Swiss same-sex couples have won the right to marry after voters overwhelmingly backed its legalization in a referendum.
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The vote was brought about by conservative politicians opposed to LGBTQ+ marriages.
Since 2007, same-sex couples have only been able to enter into a civil partnership
Switzerland has voted by a wide margin in favor of allowing same-sex couples to get married and adopt children, in a referendum held on Sunday.
The Alpine nation has now become the latest Western European country to recognize LGBTQ+ marriages.
Official results show 64.1% voted "yes" to legalizing same-sex marriages, while 36% voted "no," according to initial results from the gfs.bern polling agency.
However, supporters have said it could take months before such marriages could take place, mainly because of the country's administrative and legislative procedures.
Swiss parliament backs 'marriage for all'
Ahead of the vote, the government and lawmakers had urged voters to back "marriage for all" and eliminate the current "unequal treatment" of LGBTQ+ couples.
Swiss lawmakers had voted in December to legalize same-sex marriage.
But conservative politicians opposed to the law managed to secure the required 50,000 signatures to put the issue to a referendum.
Members of some Christian congregations and the right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP) — Switzerland's largest political party — were some of the strongest opponents of marriage equality.
Switzerland decriminalized homosexuality in 1942, but local and regional police forces were known to have maintained "gay registers" until the 1990s.
Since 2007, same-sex couples have only been able to enter into a civil partnership.
While about 700 such partnerships are registered each year, this does not grant the couples the same rights as marriage does, such as citizenship and joint adoption of children.
In December, lawmakers had voted to allow lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex people to marry, instead of just acquiring civil unions.
They also backed amendments to the Swiss Civil Code, replacing words such as "bride" and "groom" with either "two people" or "the engaged."
The result of the referendum, if confirmed, would allow the marriage bill to become law.
Same-sex couples will be able to jointly adopt children, and foreign spouses could become eligible to apply for citizenship through a simplified procedure.
adi/rs (AFP, AP)
Since 2007, same-sex couples have only been able to enter into a civil partnership
Switzerland has voted by a wide margin in favor of allowing same-sex couples to get married and adopt children, in a referendum held on Sunday.
The Alpine nation has now become the latest Western European country to recognize LGBTQ+ marriages.
Official results show 64.1% voted "yes" to legalizing same-sex marriages, while 36% voted "no," according to initial results from the gfs.bern polling agency.
However, supporters have said it could take months before such marriages could take place, mainly because of the country's administrative and legislative procedures.
Swiss parliament backs 'marriage for all'
Ahead of the vote, the government and lawmakers had urged voters to back "marriage for all" and eliminate the current "unequal treatment" of LGBTQ+ couples.
Swiss lawmakers had voted in December to legalize same-sex marriage.
But conservative politicians opposed to the law managed to secure the required 50,000 signatures to put the issue to a referendum.
Members of some Christian congregations and the right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP) — Switzerland's largest political party — were some of the strongest opponents of marriage equality.
Switzerland decriminalized homosexuality in 1942, but local and regional police forces were known to have maintained "gay registers" until the 1990s.
Since 2007, same-sex couples have only been able to enter into a civil partnership.
While about 700 such partnerships are registered each year, this does not grant the couples the same rights as marriage does, such as citizenship and joint adoption of children.
In December, lawmakers had voted to allow lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex people to marry, instead of just acquiring civil unions.
They also backed amendments to the Swiss Civil Code, replacing words such as "bride" and "groom" with either "two people" or "the engaged."
The result of the referendum, if confirmed, would allow the marriage bill to become law.
Same-sex couples will be able to jointly adopt children, and foreign spouses could become eligible to apply for citizenship through a simplified procedure.
adi/rs (AFP, AP)
Switzerland same-sex marriage:
Two-thirds of voters back yes
BBC
Activists say people in Switzerland are now ready for same-sex marriage
Almost two-thirds of Swiss voters have backed same-sex marriage in a referendum.
Some 64% supported the measure, making it one of the last countries in western Europe to legalise same-sex marriage.
Campaigners have hailed the vote as a historic moment for LGBT rights in the country.
In the build up to the vote, church groups and conservative political parties opposed the idea, saying it would undermine the traditional family.
Switzerland has allowed same-sex couples to register partnerships since 2007, but some rights are restricted.
The measure will make it possible for same-sex couples to adopt unrelated children and for married lesbian couples to have children through sperm donation.
It makes Switzerland the 30th country in the world to adopt same-sex marriage.
"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," Jan Muller, of the "yes" campaign committee, told AFP news agency.
Justice Minister Karin Keller-Sutter said the first same-sex marriages would take place in July 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.
But Monika Rueegger, a politician with the right-wing Swiss People's Party and an opponent of the measure, said children and fathers were the losers.
"This was not about love and feelings," she told Reuters. "It was about children's welfare."
Over the last 20 years, most countries in western Europe have recognised same-sex marriage. However, in Switzerland many big decisions go to a nationwide ballot, and this can slow down major changes to social legislation.
The new law, which had the backing of the Swiss government and all major political parties except the People's Party, was passed by parliament in December.
However, it was then challenged by opponents, who gathered enough signatures to force a referendum.
BBC
Activists say people in Switzerland are now ready for same-sex marriage
Almost two-thirds of Swiss voters have backed same-sex marriage in a referendum.
Some 64% supported the measure, making it one of the last countries in western Europe to legalise same-sex marriage.
Campaigners have hailed the vote as a historic moment for LGBT rights in the country.
In the build up to the vote, church groups and conservative political parties opposed the idea, saying it would undermine the traditional family.
Switzerland has allowed same-sex couples to register partnerships since 2007, but some rights are restricted.
The measure will make it possible for same-sex couples to adopt unrelated children and for married lesbian couples to have children through sperm donation.
It makes Switzerland the 30th country in the world to adopt same-sex marriage.
"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," Jan Muller, of the "yes" campaign committee, told AFP news agency.
Justice Minister Karin Keller-Sutter said the first same-sex marriages would take place in July 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.
But Monika Rueegger, a politician with the right-wing Swiss People's Party and an opponent of the measure, said children and fathers were the losers.
"This was not about love and feelings," she told Reuters. "It was about children's welfare."
Over the last 20 years, most countries in western Europe have recognised same-sex marriage. However, in Switzerland many big decisions go to a nationwide ballot, and this can slow down major changes to social legislation.
The new law, which had the backing of the Swiss government and all major political parties except the People's Party, was passed by parliament in December.
However, it was then challenged by opponents, who gathered enough signatures to force a referendum.
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