Date:         Wed, 30 Mar 1994 21:27:07 EST
Reply-To: Bjorn.Skolander@nordiska.uu.se
Subject:      SWEDEN: Registered Partnership - Yes and No

Sweden will get a registered partnership probably later this year, in
spite of the government's refusal to propose such law. That is what the
Swedish newspapers said last week.

The standing committee on civil law legislation said on thursday yes to a
law giving gay men and lesbians the right to register their partnerships.
The committees decision is understood as an important step forward
towards a final positive decision in Parliament June 7.

At the same time the Swedish archbishop, Gunnar Weman, said no to the
proposed law. He introduced another proposal giving all common houshoulds,
including queers, a stronger legal protection. "Common housholds" could
be two aunts, a father and his child, two sisters, two friends...sharing
a houshold.

The archbishop's initiative is outrageous said EKHO, the Christian
queers. As a response to his views three gay and lesbian representatives
has left a committee of the Swedish Church discussing the Church's
attitudes towards gay and lesbian issues.