The government of Finland has passed legislation that will make it the 20th nation to grant full marriage rights to all of its citizens.
“Finland should strive to become a society where discrimination does not exist, human rights are respected and two adults can marry regardless of their sexual orientation,” the centre-right prime minister, Alexander Stubb, said in an open letter before the vote.
Finland’s national parliament, the Eduskunta, approved the bill by a vote of 105 to 92. Changes brought about by the bill are not expected to take effect until 2016 at the earliest. Currently, only civil unions are available to same-sex couples.
“We commend the elected representatives of Finland for passing such historic legislation ensuring the nation’s LGBT citizens receive the rights they deserve, and we congratulate the LGBT activists and advocates who made this momentous day possible,” said Ty Cobb, director of HRC Global.
Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Uruguay, as well as England and Wales in the United Kingdom, have marriage equality laws that are in effect. In addition, Scotland is set to extend full marriage rights to its LGBT citizens by the end of 2014, and Luxembourg is set to in early 2015.
