Domestic Partnership News Archive
November 28 - November 30, 2000

Thursday, November 30, 2000

Finland proposes to pass same-sex partnership law

A story released today by Reuters reports that the Finnish government accepted a proposal by the justice ministry on Wednesday to give legal status to homosexual relationships, and will begin discussing the issue in parliament next month.

The proposal would give gay and lesbian couples many of the same legal rights and responsibilities as heterosexual married couples, but such unions would not have the status of marriage, nor would it allow homosexual couples to adopt children.

Social Democrat, Left Alliance and Green party officials said their members were likely to vote almost unanimously for the law, while the small Christian League is expected to vote against it. Officials of the Centre and Conservative parties said they expected their deputies to be split on the issue, but did not comment on the balance between supporters and critics.

A similar bill was narrowly rejected by parliament in 1996 when it ran into conservative resistance.

If the law is passed, Finland will follow in the footsteps of Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Iceland, all of which have passed registered partnership laws for same-sex couples.

Nova Scotia passes law extending benefits to unmarried partners

The provincial parliament of Nova Scotia, Canada, today passed Bill 75, an act giving legal recognition and protections to unmarried partners.  

Under the law, unmarried couples of either sex will be able to register their relationships with the provincial government.  Registered partners will receive most of the same rights and benefits as married couples.

The bill amends the Family Maintenance Act, the Tax Act, the Pension Benefits Act, and the Provincial Court Act.