Danish Supreme Court throws out challenge against same-sex marriages taking place in church

The Danish Supreme Court – the highest court in the country – has ruled today that same-sex marriages in church do not go against the Danish constitution.

Same-sex civil unions have been legally recognized in Denmark since 1989 (the first country in the world to do so).

In 2012, same-sex marriages were legalized, including marriages performed by the Church of Denmark.

Legalization came about through a constitutional amendment that changed the recognition of marriage from solely being between a man and a woman to being between two people.

The 2012 amendment has been challenged by opponents of same-sex marriage as unconstitutional. It wasn’t challenged by the Church of Denmark itself, but by 300 individuals who joined together to form a pressure group, Foreningen Med grundlov Skal Land Bygges.

The individuals have argued that the amendment violates their right to religious freedom. They claimed any same-sex marriages performed by the Church of Denmark since 2012 should be ruled invalid.

They also claimed that their right to religious freedom was protected by European Human Rights legislation.

Today, the Supreme Court disagreed on both counts, and said that the amendment was within the scope of what the Danish Parliament can decide.

‘We welcome the ruling’, said a spokesperson for LGBT Denmark on the advocacy’s group’s Facebook page.

Source: Danish Supreme Court throws out challenge against same-sex marriages taking place in church