Social Democratic Party--138 votes, the
Liberal Party--33 votes, and two independent MPs are in favor.
The Parliament consists of 349 members. Therefore, these 187
votes in favor should be enough. However, a number of Liberal MPs
have declared they will vote against the Partnership Act.
Therefore we have to get as many votes as possible from the
negative parties--the Conservative Party, the Center Party and
the New Democracy Party.
 
        "You cannot really say the partnership reform is in danger,"
Wikstrom said. "But the reform will not be carried out without a
lot of grass-roots pressure. ... Lobbying should be directed at
the negative parties."
 
        RFSL invites international lobbying. Fax numbers are at the
end of this report.
 
        Wikstrom noted that some MPs have put forth a compromise
plan called Hushallsgemenskap (Household Community) "aimed at
destroying the majority in favor of the Partnership Act." He
called this proposal "unworthy" and urged lobbyists to discourage
any politician who favors it.
 
        RFSL seeks lobbying of these politicians: Lars Tobisson,
Conservative Party Parliamentary leader, fax 011-46-8-786-4754.
Gunnar Hoekmark, Conservative Party Press Secretary, 011-
46-8-216-123. Per-Ola Eriksson, Center Party Parliamentary
leader, 011-46-8-108-469. Ake Pettersson, Center Party Press
Secretary, 011-46-8-652-6440. And Harriet Colliander, New
Democracy Party Parliamentary leader, 011-46-8-786-5700. Wikstrom
may be phoned at 011-46-8-736-0213, faxed at 011-46-8-304-730, or
e-mailed on the Internet at tobias@rfsl.se.
 
 
                               -- END --
 
EDITORS: I TOOK PHOTOS IN COPENHAGEN THE DAY DENMARK'S LAW TOOK
EFFECT, IF YOU'RE INTERESTED.