Äktenskap för par med samma kön Vigselfrågor - Regeringen

SOU 2007:17 Summary
The perspective of the child. In my opinion, the perspective of the
child does not give any real guidance either as regards adopting a
position on whether it should be possible for homosexual people to
get married to each other. For children it can be assumed that the
most important aspect is that their relationship with their parents
is good and secure, regardless of the sex of their parents and the
legal form of cohabitation chosen by their parents. Also, if the
situation should be such, as asserted in the public debate, that
marriage provides children with greater security, one must pose the
question why children in families where parents are of the same sex
should not be regarded as on a par with children of married heterosexual
parents.
Other constellations of cohabitation. Fears have also been expressed
that marriage would be diluted if homosexual persons were allowed
to get married to each other and that other constellations of
cohabitation would in time possibly be included in marriage. It is
of course not possible to give any firm answer to the question
whether introducing the ability for homosexual people to get married
would have any impact on the frequency of marriage between
heterosexuals. However, it may be said that such a reform would
not automatically need to result in other constellations of cohabitation
having to be included. Ultimately, this is an issue for the
legislator, but if such a step were to come into question at any time
in the future, it would in my opinion entail a greater deviation from
the prevailing trend than would marriage for couples of the same
sex.
The need for statutory amendments. One issue that also needs to
be answered is whether a statutory amendment is really necessary,
since the legal effects of marriage do not significantly differ from
those accompanying registered partnership. This may of course be
viewed as an argument against a statutory amendment. However,
my assessment is that, from several different perspectives, there is
reason to have common legislation for homosexual and heterosexual
persons who wish to manifest the relationships they have
established. A statutory amendment would also be in harmony with
what may now be considered to represent the opinion of many
people.
International complications. Finally, there is of course a problem
as regards the objection advanced from various quarters, namely
that the international private and procedural law system of rules is
not adapted to marriage other than that entered into between a
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