Same-sex marriage in Greenland

Same-sex marriage became legal in Greenland, an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, on 1 April 2016. The territory had previously recognised registered partnerships, from 1 July 1996 until 1 April 2016.

Registered partnerships

Denmark's registered partnership law was in operation since 1 October 1989.^[1][2] A bill to expand its application to Greenland was approved by the Danish parliament on 28 March 1996 and was given Royal Assent on 26 April 1996.^[3] It took effect on 1 July 1996.^[4][5] The law gave registered partners nearly identical rights to married couples, with these notable exceptions:

• joint adoption of children
• laws making explicit reference to the sexes of a married couple did not apply to registered partnerships
• regulations by international treaties did not apply unless all signatories agree.

The law was repealed on 1 April 2016.

Same-sex marriage

A resolution,^[6] expressing Greenland's wish to opt in the current version of Denmark's marriage law, had its first reading in the parliament of Greenland on 25 March 2015^[7] and was approved unanimously on second reading on 26 May 2015.^[8][9][10] A bill^[11] to this effect was submitted to the parliament of Denmark on 28 January 2015 and had its first reading on 26 May 2015. It was planned to come into effect on 1 October 2015. However, it lapsed due to parliamentary elections.^[12] A nearly identical bill with only minor formal changes,^[13] was submitted to parliament on 29 October 2015 and had its first reading on 5 November 2015.^[14] The second reading happened on 14 January 2016 and the bill was approved in the final reading on 19 January 2016.^[14][15] The bill was given Royal Assent on 3 February, taking effect on 1 April 2016,^[14] which was the day the first same-sex couples in Greenland were married.^[16][17][18]

See also

• LGBT rights in Greenland
• Same-sex marriage in Denmark

References

1. "The Registered Partnership Act". Queer Resources Directory. Archived from the original on 30 September 2014.
2. Rule, Sheila (2 October 1989). "Rights for Gay Couples in Denmark". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
3. "1995-96 - L 162 (oversigt): Forslag til lov om ændring af kriminalloven og arveloven for Grønland. (Ændringer som følge af indførelse af registreret partnerskab)" (in Danish). Folketing. Archived from the original on 4 April 2016. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
4. "Lov om ændring af kriminalloven og arveloven for Grønland (Ændringer som følge af indførelse af registreret partnerskab)". Government of Denmark. Archived from the original on 4 April 2016. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
5. Merin, Yuval (2002). "Equality for Same-Sex Couples: The Legal Recognition of Gay Partnerships in Europe and the United States". University of Chicago Press. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
6. "Forslag til: Inatsisartutbeslutning om at Grønlands Selvstyre tiltræder Anordning om ikrafttræden for Grønland af dele af lov om ændring af lov om ægteskabs indgåelse og opløsning, lov om ægteskabets retsvirkninger og retsplejeloven og om ophævelse af lov om registreret partnerskab" (PDF) (in Danish). Parliament of Greenland. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
7. "Ullut ataatsimiiffiusut qulingiluaat, pingasunngorneq 25. marts 2015" (in Danish). Parliament of Greenland. Archived from the original on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
8. "Ullut ataatsimiiffiusut 28-iat, marlunngorneq 26. maj 2015" (in Danish). Parliament of Greenland. Archived from the original on 13 March 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
9. W, Christian (28 May 2015). "Greenland approves gay marriage". The Copenhagen Post. Archived from the original on 2 April 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
10. McCormick, Joseph Patrick (27 May 2015). "Parliament in Greenland unanimously approves same-sex marriage". PinkNews. Archived from the original on 1 February 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
11. "Lovforslag nr. L 122 Folketinget 2014-15" (PDF) (in Danish). Folketing. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
12. "L 122 Forslag til lov om ændring af myndighedsloven for Grønland, lov om ikrafttræden for Grønland af lov om ægteskabets retsvirkninger, retsplejelov for Grønland og kriminallov for Grønland" (in Danish). Folketing. Archived from the original on 28 January 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
13. "Lovforslag nr. L 35 Folketinget 2015-16" (PDF) (in Danish). Folketing. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
14. "L 35 Forslag til lov om ændring af myndighedsloven for Grønland, lov om ikrafttræden for Grønland af lov om ægteskabets retsvirkninger, retsplejelov for Grønland og kriminallov for Grønland" (in Danish). Folketing. Archived from the original on 3 April 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
15. Nørrelund Sørensen, Helle (19 January 2016). "Ja til homovielser og nej til at slå børn". Greenlandic Bradcasting Corporation (in Danish). Archived from the original on 27 January 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
16. Dam, Camilla (1 April 2016). "Første homoseksuelle par viet i kirken". Greenlandic Bradcasting Corporation (in Danish). Archived from the original on 2 April 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
17. Williams, Joe (1 April 2016). "Same sex couples can now officially marry in Greenland". PinkNews. Archived from the original on 2 April 2016. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
18. Morgan, Joe (1 April 2016). "Same-sex couples can now get married in Greenland". Gay Star News. Archived from the original on 2 April 2016. Retrieved 2 April 2016.

External links

• "Lov om ændring af myndighedsloven for Grønland, lov om ikrafttræden for Grønland af lov om ægteskabets retsvirkninger, retsplejelov for Grønland og kriminallov for Grønland (Ændringer som følge af ikraftsættelse for Grønland af forældreansvarslovgivningen og lovgivningen om ægteskab mellem to personer af samme køn)" (in Danish). Government of Denmark. Retrieved 4 April 2016.