Unknown number of same-sex marriages

It is not clear how many same-sex marriages have been conducted in the Faroes since it became approved by law on 1 July last year.

The Ministry of Health and the Interior has requested this information from local authorities, and in most cases the answer has been none.

In places where two people of the same gender have been married, the ministry was told that the gender is not specified in civil marriage registries.

Health minister Sirið Stenberg says the wording was changed in Denmark. Until 1 July last year it said ‘the woman’ and ‘the man’, whereas it now says ‘spouse 1’ and ‘spouse 2’.

She adds that this wording can be changed now that family law has been transferred to Faroese authorities.

Another change made by Danish authorities last year is that marriage certificates now only mention the names of the married people and do not specify the gender.

Translated by prosa.fo