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.
Torben Lund | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Folketing | |
| In office 1981–1998 | |
| Member of the European Parliament for Denmark | |
| In office 1999–2004 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 6 November 1950 (age 73) Vejle, Denmark |
| Spouse | Claus Lautrup |
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]