Date: Wed, 13 Jul 1994 09:14:14 MET From: "Tobias Wikstr|m" News from Swedish gay/lesbian politics Published by the Swedish Federation for Gay and Lesbian Rights (RFSL) Nr 23/94 (6-12 juni 1994) 1 We got the partnership act! As the third country in the world, the Swedish Parliament on June 7th adopted the Registered Partnership Act! The six-hour debate has been referred in the press. Here are only mentioned the MP's who participated in the debate. These speakers promoted partnership: Georg Andersson (Social Democratic Party), Lotta Edholm (Liberal Party), Torgny Larsson (Social Dem), Christina Linderholm (Centre Party), Maj-Lis L””w (Social Dem), Ulrica Messing (Social Dem), Bertil M†brink (Leftist Party), Ingela M†rtensson (Lib), Martin Nilsson (Social Dem), Elisabeth Persson (Leftist), Karin Pils„ter (Lib), Fredrik Reinfeldt (Conservative), Barbro Westerholm (Lib), Margareta Winberg (Social Dem) and Eva Zetterberg (Leftist). These MP's expressed their opposition to the Registered Partnership Act: John Bouvin (New Democracy Party), Lennart Frid‚n (Cons), Holger Gustafsson (Christian Democratic Party), Elver Jonsson (Lib), G”te Jonsson (Cons), Roland L‚ben (Christian Dem), Lennart Rohdin (Lib), Stefan Kihlberg (New Dem), Bengt Kindbom (Centre), Bengt Harding Olson (Liberal, abstained from voting), Chatrine P†lsson (Christian Dem), Per Stenmarck (Cons) and Ingvar Svensson (Christian Dem). The Act was adopted with 171 votes in favour and 141 votes against. This is how the votes were cast, party-wise: Social Democrats: 128 ayes, 0 no, 10 absent Conservatives: 2 ayes, 72 noes, 1 abstention, 5 absent Liberals: 21 ayes, 8 noes, 2 abstentions, 2 absent Centre Party: 4 ayes, 20 noes, 2 abstentions, 5 absent Christian Democrats: 0 aye, 25 noes, 1 absent New Democracy: 3 ayes, 15 noes, 5 absent Leftists: 12 ayes, 0 no, 2 absent Independent: 1 aye, 1 no, 2 absent 2 Press commentaries "After a long debate, the Parliament yesterday adopted the proposal of the Standing Committee on Civil-Law Legislation about a Registered Partnership Act. It is a good decision that marks a step forward for tolerance, humanity and right to love. But the opposition to the law in the Conservatives, the Centre Party and the Christian Democratic Party also reveals remaining prejudice against gay men and lesbians, frigidity and downright evil." "In yesterday's debate, the opponents tried to hide their prejudice and heartlessness behind formal criticism of the law. Among other things they pointed to the unusual in the fact that the Standing Committee on Civil-Law Legislation had taken the initiative and drafted the law. What hypocracy! It is the opponents within the Conservatives, the Centre Party and the Christian Democrats who themselves have prevented the issue from being solved the normal way, i.e. by a bill from the Government." (Aftonbladet, Social Democratic, June 8th) "Before the Act was eventually adopted, the popularly elected in the christian country Sweden, during several hours of speechifying, had succeeded in revealing a considerable arsenal of unenlighted greed and lack of tolerance. Somebody spoke of a small but important contribution to love. As far as we are concerned the after-taste is more vapid and in line with Hjalmar S”derberg's disillusioned commitment to 'the lust of the flesh and the incurable loneliness of the souls'." (Lars ¸ke von Vult‚e in Kristianstads-Bladet, Liberal, June 8th) "Least of all it is the sake of the society to, by means of legislation, make it more difficult for some relationships than others to work. Behind the fear of the Registered Partnership Act one can trace a belief that it would inspire to more homosexual relationships or general promiscuity. As though promiscuity were connected to homosexuality. Just because we ourselves cannot consider living in such a relationship we should not deny others to do so. This shows how little many people know about the seriousness and the deep in the relationships between people of the same sex. A law as this one does not strike anybody but increases the security for those concerned. What reasons are there then to go against it?" (Lennart Hjelmstedt in Blekinge L„ns Tidning, Independent Liberal, June 9th) "The agitation and propaganda against gay men and lesbians do not come from any periphere madcaps, but from leading Christian Democratic politicians. The stupidity stinks. Christian ethics?" (Helle Klein in ™rebro- Kuriren, Social Democratic, June 8th) "Thanks God it turned out that the Swedish Parliament has enough humane and tolerant members to adopt the Registered Partnership Act. Unfortunately the majority was not impressive, 171 voted in favour and as many as 141 voted against." "The Christian Democrats continued their strange argument with Ingvar Svensson's promotion of islands in the society where people may live as they like. Can't he himself hear how out of tune it is? That is exactly what the new law aimes at giving them! It gives gay and lesbian couples the right, if they like, to publicly declare their ambition to live together and take responsibility for each other, the same right as heterosexuals already have. The arguments is not correct and furthermore it is not formalities and freedom of choice that is the basis for the noes. It is bible quotations. It would have been more honest and more respectable if they admitted that they have followed an authority they cannot question, than dressing this obedience in false rationality. One may hope that the law will have a liberating effect both for gay men and lesbians and everybody who 3 (6) is afraid of them. Perhaps one opponent or another can be persuaded to understand that it has to do with regard and respect for people, if the islands they would prefer to forget gets a bridge." (M A-n in Bohusl„ningen, Liberal, June 8th) "Most christians think that concerning God's laws we are all equal. Therefore it is unconceivable that the Christian Democrats want to use our human legislation to stop gay men and lesbians from showing their mutual love and have it respected by all the society. Yesterday the Christian Democrats tried to hide the distortions in their moral view of the human beings behind juridical quibbling that most of all resembled ancient pettifoggery. Fortunately they failed. Gay men and lesbians probably realize that the road is long before they have found everybody's respect for their love. But yesterday a big obstacle in the way disappeared." (V„sterbottens Folkblad, Social Democratic, June 8th) "The Parliament voted in favour of a Registered Partnership Act, and that was a good decision. One who respects everybody's equal right and value also respects everybody's right to legal security in a relationship. No-one loses from the fact that gay men and lesbians now get a legal form for their cohabitation. Rather, a number of men and women gain security. The formal doubts that were brought up in the Parliamentary debate were hardly valid for yet another delay in this issue. It has been investigated enough." (™stersunds-Posten, Centre Party, June 8th) "The preceding debate lasted for almost six hours and showed how big the symbolic value of the issue is, after all. The practical consequences of the partnership for the society in general are considerably more limited. This is in itself an argument for the winning proposal. The view of the members of a strongly committed minority has extra weight in issues that regulate their very lives. It is wrapped in obscurity, even after the Parliamentary debate, why the opponens portray the partnership as something that catastrophical." (™rnsk”ldsviks Allehanda, Liberal, June 8th) "In a press release, the young liberals of G„vleborg County take the credit of the Parliament adopting the Registered Partnership Act. 'We have fought for this for a long time', it is said etc. And the MP's are applauded for letting, for once, 'the heart and not the brains decide'. While we think of what the latter part may mean - we suspect some kind of irony, but cannot really find out how and why - we see that the Liberals in the Parliament were more divided in this issue than was any other party. Eight Liberals voted against and two abstained. Among them who voted against were Lennart Rohdin from Ljusdal, G„vleborg County. Did he vote with his brains? Besides it was certainly good that the law was adopted, despite the opposition from the Liberals." (Arbetarbladet, Social Democratic, June 9th) "It is somewhat forced, when an emotional reluctance is transformed into legal formalities. Who believes that there would be applauses from the clerical right if the Council on Legislation had been positive?" "Sometimes one wonders whether the words of prophets can be attached any value when they have not been considered in a heavy round of formal reviews, have been subject to an examination of consequences and have received a positive statement from the Council on Legislation..." (L„nstidningen ™stersund, Social Democratic, June 8th) "It is hard to understand that this issue is to be that sentitive. If two adults choose to live toghetern and want to have this recognized, they should have the right to this. If one should deny them that right one should also prohibit their cohabitation and so far did not even the Christian Democrats in Parliament want to go, at least not officially. However, there have been strange arguments about encouragement of promicuity. How can a registered partnership possibly encourage promiscuity? Who has argued that marriage make people more ready to sleep with just anybody? The general notion is of course that it is exactly the other way around. The decision of the Parliament was thus both right and logical. It has to do with showing respect for people and their feelings. In addition it is a good statement in times when extreme groups in different ways persecute gay men and lesbians. The decision shows that the society does not make any difference between people. Everybody has the same value." (V„rmlands Folkblad, Social Democratic, June 8th) "It is only to welcome that Sweden, as the thrid country in Sweden after Denmark and Norway, get a Registered Partnership Act. It is reasonable that gay men and lesbians are given the same legal protection as heterosexuals as regards joint property, mutual maintenance and inheritance. It has to do with creating something as fundamental as equality before the law. However, it is surprising that som many as 141 MP's oppose the law. Apparently the intolerance still has a strong position in our society." (Olof Abrahamsson in Pite†-Tidningen, Social Democratic, June 9th) "The Parliamentary Decision about Registered Partnerhsip means a liberation for gay men and lebians and a success for toleance in our society. Only some decades ago, gay men and lesbians were obliged to resort to the catacombs with their feelings. Up to 1944 it was a crime to be homosexual, and in the beginning of the 1950's a big corruption campaign start around the king's alleged homosexuality. Althought the opinions about gay men and lesbians have changed many of them still perceive the opinions of the environment as judgemental and dissociating. The signal is now that the state does not any longer interfere in the most private but give that sphere to the individuals themselves." (Arbetet, Social Democratic, June 8th) "Since Sweden claims to be a generous, tolerant and humane nation, yesterday's decision in the parliament is logical. However, the homosexuals are not given the right to adopt children. That is also logical. Children are probably better off being adopted by parents of different sexes, and, of course, the right of the children must come in the first place." (T.G in Folkbladet Norrk”ping, Social Democratic,June 8th) 5 (6) "The church has acted very strongly against the Registered Partnership Act and have instead promoted a less marriage-like design of the 'contract'. However, the church will be as little involved in the new partnership as in a civil marriage, which makes it difficult to take the criticism seriously. As a matter of fact it is hard to see any valid argument against giving the homosexual minority the possibility to regulate a relationship in a more marriage-like way. However, what can be offensive is that the Standing Committee on Civil-Law Legislation has not been willing to listen to the criticism of the draft legislation that has come from the Council on Legislation. Instead they have drafted the law by themselves. Badly drafted laws are not much to have - even when the aim is good, as in this case. Thus the currently chosen solution is perhaps not the best one. The registered partnership issue is not a big issue. The legislation will not have any far-reaching consequences for Sweden. But for those concerned it is of course a big step." (Upsala Nya Tidning, Liberal, June 8th) "The decision was preceded by a strong and professional propaganda campaign. To a high degree it has appealed more to emotions than to positive argument. Some arguments about the situation of homosexuals in Sweden would have been relevant in the not so distant time, when their relationships were criminal, but overshoot the mark in the 1990's. Without scrutinizing the hearts and kidneys of the MP's about what is real conviction and what is the strong force of the opinion, one can still presume that the well-organized campaign has influenced the result. It is another issue to what extent this is in harmony with the public opinion." (Bor†s Tidning, Conservative, June 8th) "As we see it, the proposal that e.g. the Archbishop has favoured - a Household Community Act - would have been a much more resonable alternative. It would increase the security around a long-term cohabitation, regardless of what is the reason for the cohabitation. It would surely also have been in better harmony with what many Swedes regard as right and natural. Many people would probably want to say they are against the Registered Partnership Act, but refrain from doing so, since they know which answer they will get: 'You are just full of prejudice.' And certainly there is prejudice and also judgements in this issue. But also common sense." (L„nstidningen ™sterg”tland, Centre Party, June 10th) "Being an opponent of the Registered Partnership Act is not the same as being prejudiced, as looking down on homosexuals. In a liberal society it is the differences that create success, that make the life richer. Homosexuals have the right to live their lives and be respected for that. They have the right to their love. No laws can prevent that - and shall not do that. But there were other ways than making the heterosexual marriage equal to a homosexual relationship. Now people are being forced against each other in this issue. For less scrupulous people it may be a reason to discriminate against homosexuals." (V„sternorrlands Allehanda, Conservative, June 8th) "We agree that there are shortages in the drafting of the law. However, most people who opposed 'homosexual marriage' used formalistic and legal arguments for trying to stop a law that they did not want for completely other reasons. However, there is some criticism against the new law, that the Parliament should study more closely. One is that the Cohabitation Act and the Registered Partnership Act does not concern everybody who lives in a household community. There is others than heterosexual and homosexual couples who live in a household community, for example children who live with an older relative, two siblings who live together or two heterosexual people who share their home but not beds. There are a need for a law, that can give these people an improved security in a household community, in about the same way as today's Cohabitation Act." (Hudiksvalls Tidning, Centre Party, June 8th) The periodic publications of RFSL Kom Ut (in Swedish): 6 issues a year. Subscription 150 SEK a year. Fakta fr†n RFSL (in Swedish): Approximately ten fact sheets that are updated regularly. Subscription 200 SEK per ten mailings. News from Swedish gay/lesbian politics (in Swedish and English): 52 issues a year. Subscription 180 SEK a year or 30 international reply coupons. Hivbladet (in Swedish): 12 issues a year. Free of charge. Membership in the RFSL: 160-250 SEK a year, depending on which local branch is chosen. Includes subscription of Kom Ut. -- Tobias Wikstr”m RFSL, Box 350, S-101 26 Stockholm, Sweden Telephone +46-8-7360213 Telefax +46-8-304730