It’s finally here: Same-Sex Marriage Equality in Germany!

Finally, Equality Germany Same-Sex Marriage – This year, Germany had parliamentary elections (for the Bundestag) where Angela Merkel was re-elected for the fourth time and won the election. The German government was against marriage equality and allowed only the soft version of gay marriage as a civil union since 2001. That means German members of the LGBTQ+ community could not claim the same rights compared to straight relationships. But this is about to change from today on! Thanks to LGBTQ+ activists in Germany and for sure thanks to all the people joining the German Gay Pride Parades of the last years; from today, 1st of October 2017, Germany becomes the 24th country with marriage equality.

After all political German parties confirmed to condition possible political coalitions on Same-Sex Marriage, in German called “Ehe für Alle,” German Chancellor Angela Merkel officially cleared the vote about Same-Sex Marriage at German Bundestag for the government at the end of this week. As expected, Same-Sex Marriage holds a majority within all parties except the right-wing party AfD (Alternative for Germany) and members of the Christian Democratic Union. 393 members of parliament voted for gay marriage on 30th June 2017, only 226 voted against it. Among the members of the parliament who voted against same-sex marriage is Chancellor Angela Merkel. After the German president Frank Steinmeier signed the law at the end of July, it is now possible for same-sex relationships and couples to get married and adopt children. The German LGBTQ+ community and their allies worldwide celebrate that equality finally arrived in German. Finally, we have Same-Sex Marriage in Germany!

Equality Germany Same-Sex Marriage

It was Monday evening when German Chancellor Angela Merkel, for the first time, did not say “no” anymore to equal marriage. During an interview with the Editor-in-Chief of the German magazine “Brigitte,” she said that politicians would have to make a “decision of conscience” for the first time.” But why did she change her mind all of a sudden? She mentioned an invitation of a lesbian couple taking care of eight fosterlings. Since the German youth welfare office has no problems with giving 8 children to a family of two women (and they are all well), how should it be possible to argue against a child’s well-being as a reason to refuse a same-sex couple the same rights as a straight couple.

Although she is right, of course, why didn’t the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party initiate the process of legalizing Same-Sex Marriage? The other German parties, The Green Party, the Social Democratic Party of Germany, and The left Party (later on the Liberals too) tried hard the last couple of years to change the opinion about same-sex marriage, especially against the fear of the conservatives that the equal marriage would threaten the “holy” conjunction of marriage. Anyway, this unexpected development in German politics this week brings Germany a small step closer to equality, respect for human rights, and, therefore, respect for LGBTQ+ rights.

Current Situation in Europe & worldwide

Germany is about to join the other 13 European countries with legalized Same-Sex Marriage. The Netherlands was the first country ever with the right to equal marriage. Other states in Europe, especially Western Europe, followed the example of the Dutch people. Belgium, Spain, Norway, Sweden, Portugal, Iceland, Denmark, France, Great Britain (without Northern Ireland), Luxembourg, Ireland, and Finland have the same rights for gay and lesbian couples. Furthermore, in 7 countries, the right of adoption is legal for homosexual couples. These European countries are The Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Spain, Belgium, France, and Great Britain. Hopefully, in the future, more countries in Europe and worldwide will legalize human rights for all people. Until then, we will keep on traveling the world as an openly gay couple, bringing equal love around the world.

Steps to legalization: Equality in Germany after legalizing Same-Sex Marriage

After the overwhelming majority of votes to the Same-Sex Marriage, the next steps took some months. After passing the upper house of the German parliament, called Bundesrat, the German Bundespresident Frank-Walter Steinmeier (former active member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany SPD) signed the law on July 21st, 2017. The earliest possible date of a “gay marriage” was estimated October 1st, 2017. Although there are still some logistical problems and bureaucratic steps to adopt, the first gay couple will marry today, Sunday, 1st of October 2017. We can only add: LOVE WINS and may many more countries follow around the world. Maybe Australia is the next on the list and becomes the 25th country with marriage equality?

More Equality Germany Same-sex Marriage:

Also, countries on other continents have legalized gay marriage, Canada in 2005 and the United States of America in 2015. Anyhow, four South American countries, Taiwan as the only Asian country, South Africa as the only African country, and New Zealand legalized same-sex marriage. Israel is the most advanced country in the Middle East with recognizing a same-sex marriage contracted in foreign countries.

More Gay Pride Trips from all over the World:

• Our Trip to Gay Pride Tel Aviv, Israel >
• Our Trip to Gay Pride Helsinki, Finland >
• Our Trip to Gay Pride Jasper, Canada >
• Amsterdam for Gay Euro Pride 2016 >
• Out Trip to Gay Pride Tallinn, Estonia >
• Out Trip to Gay Pride Benidorm, Spain >
• All our Gay Pride Trips in an overview >