As a gay traveler, Sweden is one of the first countries you should visit. What gay travelers can expect:

If you are a gay traveler looking for the appropriate place to spend some quality time, then Sweden has got to be that place. This is because ever since the right laws were put in place, there has been a peaceful coexistence between the gay and straight communities.

Gay life in Sweden:

Sweden is one of the few countries that have openly allowed same sex marriages.

Although the procedure had a few stumbling blocks, the end result has become highly beneficial for the gay community. Nowadays, lesbians and gays are allowed to participate in a variety of activities such as serving in the military openly, adoption of kids, walking and holding hands in public, hosting campaigns and other meetings and even donating blood.

Gay-friendly events:

They are also host several gay-pride festivals in Sweden every year. The most notable event is the Stockholm Pride Festival, which is currently the biggest and oldest annual gay festival since its inception in 1998.

What's the history behind same sex marriage in Sweden?

Sweden actually became the first country in the world to scrap the notion that homosexuality is an illness, by legalizing same sex marriages. Considered as the most gay-friendly country in Europe, the country's constitution has aimed to achieve equality between straights and gays. The campaign for gay rights in Sweden is mostly attributed to the dominant strong sense of secularism that is evenly spread throughout the country.

In May 2009, the Swedish government overwhelmingly voted to make same sex marriages legal, counting 261 votes that were cast in favor, while only 26 were against it.

According to its history, Sweden legalized same sex marriages in 1944. In 1987, in order to adequately fight against the spread of HIV, the Swedish legislature passed a law barring prostitution and sex in gay saunas. In 1972, the country allowed transsexuals to change their sexual orientation legally and also facilitated administration of free hormone therapy. Albeit small protests against the liberalization and rights of same sex marriages took place, the Swedish government put everything to rest when they allowed gays to register their partnership as of 1995.

These partnerships were very much similar to those of straight marriages with very little differences where necessary. The situation continued until early 2009 when amendments were made so that there was no registration of new same sex partnerships since the practice had been fully legalized.

Discrimination protection in Sweden:

The Swedish Constitution has banned discrimination of any sort against people with a particular sexual orientation. The act to amend this constitution started way back in 1987 when discrimination against lesbians and gays was inserted in to a section of the penal code that handles other forms of discrimination, such as race. In 2008, the transgender expression was added to the unified discrimination code - which was then enforced in January 2009.

Gay movement rights in Sweden:

The Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay and transgender rights (RFSL), which is one of the world's largest LGBT organizations, advocates the rights of same sex marriages through lobbying, dissemination of information and scheduling many events and activities. Being an independent body with more than 28 branches all over Sweden (including in Stockholm), this organization offers many activities such as talking to people who are afraid to come out, HIV/AIDS, sex and other health related issues.