Torben Lund Explained

Torben Lund
Office1:Member of the Folketing
Term Start1:1981
Term End1:1998
Office2:Member of the European Parliament for Denmark
Term Start2:1999
Term End2:2004
Birth Place:Vejle, Denmark
Spouse:Claus Lautrup

Torben Lund (born 6 November 1950 in Vejle) is a Danish politician, who served in the Folketing from 1981 to 1998[1] and in the European Parliament from 1999 to 2004.[2] He was associated with the Danish Social Democrats in Denmark, and the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament.

While sitting in the Folketing, he was one of the sponsors of the 1989 legislation that first legalized registered partnership for same-sex couples.[3] He served as Health Minister in the Poul Nyrup Rasmussen I Cabinet from 1993 to 1994.[1]

He came out as gay in 1998, becoming Denmark's first openly gay member of the Folketing. In 1999, he married his partner Claus Lautrup.[4]

After his retirement from politics, he joined the Danish television network Dk4.[5] He remained active in the Social Democrats, but left the party in 2009 due to disagreements with the leadership of Helle Thorning-Schmidt.[1]

Notes and References

  1. "Torben Lund har forladt Socialdemokratiet". dr.dk, August 22, 2009.
  2. https://euobserver.com/news/7546 "Social Democrat MEP criticizes European Parliament"
  3. Jan Lofstrom, Scandinavian Homosexualities: Essays on Gay and Lesbian Studies. Routledge, 1998. . p. 240.
  4. "Danish politician marries gay lover". Bay Windows, March 24, 1999.
  5. http://politiken.dk/kultur/ECE77713/torben-lund-bliver-tv-redaktoer/ "Torben Lund bliver tv-redaktør"