Marriage equality reached Finland on March 1, 2017
See item in the News in English file, on the right hand side of this page.
In English
Marriage equality reached Finland on March 1, 2017
As the new Marriage Act became law on March 1, 2017, equality was celebrated throughout Finland. But the reform left the national protestant church finding a way out of increased societal isolation. The church does not accept marriage equality.
Marriage Equality Assured in Finland
Finnish Parliament on Friday, November 28, 2014, passed a civic initiative to introduce same genre marriage in Finland. The Legal Committee had previously dismissed the initiative, but the full house voted it down, 105 – 92.
Parliamentary Legal Committee again opposed to marriage equality
The Legal Committee of the Finnish Parliament suggests the Civic Initiative aiming at introducing genre neutral marriage legislation should be rejected. A parliamentary plenary majority could still restore the Iniative though.
Mainoskatko - Sisältö jatkuu alla
Mainoskatko loppuu
Finnish parliament gets the Marriage Initiative on the Day of Light
The Finnish Civic Initiative for a change in the marriage legislation will be submitted to Parliament on December 13, 2013. The choice of the date is a good PR gesture but parliamentary acceptance of the reform is far from certain.
Helsinki Pride 2013 - Seta Chairman Juha-Pekka Hippi says marriage equality in Finland is inevitable despite the current impasse
Helsinki Pride 2013 was celebrated on June 24-30 against the backdrop of some good news internationally but stalled development in Finland and outright repression in areas close to Finland.
The Civic Initiative about equality in marriage attracts massive support
More than hundred thousand citizens had signed the Civic Iniative about a new Marriage Law within the first day of availability. The legal requirement of 50 000 backers was reached in the afternoon of March 19th, 2013.
Parliamentary Committee blocked the Same Sex Marriage Initiative
Finland is likely to remain the only Nordic country not to allow gender-neutral marriage for the time being. The parliamentary standing Legal Committee dismissed a Member´s Bill on the issue on February 27, 2013.
The Obama speech could affect Finland as well - Equality Organization Chair
Seta Chair Juha-Pekka Hippi predicts equality based marriage legislation could be introduced in Finland within "five to fifteen" years.
Finland: The Foreign Ministry is unequivocally against discrimination of gays in development co-operation
Although a small Christian party has caused inhibition at the cabinet level in Finland, the Foreign Ministry appears to be unaffected. It published criteria for funding that conservative Christian organizations may have difficulty to meet.
Homophobic attitudes were a key ground for the election victory by President Sauli Niinistö
The newly elected President of Finland was carried to his victory on a wave of homophobic attitudes. A HS poll indicates that one third of Niinistö's voters chose him because his opponent was a homosexual. Foreign policy views were of less
Conservative Sauli Niinistö defeats the openly gay Green candidate in the presidential election in Finland
Over a million Finns (37.4 pc) voted for an openly gay man in the Finnish presidential election. A vasta majority (62.2 pc) voted for a conservative candidate though. Voter turnout was the lowest since the 50s.
An openly gay man makes it to the final round of the Finnish presidential election
The Green candidate Pekka Haavisto exceeded by a huge margin his party´s support levels and made it to the second round of the parliamentary elections.
The Draft Bill for reformed marriage legislation may not get enough support
Members of Parliament have been cautious in signing the Draft Marriage Law Bill submitted in September 2011. Many MPs who had expressed pro-equality views during the election campaign appear to have placed their views on hold.
A Member´s Bill aims at enacting marriage equality in Finland
A parliamentary floor initiative may bring marriage equality. The six party government is unable to as the small Christian Democratic Party had been given a de facto veto right in the talks to form the cabinet.
Though anti-gay in his formative years, Olli Stålström became a fighter for equality
Olli Stålström, a "survivor" of the 1960s conversion therapies, is a major PR asset for the Finnish gay scene. A leading Finnish newsmagazine published an extensive feature about him in August 2011.
A Finnish non-commissioned officer was fined for badmouthing the President for her earlier role in the sexual equality movement
Finnish conscripts had reported some disrespectful and anti-gay slurs of an NCO to the media. The complaint led to a conviction.
A play depicts the days (in the future) when Finnish gays and lesbians are no longer nice and polite
Imagine the HLBT scene in Finland becoming radicalized? Not that unlikely any longer. And an upcoming musical on the National Theatre stage may speed up the development.
Gay marriage suffered a setback on the Finnish political scene
The small Christian Democrat party was able to have marriage legislation reform removed from the government plans. Registered partnerships have been available for som ten years now.
Helsinki Pride 2011 picture gallery
About 7000 people took part in the parade and 10 000 .. 15 000 in the open air festival. Look at the pictures!
Jyväskylä Pride July 14th - July 17th 2011
Jyväskylä Pride 2011 "Half Pride" in rainbow colors July 14th - July 17th.
Pride in Finland
Here we have a Pride week once a year and it's held in Helsinki. (Helsinki Pride 2008: June 23rd - June 29th)
The Quick Tour of Helsinki
What is Helsinki? What can I do there? Can I see bears there? Check this out!
Gay Couples Law in Finland
The Finnish parliament approved a law on 28. september 2001 allowing gays to register as couples and obtain some but not all the rights of married couples. The law became effective in the beginning of March 2002.