Date: Sat, 21 Jan 1995 14:43:38 +0100 (NFT) From: Bj|rn Skolander Svenska Dagbladet January 20, 1995 Every fourth civil marriage officiator will not register same-sex partnerships. That is the conclusion made by RFSL (The Swedish Federation for Gay and Lesbian Rights), after having gathered information about the registering of partnerships from all parts of Sweden. - I was convinced that a number of officiators would refuse to register partnerships. But I had never imagined, that so many would do so, says Eva Ahlberg, secretary at RFSL in Stockholm. The new partnership law which came into force January 1, 1995, makes it possible for same-sex couples to "marry", but it does not imply that civil marriage officiators are forced to register partnerships. Judges at district courts are, however, duty bound to act as officiators during office hours. According to the RFSL survey there are several districts, which have not yet one single partnership officiator. This tendency is most evident in the province of Smaaland, the bible belt area in southern Sweden. - I am not surprised that marriage officiators belonging to right-wing parties are hesitant, as they were against the new law, says Eva Ahlberg. - But i am upset, that liberals and left-wingers do not accept to offiate at registered partship ceremonies. Their parties have worked politically to make this law possible. Then they should also take part now when it has been realized. - The law is ok for those who need to make use of it, and I accept that some people are created that way, says Gerd Larson, a social democrat from Jokkmokk (Northern Sweden), one of the districts where it still is impossible to have partnerships registered by a civil marriage officiant. - But when I was appointed a civil marrige officiant it was to marry heterosexuals. I am 60 years of age and maybe too conservative to start registering same-sex partnerships, Gerd Larrson says. - We have heard a number of different motivations for not wanting to officiate, says Eva Ahlberg. Everything from the officiators being too old, to tasteless statements, that it is sick as well as unnatural that homosexuals want to register their partnerships. She does, however, not critizise individual officiators. According to RFSL, local governments should take their responsibility. They should not be satisfied with the fact that officiators say no, but have to go further and find others who are willing to register partnerships. According to RFSL statistics 20-30 couples have now reistered their partnerships since January 1. - I am sure that more will do so during this summer. Whitsun and Midsummer will probably beat the record even among us. We are just as bound by traditions as the heterosexuals are, says Eva Ahlberg. Translated by Bjorn Skolander bjorn.skolander@nordiska.uu.se