LGBT rights in Finland 2142811 218618684 2008-06-11T13:04:33Z 128.214.205.62 gay life in finland does not belong to this article {{gay rights}} [[Finland]] as a whole is considered to be [[liberal]] on [[gay rights]] issues. Finland legalized [[same-sex unions]] in 2002. == Development of [[LGBT rights]] in [[Finland]]: A Legal Perspective == *'''1889''' [[Homosexuality]] was a crime in the new [[penal code]] and punishable by a maximum of two years in [[prison]]. *'''1971''' Homosexuality was decriminalized, but "promotion" of it remained illegal. *'''1981''' Homosexuality was removed from the illness classification list. *'''1995''' Discrimination on the basis of [[sexual orientation]] is prohibited in the penal code. *'''1999''' The Criminal code is revised so that there is no difference in age limits for sexual acts. The prohibition of "promotion of homosexuality" is removed. *'''2001''' The law on [[registered partnership]] is passed. It follows the same regulations as the law on marriages except for the name and regulations on adoption. First couples were registered on March 8, 2002. *'''2002''' The law on the gender confirmation of [[transgendered]] individuals comes into force. *'''2004''' The new [[social equality|equality]] act comes into force. The law prohibits direct and indirect [[discrimination]] and harassment based on age, ethnic or national origin, citizenship, language, religion, belief, opinion, health, disability, sexual orientation or any other ground in connection to the person. *'''2005''' The new act on [[gender equality]] comes into force. The act applies also for discrimination faced by trans-people. According to a statement given by government’s committee for employment and equality the discrimination regulations are to be interpreted in a way that they also cover discrimination based on a sex-change. *'''2006''' The law on assisted insemination ([[artificial insemination]]) is passed in the parliament. The law allows treatments also for single women and female couples. Before the law a number of clinics have provided treatments for female couples. [[Surrogacy]] is illegal. A recent [[European Union]] poll puts Finnish support for [[same sex marriage]] at 45% [http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/index.cfm/fuseaction/viewItem/itemID/14203]. == References == *[http://www.seta.fi Sexual equality in Finland] == See also == *[[Civil unions in Finland]] *[[SETA]] main LGBT rights group in Finland *[[Human rights in Finland]] {{LGBT rights in Europe}} [[Category:LGBT rights by country|Finland]] [[Category:Finnish law]] [[Category:LGBT culture in Finland]] {{LGBT-stub}} [[de:Homosexualität in Finnland]] [[es:Homosexualidad en Finlandia]] [[pl:Sytuacja prawna i społeczna osób LGBT w Finlandii]]