Switzerland parliament to legalize same sex marriage
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Switzerland lawmakers on Friday voted for legalizing same sex marriages in the country. The bill is to simplify legal gender recognition procedures for transgenders.
The campaigners who fought for the bill hailed the move as a major step forward for LGBTQ rights.
"This is not only a milestone in the fight for the rights of the Swiss LGBT population but also an important victory for their dignity, their acceptance and their inclusion in society," Marriage For All, a campaign group,reacted on its website regarding the move.
Since 2013, the same sex marriage bill is on debating circle in the country. Among the European countries Switzerland is one of the few countries where same sex marriage is not legal.
The approved bill allow gays and lesbians to choose their partners. The bill which allows same sex partners enter in to as 'registered partnership', does not provide the same rights as marriage including for obtaining adoption rights of children and obtaining citizenship.
The Bill also guarantees lesbians to access sperm donation as well. By making a registration at civil registry offices without the need of doctor or court,trans and inter sex people will now be able to do this. According to European advocacy groups this is called 'Self ID'.
To change the gender both the children and adults have to apply to court with a cost. Two chambers of Parliament have now approved the bill after multiple rounds of debates since 2013.
In 2013, the draft bill for same-sex marriage was introduced by Switzerland's Green Party, the fourth-largest party in the National Council of Switzerland. Following years the party had to face criticisms from conservative democratic Union and Christians in Switzerland for speaking up for same sex marriage and LGBTQ rights.
As per the demand of Christians, Ultra Conservative Federal Democratic Union party the same sex marriage bill have to put in a national wide referendum before coming in to effect.
According to a survey conducted by a gay advocacy group called Pink Cross in February, about 80% of people in Switzerland supports same sex marriage.