Finnish Parliament Approves Same-Sex Marriage

The Finnish Parliament has approved a bill allowing same-sex marriage, reports the Yle public broadcaster.

The vote was 105 to 92, with one MP absent. The vote had been expected to be closer.

The unprecedented outcome marks the first time that a citizens' initiative has received lawmakers' blessing to be written into the law books.

Earlier this year some 166 000 Finns signed the citizens' initiative that forced the issue onto the agenda of Parliament —but more than 42 000 have signed a petition opposing any legislative changes.

The law will not take effect until 2016 at the earliest, due to the large number of other laws that need to be amended.

Finland is the last of the Nordic countries to allow same-sex marriage.