As gay pride celebrations – known as St. Christopher’s Day – come to an end in Berlin (and have just begun in Hamburg), the country celebrates a major victory for LGBT rights in Germany – the right to marry.
A war lasting several decades
July 14, 2017 will be a historic day in Germany’s progress. Gay and lesbian activists proudly waved flags and held up banners with phrases such as “Choose love” after the German parliament legalized same-sex marriage. Despite the rain, cheers, whistles and the sound of popping champagne could be heartening around Chancellor Angela Merkel’s office near the Reichstag building.
Sören Landmann, member of the “Marriage for All” initiative, says he is very pleased with the results.
“I got married a year ago in Scotland because we weren’t allowed to do it in Germany. I’m extremely happy that a couple who would like to get married no longer have to go abroad for it and that they can now get married here in a very normal way.”
A “vote for love”
Lawmakers vote 393-226 in favor of marriage equality, a major victory for many. One politician, Volker Beck, a veteran gay rights activist was particularly pleased, ending his 23-year career as a lawmaker on this historic day.
The center-left Social Democrats, the Greens and the far-left Linke party were the main proponents behind the bill. But it was also backed by 75 conservative lawmakers after Merkel allowed a conscience vote to take place (despite her own vote against the measure).
Polls also show that most Germans are behind the results of the vote. According to estimates, roughly three-quarters of Germans support marriage equality. And according to the lesbian and gay association, which has been pushing for the reform since 1990, the results show that “Germany has voted for love”.
“This is a historic day!” they added. “Not only for lesbians and gays, but also for a fairer and more democratic society.
