Close to 500 homosexual couples tie the knot

Close to 500 homosexual couples have entered into same-sex partnerships since a law enabling so-called gay marriages came into force in July of 2006. According to statistics 353 male couples and 134 lesbian couples entered into a same-sex partnership, 43 of them were foreign nationals who came here specifically to tie the knot. Up until 1961 homosexuality was considered a crime punishable by law. The law on gay marriage was rejected seven times by Parliament before finally winning approval.