Finnish President Sauli Niinistö on Friday signed a bill into law legalizing marriage equality in Finland when it takes effect on March 1, 2017, according to various reports.
The Finnish parliament approved the bill in December, nearly two years after it rejected a similar measure.
A public campaign called on lawmakers to reconsider the marriage bill rejected in February, 2013.
Marriage equality supporters reached 50,000 valid signatures – the minimum needed to force action – on their first day. Organizers of the “Tahdon2013” (“I Do”) campaign said that they had collected more than 162,000 signatures in six months.
Finland, the last Scandinavian country to legalize marriage for gay and lesbian couples, has recognized the unions of gay couples with registered partnerships since 2002. Gay couples are also allowed to adopt their partner’s biological children since 2009.
Finland is the 12th European nation with marriage equality.
by On Top Magazine Staff
Source – On Top Magazine
