Copenhagen  - A special graveyard has been opened for Danish homosexuals in Copenhagen where the organization Rainbow has reserved 36 places for funeral urns, reports said Tuesday.

The organization has an option for a further 12 places in a section of the municipal Assistens cemetery in the Danish capital where famed Danish writers HC Andersen and Soren Kierkegaard are buried.

Ivan Larsen said he and his partner, Ove Carlsen, felt they wanted to be close also after death, and co-founded Rainbow a year ago that offers its members a funeral urn site for 2,500 kroner (525 dollars).

"We have our own places where we can meet and have fun, gay bars and such. That is why we wanted our own graveyard," Larsen, a priest, told public broadcaster DR.

Carlsen said some eight urn sites were already reserved.

The graveyard is marked with a big stone and the rainbow flag that often symbolizes gay and lesbian community pride.

Denmark pioneered same-sex unions in 1989. (dpa)