Switzerland has agreed to legalise civil marriage and the right to adopt children for same-sex couples by a nearly two-thirds majority in a referendum, making it one of the last countries in Western Europe to legalise gay marriage.
According to results provided by the Swiss federal chancellery, 64.1 per cent of voters voted in favour of same-sex marriage in Sunday’s nationwide referendum.
“It is a historic day for Switzerland, a historic day when it comes to equality for same-sex couples, and it is also an important day for the whole LGBT community,” said Jan Muller of the “yes” campaign committee.
Switzerland is the world’s 30th country to adopt same-sex marriages, and one of the last remaining western European nations to do so. The Netherlands was the first in 2001.
“We are very happy and relieved,” said Antonia Hauswirth of the national committee “Marriage for All”, adding supporters would celebrate in Switzerland’s capital Bern on Sunday.
Justice minister Karin Keller-Sutter said the first same-sex marriages should be able to take place from July 1 next year.
“Whoever loves each other and wants to get married will be able to do so, regardless of whether it is two men, two women, or a man and a woman,” she said.
“The state does not have to tell citizens how they should lead their lives.”
Amnesty International welcomed the move as a “milestone for equality”.
While same-sex couples can register a civil partnership, with about 700 established each year, the arrangement does not provide the same rights as to marriage, including for obtaining citizenship and the joint adoption of children.
The amended law will make it possible for same-sex couples to get married in civil ceremonies, and adopt children. Married lesbian couples will also have access to sperm donation, in what was one of the more controversial aspects of the referendum campaign.
50,000 signatures needed to put the issue to a referendum under Switzerland’s system of direct democracy was gathered after the Swiss parliament approved a bill last December allowing same-sex couples to marry.
Monika Rueegger of the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP) and member of the referendum committee “No to Marriage for All” said she was disappointed at the outcome.
“This was not about love and feelings, it was about children’s welfare. Children and fathers are the losers here,” she told the Reuters news agency.
The law will also make it easier for foreigners married to Swiss people to get citizenship.