In Finland came into force a law on equal marriage. Now marriage is the union of two people, not just men and women. Previously, gay couples can register with the magistrate. From now on, they got all the rights that relied traditional couples, including adoption of children and the ability to take a common surname.

Finland is largely considered to be one of the most advanced countries of Europe. On the eve of the law came into force, actually abolishes the classical meaning of the term "marriage".

Now in Finland it defines marriage as a union of two persons, and not specifically men and women.

Previously, same-sex couples can register their relationship in a magistrate. Now, with the entry into force of the law on equal marriage, marriage registration at the town hall as a form of legal registration of the relationship is canceled.

Also, same-sex couples can now adopt children together and take common surname. It is also possible to purchase a double surname, reports Yle.

The magistrates have reported that dozens of same-sex couples have expressed their desire to get married before the end of the week.

At the same time the Finnish Evangelical-Lutheran Church is opposed to the wedding in the church of same-sex couples. Some priests, however, are willing to marry people of the same sex and.

Earlier rights of gay couples have been expanded in several other countries. On the eve of trial in Italy for the first time recognized the right of gay couples to adopt children. According to the published decision of the Court of Appeal the north Italian city of Trento, the decision of the US authorities on the recognition of both Italians newborn twins parents, "legally valid", despite the fact that one of them "is not the genetic father 'kids. The resolution notes that "the lack of a genetic link between the child and the father is not an obstacle for the recognition of the validity of a foreign judgment '.

This Trento court expressly pointed out that when making a decision on the establishment of parental relations inadmissible based solely on «biological link between parent and newborn" should be considered as the undertaken obligations by parents for the upbringing and care of the child, reports euromag.

Thus, the Italian court not only legally recognized the validity of issued abroad birth certificate, according to which the two Italians are the fathers of newborns, but also pointed out that the social circumstances surrounding the birth of the child take precedence over biological factors. Since the Apennines practice of using surrogacy is prohibited, but the issue has long been a broad discussion underway, the decision of the court of Trento, of course, will receive a great public resonance.

Two weeks earlier, the procedure of adoption of children of gay couples simplified in Belgium.

Previously, if a former spouse, that is the legal parent, opposed the adoption, he or she had the right to give their refusal to the procedure except in cases where it is proved that the parent has no interest in the child or jeopardize their health and safety.

The new law gives the judge the right to consider such refusal as contrary to the interests of the child. In addition, it provides an opportunity to adopt a child of her former spouse (-zu) or common-law partner, provided that the adoption did not break the child's relationship with his original family and parental duties will be performed jointly adopt a child and his former spouse (-goy) or cohabitant.