Switzerland votes to make same-sex marriage legal by near two-thirds majority
Couples pose during a photo
Switzerlandagreed tolegalise civilmarriageand the right to adopt children forsame-sexcouples by anearlytwo-thirdsmajorityin a referendum on Sunday, making it one of the last countries in Western Europe tolegalise gaymarriage.
According to results provided by the Swiss federal chancellery, 64.1% of voters voted in favour ofsame-sexmarriagein the nationwide referendum that was conducted underSwitzerland's system of direct democracy.
"We are very happy and relieved," said Antonia Hauswirth of the national committee "Marriagefor All", adding supporters would celebrate inSwitzerland's capital Bern on Sunday.
Amnesty International said in a statement that opening civilmarriagetosame-sexcouples was a "milestone for equality".
However, Monika Rueegger ofSwitzerland's right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP) and member of the referendum committee "No toMarriagefor All" said she was disappointed.
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"This was not about love and feelings, it was about children's welfare. Children and fathers are the losers here," she told Reuters.
The amended law willmakeit possible forsame-sexcouples to get married, and to adopt children unrelated to them. Married lesbian couples will also be allowed to have children through sperm donation, currentlylegalonly for married heterosexual couples.
It will alsomakeit easier for foreign spouses of a Swiss individual to get citizenship.
Swiss Justice Minister Karin Keller-Sutter told a media briefing the new rules would likely come into force on July 1 next year.
In a separate referendum, 64.9% of Swiss voters rejected a proposal to introduce a capital gains tax.