Same-sex marriage in Finland

Same-sex marriage will become legal in Finland on 1 March 2017. A bill for legalization was approved by the parliament on 12 December 2014 and signed by the President on 20 February 2015. In order to implement the law, follow-up changes in other acts were required. The legislative measure to make most of these changes was approved by the parliament on 17 February 2016 and signed by President on 8 April 2016.

Legal recognition for same-sex couples in Finland has been available since 2002 in the form of registered partnerships (Finnish: rekisteröity parisuhde; Swedish: registrerat partnerskap), which provide the same rights and responsibilities as marriage for opposite-sex couples, except e.g. adoption rights. In 2009, the Parliament revised the law allowing couples to adopt the biological children of their partner.

Legislation introducing registered partnerships (Finnish: rekisteröity parisuhde; Swedish: registrerat partnerskap) for same-sex couples was passed by the Parliament on 28 September 2001 with a vote of 99–84. The act went into effect on 1 March 2002. Registered partnerships, which are available only to same-sex couples, provide the same rights and responsibilities as marriage for opposite-sex couples, except in e.g. adoption rights and family names, and they are registered and dissolved using a procedure similar to that for civil marriage. The legislation also grants immigration rights to a foreign partner.

In May 2009, the Parliament revised the act allowing couples to adopt the biological children of their partner. As of 1 March 2017, it will not be possible to enter into a new registered partnership anymore and existing registered partnerships will be converted into marriages on request, when the act to allow same-sex marriage enters into force.

A poll conducted by Christian newspaper Kotimaa reported in March 2010 that a narrow majority of Finnish MPs opposed same-sex marriage. Of the 126 MPs who responded asked if they would support gender-neutral marriage law 46% were in favour and 54% were opposed. 63% of Social Democratic representatives supported same-sex marriage as well all MPs from the Greens and Left Alliance. Majorities of the Centre Party and National Coalition Party opposed gender-neutral marriage law.

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Wikipedia