Switzerland adopted same-sex marriage after getting two-thirds of its voters in favour, and supporters mentioned it as a historical victory of equality.
The first marriage will take place in July next year, said Justice minister Karin Keller-Sutter.
Switzerland became the 30th country in the world to adopt Same-sex Marriage.
Switzerland became one of Western Europe’s last countries to legalise same-sex marriage with two-thirds of total votes.
This Sunday, the Swiss federal chancellery announced the results of a nationwide referendum on same-sex marriage, and 64.1 per cent of voters voted in favour of same-sex marriage and won a majority in all of 26 cantons or states.
It is a historic day for Switzerland.
Jan Muller of the “Yes” campaign committee said it’s a historic day for equality for same-sex couples and an important day for the whole LGBT community, to the AFP news agency.
Amnesty International welcomed the move as a milestone for equity.
The first same-sex marriage would take place in July next year, said Justice minister Karin Keller-Sutter.
She said anyone who loves each other and wants to get married could do so, be it two men, two women or a man and a woman.
She also says the state does not have to tell its citizens how to live their lives.
Switzerland has authorised same-sex civil relationships since 2007.
A same-sex couple can register a civil partnership, but it does not provide them with the same rights and legal equality as marriage.
But now, after winning through massive votes, supporters say that it will place same-sex couples on an equal legal basis with heterosexual couples by allowing them to get married in civil ceremonies, and adopt children together, and facilitate citizenship to same-sex wives.
It also allowed lesbian couples to utilise regulated sperm donation, which was one of the most controversial aspects of the referendum campaign.
The “Yes” campaign has been rife with allegations of unfair tactics. The opposing sides have decided to tear down posters, LGBT hotlines have complained, hostile emails, insults against campaigners and attempts to silence dissent.
Opposed the referendum
But a right-wing politician, Monica Ruiger from the Swiss People’s Party (SVP) and an opponent of the “Yes” campaign says children and fathers have lost.
She told Reuters, it wasn’t about love and feeling, “it was about children’s welfare.”
Last December, the Swiss parliament passed a bill allowing same-sex marriage, with support from all major political parties except the People’s Party.
To challenge the bill, proponents gathered 50,000 signatures to put the issue to a referendum under Switzerland’s system of direct democracy.
With a population of 8.5 million, Switzerland is known as a traditionally conservative country, and in 1990 it only increased the right to vote to all its women.
Most Western European countries have recognised same-sex marriage, while most Central and Eastern European countries do not allow marriage to two men or two women.
Tax raising proposal
Also, on Sunday, voters rejected a proposal led by leftist groups to raise taxes on returns from investments and capital such as dividends or income from a rental property in Switzerland to ensure good redistribution and fairer taxation.
The results showed that 64.9 per cent voted against it due to its vibrant financial sector and relatively low taxes.
In Switzerland, many big decisions go to a nationwide referendum, which can slow down significant changes to social legislation.
