Love in Copenhagen: 25 Years of Same-Sex Civil Unions

On the next leg of their Copenhagen journey, Michael and Mark, who won a trip to Denmark through the #ValidateYourLove video contest, pay a visit to Ivan and Ove, one of the first couples to obtain a civil union in the nation.

Ivan and Ove, like Copenhagen, are celebrating their 25th anniversary of legal partnership, and they shared with their American visitors memories from their years together.

“Seven days before it took effect, I went to City Hall to get the papers so we could have our partnership registered,” said Ivan. “And I remember, still, my feeling, ‘Yes. We succeeded. Now, it’s our turn.'”

Denmark, they noted with pride, was the first country in the world to have civil unions. Same-sex marriage became legal in Denmark in June 2012.

Watch the full clip below, and stay tuned for more videos as Michael and Mark prepare to wed in Denmark’s largest city. Make sure to check out their tour of some of Denmark's most famous attractions here.