CHAT: status of gays

   Date:         Sun, 20 Dec 1998 23:58:41 -0500
   From: "Daniel J. O'Neil" <oneild@...>

   nowhere in the world do we enjoy full and equal marriage rights
   (not even in the Scandinavian countries)?

Well, it's getting close in Denmark. It's called a registered
partnership instead of marriage (some trouble with the old guard in
the State Church), but it has the same legal consequences except for
the right to adopt step children. And you can't have a church wedding
that has secular force ('cos it's not a marriage), so you have to go
to the mayor's office and then get a blessing in church afterwards
(which het couples can also do).

The law is only about three years old, but it's quickly gaining social
acceptance as well. This year, the Danish Queen invited the partner of
an actor at the Royal Theatre to go with him to the New Year's Court.
It made the front page in the tabloids here, but all the reporting I
saw was positive: They had quotes from prominent gay people saying how
this is a nifty thing, and editorial comments to the same effect.

Lars Mathiesen (U of Copenhagen CS Dep) <thorinn@...> (Humour NOT marked)