Faroe Islands legalises same-sex marriage

The Faroe Islands has become the final Nordic country to legalise same-sex marriage.

The archipelago known as the Faroe Islands, which is self-governing, on Friday made it legal for same-sex couples to marry.

A vote took place on Friday, with 19 votes to 14 approving equal marriage.

While the country is seen as a kingdom of Denmark, which legalised same-sex marriage back in 2012, including religious ceremonies, the Faroese raised concerns that Christians would be opposed to the measure if it included church weddings.

So the population of 48,000 will only be able to marry in civil ceremonies for the time being.

Polls in 2014 found that around two-thirds of those in the Faroe Islands said the supported the right of gay and lesbian couples to marry.

And last year, the country elected an out-gay politician to Parliament for the first time.

A bill that would have extended Denmark’s equal marriage law to the Islands was voted down in March 2014, by a vote of 20-11.

According to a poll, at the same time, 61% of respondents support same-sex marriage in the country, while 32% of respondents are opposed.

Laws against homophobic discrimination in employment were introduced by the country’s government in 2006.

The Finnish Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee voted by 10 to 6 against passing a marriage bill in June, though it is set to go before the country’s full Parliament next month.