Stubb also noted the citizen's initiative process  that led to the law being considered by Parliament is "important" and "a demonstration of civic activism." Outside of the Parliament, supporters of same-sex marriage and opponents both turned up to demonstrate, although the former outnumbered the latter. Finland now becomes the 12th country in Europe to allow same-sex marriages, although the law is not going to take effect immediately. The country has had a registered partnerships law for same-sex couples since 2002. 
Stubb also noted the citizen's initiative process — a public petition that had garnered 160,000 signatures — that led to the law being considered by Parliament is "important" and "a demonstration of civic activism." Outside of the Parliament, supporters of same-sex marriage and opponents both turned up to demonstrate, although the former outnumbered the latter. Finland now becomes the 12th country in Europe to allow same-sex marriages, although the law is not going to take effect immediately. The country has had a registered partnerships law for same-sex couples since 2002. Before the vote took place, the bill had been rejected by the country's legal affair's committee under the notion that passing the law would make it harder for Finns to adopt from countries that disapprove of same-sex marriage; especially Russia.
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— a public petition that had garnered 160,000 signatures —
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Before the vote took place, the bill had been rejected by the country's legal affair's committee under the notion that passing the law would make it harder for Finns to adopt from countries that disapprove of same-sex marriage; especially Russia.