Switzerland votes to legalize same-sex marriage by a huge margin

History was made this weekend in Switzerland, as two-thirds of Swiss voters backed same-sex marriage in a referendum.

Switzerland is one of the last countries in Western Europe to legalize marriage for same-sex couples. With 64 percent in agreement for equality, this was a historic moment for LGBTQ rights in the nation.

Despite the wide margin, the referendum has not been without controversy with conservative opposition and church groups campaigning for years against giving the public the option to have their say. The opposition was to be expected in a country that was among the last in the world to give women the right to vote, which Switzerland only did in 1971.

AP News reported Justice Minister Karin Keller-Sutter supported the “Marriage for All” measure and stated that the new rules will be in place by July 2022.

“With this, all couples will in the future be treated equally before the law: all can enter into a civil marriage, with the same rights and obligations,” Keller-Sutter stated.

Same-sex couples have been able to register their partnerships since 2007. However, they have not been awarded the same rights as heterosexual couples. This new measure will make it possible for married lesbian couples to have children through sperm donation and for couples to adopt unrelated children.

Switzerland has become the 30th country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage.

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