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Gay marriage in Denmark from June

By on March 15, 2012

Denmark has announced that marriage equality will come to the country as of June 15 this year.

At a press conference, Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt announced that gay couples would be allowed to marry in time for the European summer, the Copenhagen Post reports.

“We have looked at two laws that will provide the gay and lesbian community the opportunity to get married in the church and at city hall,” Thorning-Schmidt said.

“The administration and I firmly believe that this is a natural step to take in a modern society like Denmark.

“The law will go into effect on June 15, so already this summer we’ll see the first gays and lesbians getting married in Danish churches.”

The law will not force religious leaders to marry same-sex couples.

“It will be up to each priest whether he or she will perform gay marriages, but the government gives all members of the church the right to get married in church, whether they want to marry a person of the opposite or same sex,” she said.

Denmark now joins European countries including Iceland, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and Portugal in allowing same-sex couples equal marriage rights.

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5 Comments

  1. CJ

    March 15, 2012 at 5:03 pm


    Congrats Denmark! Now come on Oz, get with the program already!

  2. Si

    March 15, 2012 at 6:04 pm


    Well done the Danes. Now teach the rest of the world how it’s done.

  3. nichinaa

    March 15, 2012 at 6:09 pm


    Amazing news. However I do see the potential of religious leaders, not marrying a same sex couple as the law does not stipulate that they MUST perform the ceremonies if a couple decides to marry in a Church. Not that the religious leaders would deny them, but I’m sure there would be some that would… hmmmm.

  4. David O'Rourke

    March 15, 2012 at 9:03 pm


    Why are we still waiting????

  5. Rune

    March 23, 2012 at 12:37 am


    Better late than never Denmark!!
    Australia….hmmmmm very sad to watch.

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