BY NATASHA BARSOTTI – In an 85 to 24 vote, the Danish parliament cleared the way June 7 for same-sex couples to get married in church ceremonies — instead of blessing ceremonies — as soon as June 15.
According to a Gay Star News report, the country's prime minister, Helle Thorning-Schmidt, of the Social Democrats party (Socialdemokraterne), says on her Facebook page, "Today we allow homosexual couples to enter into marriage on equal footing as everyone else."
The report also states that couples in civil partnerships will now be granted "married" status.
In 1989, Denmark became the first country to allow registered partnerships for gay couples.
