Committed Couple Axel Axgil and Eigil Axgil Axel Axgil and Eigil Axgil, World’s first couple to obtain a “Registered Partnership.” Just after the ceremony, Copenhagen, Denmark, October 1, 1989. Axel Axgil and Eigil Axgil passing by city hall after their “Registered Partnership” ceremony. Axel founded the Danish gay society F-48 and the Norwegian DNF-48. In 1954, he founded the International Homosexual World Organisation. The men combined their last names — Eigil Eskildsen and Axel Lundahl-Madsen — to form Axgil as a form of defiance. The police had threatened that the two men live apart after release from prison in 1956. The charges of “speculation in lust” stemmed, in large part, from distributing non-sexual photographs of male nudes. One of the men had served a year, and the other a year-and-a-half. Eigil Axgil died 1995. The couple had been together 46 years. Photographs by Anja Tollan. Image © 2000, Axel Axgil & Eigil Axgil Rights to photos of Axel and Eigil belong to Hans Christian Thaysen. More photos and information may be found at the 1st Partnership Page. Contents © 2006, Partners Task Force Return to: Gallery III The Sweet Corn Shop    Products that affirm self-esteem and social equality.    A smart variety of Bumper Stickers and Buttons    for political impact, plus Mugs and Teddy Bears.    Purchases help support Partners’ efforts.