Comments on: Norwegian lesbians celebrate "first" humanist marriage ceremony http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11398.html/ PinkNews.co.uk Gay News (UK and world) from Pink News - all the gay news for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community in the UK and beyond- thegaynews from Pink News Thu, 26 Nov 2009 01:05:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Robert, ex-pat Brit http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11398.html/comment-page-1/#comment-45257 Robert, ex-pat Brit Thu, 05 Mar 2009 16:49:42 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11398.html#comment-45257 Iris, you're so right. Doesn't this vindicate those of us who know that civil unions/partnerships are NOT equal to marriage. The anti-marriage haters in our LGBT community are in denial when they insist that they are. If that were the case, they wouldn't be referred to as unions or partnerships, what is the point if its not about segregation under a different name? If Norway figured it out, along with Sweden, Holland, Belgium, Spain, South Africa and Canada, then it doesn't say much for those countries where same-sex marriage is banned or not allowed. Marriage is and always will be the gold standard, anywhere in the world whether same-sex marriage is recognised or not. These unions or partnerships signify nothing to much of the world, and most straights don't even have a clue as to what they really mean let alone signify, but marriage they most certainly do. That will NEVER change and rightly so. Iris, you're so right. Doesn't this vindicate those of us who know that civil unions/partnerships are NOT equal to marriage. The anti-marriage haters in our LGBT community are in denial when they insist that they are. If that were the case, they wouldn't be referred to as unions or partnerships, what is the point if its not about segregation under a different name? If Norway figured it out, along with Sweden, Holland, Belgium, Spain, South Africa and Canada, then it doesn't say much for those countries where same-sex marriage is banned or not allowed. Marriage is and always will be the gold standard, anywhere in the world whether same-sex marriage is recognised or not. These unions or partnerships signify nothing to much of the world, and most straights don't even have a clue as to what they really mean let alone signify, but marriage they most certainly do. That will NEVER change and rightly so.

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]]> By: martin http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11398.html/comment-page-1/#comment-45047 martin Mon, 02 Mar 2009 20:35:57 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11398.html#comment-45047 Wonderful story - and let's end this stupidity they call religion! Wonderful story – and let's end this stupidity they call religion!

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]]> By: Rob Alexander http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11398.html/comment-page-1/#comment-45036 Rob Alexander Mon, 02 Mar 2009 18:14:37 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11398.html#comment-45036 Iris has the right idea. And congratulations to Cecilia and Janne. Iris has the right idea. And congratulations to Cecilia and Janne.

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]]> By: Iris http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11398.html/comment-page-1/#comment-45009 Iris Mon, 02 Mar 2009 14:36:49 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11398.html#comment-45009 "New legislation on same-sex marriage which came into force in January amended the definition of civil marriage in Norway to make it gender neutral and extended parenting rights for gay and lesbian couples.....The Church of Norway is allowed, but not compelled, to bless same-sex marriages". As I read that, this sounds an excellent situation. Keep religious ceremonies for the churches, who may or may not agree to perform same sex marriages, and have civil marriage for everybody. Civil marriage is no business of the churches as it's a totally secular ceremony. if the State deems same sex couples equal - which, of course, they are - then state institutions like marriage should be extended to them. "New legislation on same-sex marriage which came into force in January amended the definition of civil marriage in Norway to make it gender neutral and extended parenting rights for gay and lesbian couples…..The Church of Norway is allowed, but not compelled, to bless same-sex marriages".

As I read that, this sounds an excellent situation. Keep religious ceremonies for the churches, who may or may not agree to perform same sex marriages, and have civil marriage for everybody. Civil marriage is no business of the churches as it's a totally secular ceremony. if the State deems same sex couples equal – which, of course, they are – then state institutions like marriage should be extended to them.

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]]> By: Chris(tine) http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11398.html/comment-page-1/#comment-44986 Chris(tine) Mon, 02 Mar 2009 13:04:12 +0000 http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-11398.html#comment-44986 Congratulations to the happy couple :) Congratulations to the happy couple :)

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