Switzerland Permits Same-Sex Marriage

Switzerland allows same-sex marriage on September 26th. It is the 30th country to legalise same-sex marriage and give respective couples the right to adopt.

Various LGBTQ communities were thrilled and celebrated this moment as years of attempts to legalise same-sex marriage came into effect.

Switzerland has agreed to legalise marriage for same-sex couples by a nearly two-thirds majority in a referendum, making it one of the last countries in Western Europe to do so. 

“Marriages for all”; supporters hailed.

The bill passed with 64.1% of voters in favour and won a majority in all of Switzerland’s 26 states.

Switzerland’s parliament and the governing Federal Council supported the “Marriage for All” measure.

The Swiss government has legalised registered partnerships for same-sex couples since 2007.

A bill to legalise same-sex marriage surfaced in 2013 and was passed by the parliament after seven years in December 2020.

However, opposition parties challenged the law and demanded a referendum, whose results on Sunday overjoyed everyone. 

“Whoever loves each other and wants to get married will be able to do so”, said Justice Minister Karin Keller-Sutter.

The same-sex marriages would officially commence in July 2022, he added. Supporters stated that this law would allow same-sex partners to adopt children as heterosexual partners, thus setting everyone on the same pedestal.

Moreover, this law will also permit lesbian couples to conceive via sperm donation. “It is a memorable day for Switzerland, a historic day when it comes to equality for same-sex couples, and it is also a notable day for the whole LGBT community,” Jan Muller of the “yes” campaign committee told AFP news agency.

“Children and Fathers are the losers here”; the opposition opposed. 

While the law was a euphoric moment for the country, some despised the decision. Monika Rueegger, Switzerland’s right-wing populist Swiss People’s Party (SVP), expressed deep disappointment with the law.

A member of “No marriages for all” stated, “Children and Fathers are the losers here”. “This was not about love and feelings,” she told Reuters. “It was about children’s welfare.”

Other opposition communities, including church groups and conservative parties, campaigned against same-sex marriage.

The antagonist stated that this law would harm traditional family values and culture. They also said that same-sex marriage defies the basic foundation of marriage between a man and woman. 

Opposing parties hailed different statements. While some said “children would need mom and dad”, others voted for ‘yes’ believed everything a child needs is love, irrespective of gender.