In 1989, gay and lesbian Danes became the first people in modern history to win the legal right to enter into registered partnerships. Denmark’s move outraged evangelical conservatives, who claimed that legalising same-sex unions would weaken the institution of marriage itself. The high Danish gay “divorce” rate – 28.5 per cent in 2007 – will have done little to dissuade them. In 2001, the Netherlands was the first country to grant gay and lesbian relationships the same status as heterosexual married couples when it legalised same-sex marriage. Belgium and Spain followed suit, while other European countries, including the UK, opted for same-sex civil partnerships. Britain legalised civil partnerships only in December 2005 and divorce can only occur after a year has elapsed, so perhaps it’s small wonder that the British gay divorce rate for 2007 is just 0.48 per cent. That’s the lowest in Europe – for now.