Same-sex marriage in Sweden

Same-sex marriage has been legal in Sweden since May 1, 2009. This happened after the Swedish parliament, called the Riksdag, changed the law to let everyone get married, no matter if they are a man or a woman. Most people in Sweden support letting same-sex couples get married. Sweden was one of the first countries in the world to allow this, being the second in Scandinavia, fifth in Europe, and seventh worldwide.

Before this change, same-sex couples could enter into something called registered partnerships, which gave them similar rights to married couples. But now, these partnerships can be turned into marriages if the couple wants. After a certain date, no new registered partnerships could be made, and marriage became the only way for couples to have legal recognition, no matter if they are a man and a woman or two men or two women.

In October 2009, leaders of the Church of Sweden decided that priests could perform marriage ceremonies for same-sex couples. These ceremonies used the same words and traditions as regular weddings. Starting in November 2009, same-sex couples could get married in churches too.

Cohabitation

In 1987, Sweden created a law to protect couples who live together, including same-sex couples. This law gives couples some rights and benefits when they share a home and live together permanently. It helps couples agree on how to divide their shared property if they separate. If no agreement is made, the property is usually divided equally.

For many years, there were different laws for couples depending on whether they were same-sex or different-sex. In 2003, these laws were combined into one called the Cohabitees Act. While this law helps protect couples who live together, it does not give all the same rights as marriage. For example, if one partner passes away, the surviving partner does not automatically inherit property. However, over time, more rights have been added, such as the ability to adopt each other's children. This law applies to everyone, including people who are not Swedish citizens.

Registered partnerships

Registered partnerships in Sweden started in 1995. Before that, the Swedish Parliament approved the idea in June 1994, and it officially began on January 1, 1995. Sweden was one of the first countries to allow same-sex couples to have legal partnerships.

These partnerships gave same-sex couples the same rights and responsibilities as married couples, like adopting children and having legal ways to end the relationship. In 2003, same-sex couples could adopt together, and in 2005, lesbian couples could use certain medical treatments to have babies. The main difference from marriage was that partnerships followed different rules and could only be done in civil services, not in religious ones. Some groups wanted to change marriage laws to be the same for everyone, separating church and state.

Same-sex marriage

Background

In 2004, Sweden decided to look into allowing marriages between people of the same gender. By 2007, a report said yes, and it suggested making marriage rules the same for everyone. This idea was popular with most people, but some religious groups were not happy.

Many political parties in Sweden supported this change. Only one big party did not agree at first. Leaders talked and talked, and finally, in 2009, Sweden made it official: marriages between people of the same gender were allowed.

Court case

In 2008, a couple from Canada asked a Swedish court to recognize their marriage, even though Sweden’s laws at the time did not allow it. The highest court said no, because Swedish law only allowed marriages between a man and a woman. Same-gender partnerships were recognized, but not as marriages.

Vote in the Riksdag

Sweden’s government had different ideas about the change. Some parties supported it, but one did not. After much discussion, Parliament voted and approved the law on April 1, 2009. It became official on May 1, 2009. The first couple to marry was Alf Karlsson and Johan Lundqvist in Stockholm.

Royal same-sex weddings

In 2021, Sweden said that members of the royal family could marry someone of the same gender without losing their royal titles or place in line to be king or queen. This made things equal for everyone in the royal family.

Impact

A study in 2019 showed that when Sweden allowed same-gender marriages, it helped people in those relationships. The number of difficult times for these couples went down compared to couples of different genders.

Statistics

By 2017, over 12,000 people in Sweden were in same-gender marriages. Most were women. The counties with the most marriages were Stockholm, Västra Götaland, and Skåne.

Religious performance

In 2009, the Church of Sweden decided to bless marriages between people of the same gender and call them “marriages.” Some other religious groups also allow these marriages, but some do not. Priests can choose whether to perform these marriages based on their beliefs.

Public opinion

Many people in Sweden support allowing couples of the same sex to marry. In 2006, a survey showed that 71% of Swedes agreed, with the most support in Stockholm County. By 2013, support grew to around 80%, and by 2023, it reached 92%. Most Swedes believe that everyone should have the right to marry the person they love, no matter their gender. Support is especially strong among younger people and those who do not follow a religion closely.