Same-sex marriage in Sweden

Part of the LGBTQ rights series
Marriage

Recognized

Civil unions or registered partnerships but not marriage
Minimal recognition
See also
Notes
  1. ^ a b Performed in the Netherlands proper (including the Caribbean Netherlands), as well as in Aruba and Curaçao. May be registered in Sint Maarten in such cases, but the rights of marriage are not guaranteed.
  2. ^ Neither performed nor recognized in Niue, Tokelau, or the Cook Islands.
  3. ^ Neither performed nor recognized in six British Overseas Territories.
  4. ^ a b Neither performed nor recognized in some tribal nations. Recognized but not performed in several other tribal nations and American Samoa.
  5. ^ Registered foreign marriages confer all marriage rights. Domestic common-law marriages confer most rights of marriage. Domestic civil marriage recognized by some cities.
  6. ^ a b c d e The Coman v. Romania ruling of the European Court of Justice obliges the state to provide residency rights for the foreign spouses of EU citizens. Some member states, including Romania, do not follow the ruling.
  7. ^ A "declaration of family relationship" is available in several of Cambodia's communes which may be useful in matters such as housing, but is not legally binding.
  8. ^ Guardianship agreements, conferring some limited legal benefits, including decisions about medical and personal care.
  9. ^ Inheritance, guardianship rights, and residency rights for foreign spouses of legal residents.
  10. ^ Courts have recognised guru–shishya, nata pratha or maitri karar–type contractual relationships, but they are not legally binding.
  11. ^ Some cities and prefectures issue partnership certificates, but they are not legally binding.
  12. ^ Marriages conducted abroad between a Namibian national and a foreign spouse recognized for residency rights.
  13. ^ Hospital visitation rights through a "legal representative" status.
  1. ^ a b Not yet in effect.
LGBTQ portal

Same-sex marriage has been legal in Sweden since 1 May 2009 following the adoption of a gender-neutral marriage law by the Riksdag on 1 April 2009.[1] Polling indicates that a significant majority of Swedes support the legal recognition of same-sex marriage.[2] Sweden was the second Scandinavian country, the fifth in Europe and the seventh in the world to open marriage to same-sex couples nationwide. Existing registered partnerships remain in force and can be converted to marriages if the partners so desire, either through a written application or through a formal ceremony. New registered partnerships are no longer able to be entered into and marriage is now the only legally recognized form of union for couples regardless of sex.

On 22 October 2009, the governing board of the Church of Sweden voted 176–62 in favour of allowing its priests to wed same-sex couples in new gender-neutral church ceremonies,[3] including the use of the term "marriage".[4][5] Same-sex marriages have been performed by the Church since 1 November 2009.[6]

  1. ^ "Gays Win Marriage Rights". Sveriges Radio English. 1 April 2009. Archived from the original on 27 May 2024. Retrieved 29 March 2012.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Euro was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Church of Sweden Priests to Wed Gay Couples in Gender-Neutral Ceremonies , Fox News, 22 October 2009.
  4. ^ Church of Sweden to conduct gay weddings Archived 9 January 2018 at the Wayback Machine, UPI, 22 October 2009.
  5. ^ Ringborg, Maria (22 October 2009). "Kyrkomötet öppnade för enkönade äktenskap". Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 26 December 2009. Retrieved 22 October 2009.
  6. ^ "Swedish church to allow gay marriages". Diligent Media Corporation Ltd. 22 October 2009. Archived from the original on 28 March 2020. Retrieved 11 April 2013.