SWEDEN APPROVES FULL GAY MARRIAGE RIGHTS

Sweden just became the seventh country to legalize fully equal gay marriage in an overwhelmingly strong vote of 261 to 22 with just 16 abstentions.

According to PinkNews.co.uk:

The new legislation comes into effect as of May 1st, replacing the current legislation established in 1995 approving registered partnership much like civil partnerships in the UK.

Couples with a 'registered partnership' can either retain this status or apply to the relevant authorities to have it amended.

Soren Juvas, president of the Swedish Federation for LGBT Rights, called the ruling “a great victory” and Evon Frid of the Left Party said it was “a positive change."

The Christian Democrats were the only party that opposed the ruling. They said that they wanted to keep the "several hundred-year-old concept" of marriage.

A January 2008 Sifo Institute poll found that 71 per cent of Swedes approve of gay marriage.

Sweden now joins the Netherlands, Norway, Belgium, Spain, Canada, and South Africa.

It seems that the United States is rapidly becoming isolated as one of the most backward, supposedly free countries in the world - at least on any issues that deal with GLBT rights and protections. How sadly ironic is that?