Denmark Becomes Eighth Euro Nation To Approve Marriage Equality

This week, Denmark became the eighth European nation to embrace marriage equality, pending legislation expected to be approved early next year. It was the first country to recognize civil unions in 1989.

Danish political parties are reportedly "extremely gay friendly," and a majority of the nation's officials took part in discussions to approve same-sex church weddings. A May 2011 article in the Copenhagen Post indicates 75% of Danes support gays' right to marry.

“The first same-sex weddings will hopefully become reality in Spring 2012," said Manu Sareen, a Danish government Church Minister, who told the Copenhagen Post, "I look forward to the moment the first homosexual couple steps out of the church. I’ll be standing there throwing rice. They love their partners the same way heterosexuals do, but don’t have the right to live it out in the same way. That’s problematic."

Currently, the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Portugal and Iceland recognize same-sex civil marriages, while Germany, France, the U.K. and Switzerland allow civil unions.

Of course, in America, Republicans are doing all they can to not only strip states of gay equality, but ensure that no such federal mandate is ever allowed. Isn't it ironic that, once again, the rest of the world has greater recognition of the U.S. Constitution's alleged freedom for all than the United States? What a tragedy. What a shame.