Good news from the Danish Parliament:

There has been a majority vote in parliament today to introduce a bill giving same-sex couples in registered partnerships the right to adopt. The proposal, from Civil Centre Party founder Simon Emil Ammitzbøll, would give partners registered in civil unions the right to adopt unrelated children both domestically and internationally.

Denmark currently allows individuals to adopt, regardless of sexual orientation, and for couples to adopt their partner’s existing children. The new proposal would allow same-sex couples to jointly petition for adoption.

This is the first time such a proposal has received a parliamentary majority. Six members of the government’s Liberal Party voted against their colleagues to give a 62-53 majority for the proposal. It signals that parliamentary members want the government to draft a bill granting equal adoption rights for civil partnership and married couples.

Should the future bill be passed into law, Denmark will join the ranks of other Nordic countries including Iceland, Norway and Sweden in allowing equal adoption rights for couples.