Torben Lund

Torben Lund
Member of the Folketing
In office
1981–1998
Member of the European Parliament for Denmark
In office
1999–2004
Personal details
Born6 November 1950 (1950-11-06) (age 74)
Vejle, Denmark
SpouseClaus 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]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Torben Lund har forladt Socialdemokratiet". dr.dk, August 22, 2009.
  2. ^ "Social Democrat MEP criticizes European Parliament". EU Observer, September 13, 2002.
  3. ^ Jan Lofstrom, Scandinavian Homosexualities: Essays on Gay and Lesbian Studies. Routledge, 1998. ISBN 9781317957577. p. 240.
  4. ^ "Danish politician marries gay lover". Bay Windows, March 24, 1999.
  5. ^ "Torben Lund bliver tv-redaktør". Politiken, January 21, 2004.


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