Switzerland is celebrating the legalization of same-sex marriage this week after a referendum resoundingly approved the measure. In a vote held on Sunday, 64.1 percent of Swiss voters confirmed the right of same-sex couples to marry and adopt children.
Swiss lawmakers voted to expand the marriage rights of LGBTQ+ couples in December, but opposition politicians managed to secure the 50,000 signatures needed to put the issue to a referendum. Same-sex couples have been allowed to enter into a civil partnership since 2007, but this denies couples many of the legal implications of marriage. Following the vote, same-sex couples will be able to marry and pursue all the legal benefits of marriage including citizenship and joint adoption of children.
The approved law also mandates updates to the Swiss Civil Code including replacing the words “bride” and “groom” with either “two people” or “the engaged.”
Due to administrative and legislative procedures, it will likely be several months before same-sex couples can officially tie the knot, but this vote demonstrates the country’s commitment to marriage equality for all.
