Marriage Equality Comes to Finland
Source: The Advocate
Finlands parliament approved a bill establishing marriage equality on Friday, reports Reuters. Finnish lawmakers approved the legislation, initiated by citizens, by a vote of 105 to 92.
Although same-sex couples have had access to registered partnerships since 2002, the new law will end the legal distinction between opposite-sex and same-sex partnerships, giving same-sex couples equal access to the rights affiliated with marriage, including adoption and name-change privileges, according to Reuters.
Finlands Prime Minister, Alexander Stubb a member of the center-right National Coalition party supported the measure, authoring an open letter urging Parliament to approve the legislation ahead of the vote. Finland should strive to become a society where discrimination does not exist, human rights are respected and two adults can marry regardless of their sexual orientation," Stubbs letter read, according to Reuters.
Read more: http://www.advocate.com/world/2014/11/28/marriage-equality-comes-finland