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| Parliament in Germany Approves Same-Sex Marriage | Parliament in Germany Approves Same-Sex Marriage |
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| BERLIN — Lawmakers in Germany voted on Friday to allow same-sex marriage after a brisk but emotional debate in Parliament, setting the stage for the country to join more than a dozen European nations — including Ireland, France and Spain — in legalizing such unions. | BERLIN — Lawmakers in Germany voted on Friday to allow same-sex marriage after a brisk but emotional debate in Parliament, setting the stage for the country to join more than a dozen European nations — including Ireland, France and Spain — in legalizing such unions. |
| The historic decision came with a swiftness rare in Germany’s usually staid politics, after Chancellor Angela Merkel unexpectedly eased her conservative party’s opposition to gay marriage and said she would allow lawmakers to vote their conscience on the measure, although she ultimately voted against it. | |
| Ms. Merkel’s softened resistance paved the way for her coalition partners in the Social Democratic Party and two other political groups to press for Friday’s vote, which passed 393 to 226, with four abstentions. | |
| “If the Constitution guarantees one thing, it is that anyone in this country can live as they wish,” Thomas Oppermann, the parliamentary leader of the Social Democrats, said in opening the floor debate. “If gay marriage is decided, then many will receive something, but nobody will have something taken away.” | “If the Constitution guarantees one thing, it is that anyone in this country can live as they wish,” Thomas Oppermann, the parliamentary leader of the Social Democrats, said in opening the floor debate. “If gay marriage is decided, then many will receive something, but nobody will have something taken away.” |
| His remark was clearly intended to defuse conservatives — including Ms. Merkel — who argued that the Constitution protected conventional marriage. | |
| The chancellor explained her stance in a two-minute statement after the vote, saying that she had come to support the right of same-sex couples to adopt but maintained her view that marriage remained a union between a man and a woman. | The chancellor explained her stance in a two-minute statement after the vote, saying that she had come to support the right of same-sex couples to adopt but maintained her view that marriage remained a union between a man and a woman. |
| “I hope that with today’s vote, not only that mutual respect is there between the individual positions, but also that a piece of social peace and togetherness could be created,” Ms. Merkel said. | |
| Axel Hochrein, a board member of the Lesbian and Gay Federation in Germany who attended the parliamentary debate, expressed no bitterness toward Ms. Merkel, even though he had said Thursday evening that he thought she was leaning toward supporting the measure. | |
| “This is perhaps part of her religious education,” he said. “I think it is more honest of her than to say yes. In the end, she fought for a long time against it and always argued it was in her feelings, and this was a feelings decision. It’s her decision.” | |
| The measure now goes to the upper house of Parliament for formal approval and then requires the signature of President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, meaning Germany’s first same-sex marriages are on track to be celebrated in the early fall. | The measure now goes to the upper house of Parliament for formal approval and then requires the signature of President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, meaning Germany’s first same-sex marriages are on track to be celebrated in the early fall. |
| The session on Friday was the last before Parliament goes on summer recess and before national elections in September. Heightening the emotion, several of the lawmakers who spoke were spending their final day in the legislature as members of Parliament. This was particularly true for Volker Beck, a Greens legislator and longtime gay rights campaigner who was close to tears when speaking with reporters after the vote. | |
| Since 2001, same-sex couples in Germany have been able to live together in civil unions, and opinion polls have shown for years that most Germans favor legalizing same-sex marriage, but conservatives had consistently blocked the issue from coming to a vote in Parliament. | Since 2001, same-sex couples in Germany have been able to live together in civil unions, and opinion polls have shown for years that most Germans favor legalizing same-sex marriage, but conservatives had consistently blocked the issue from coming to a vote in Parliament. |
| The country was jolted in the direction of approving gay marriage last weekend, when two major political parties said they would make the legislation a condition of any future coalition agreement with the Christian Democrats, led by Ms. Merkel, who is seeking a fourth term in the general election in September. | The country was jolted in the direction of approving gay marriage last weekend, when two major political parties said they would make the legislation a condition of any future coalition agreement with the Christian Democrats, led by Ms. Merkel, who is seeking a fourth term in the general election in September. |
| Ms. Merkel reacted swiftly in an interview late Monday, advocating for a vote that “is a question of conscience, rather than something I push through with a majority vote.” The final result, just days later, left gay-rights groups jubilant, and they said approval of the measure was a turning point. | Ms. Merkel reacted swiftly in an interview late Monday, advocating for a vote that “is a question of conscience, rather than something I push through with a majority vote.” The final result, just days later, left gay-rights groups jubilant, and they said approval of the measure was a turning point. |
| “It’s very positive for the self-esteem of gays and lesbians; it’s very important for people coming out, knowing that they have this equality; and it sends a clear message to any homophobic refugees coming to Germany: We have equality here,” said Arnd Bächler, a counselor and addiction therapist at Berlin’s gay counseling center. | “It’s very positive for the self-esteem of gays and lesbians; it’s very important for people coming out, knowing that they have this equality; and it sends a clear message to any homophobic refugees coming to Germany: We have equality here,” said Arnd Bächler, a counselor and addiction therapist at Berlin’s gay counseling center. |
| Approval of same-sex marriage in Germany could build momentum for similar legislation in other German-speaking countries, like Austria and Switzerland, said Katrin Hugendubel, advocacy director of ILGA-Europe, a gay and transgender rights group. She said the developments in Germany illustrated the difference that opposition parties could make. | Approval of same-sex marriage in Germany could build momentum for similar legislation in other German-speaking countries, like Austria and Switzerland, said Katrin Hugendubel, advocacy director of ILGA-Europe, a gay and transgender rights group. She said the developments in Germany illustrated the difference that opposition parties could make. |
| “For us, the most important lesson is for the opposition to be very outspoken in supporting L.G.B.T.I. rights,” Ms. Hugendubel said. “The Social Democrats’ and the Greens’ making it a coalition condition raised the pressure on the conservatives, so it’s very important that those in favor across Europe make it a condition, and be very strong in their support.” | “For us, the most important lesson is for the opposition to be very outspoken in supporting L.G.B.T.I. rights,” Ms. Hugendubel said. “The Social Democrats’ and the Greens’ making it a coalition condition raised the pressure on the conservatives, so it’s very important that those in favor across Europe make it a condition, and be very strong in their support.” |
| During the debate on Friday, some of the more conservative members of Ms. Merkel’s wing invoked the Constitution in defending marriage as a union between a man and a woman. It was not clear whether they would use this argument to present a challenge to the Constitutional Court. | During the debate on Friday, some of the more conservative members of Ms. Merkel’s wing invoked the Constitution in defending marriage as a union between a man and a woman. It was not clear whether they would use this argument to present a challenge to the Constitutional Court. |
| Volker Kauder, the parliamentary leader of the conservative bloc of Ms. Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union and Christian Social Union, directly warned the justice minister, Heiko Maas, that the law “cannot be changed out of political opportunism.” In 2015, Mr. Maas suggested that the Constitution had to be altered to allow gay marriage but this week indicated that such a step was unnecessary. | Volker Kauder, the parliamentary leader of the conservative bloc of Ms. Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union and Christian Social Union, directly warned the justice minister, Heiko Maas, that the law “cannot be changed out of political opportunism.” In 2015, Mr. Maas suggested that the Constitution had to be altered to allow gay marriage but this week indicated that such a step was unnecessary. |
| “To me it remains clear that same-sex partnership is not the same thing as a marriage. In our cultural circles, marriage has for centuries been a union between man and woman,” Mr. Kauder said. | “To me it remains clear that same-sex partnership is not the same thing as a marriage. In our cultural circles, marriage has for centuries been a union between man and woman,” Mr. Kauder said. |
| Gerda Hasselfeldt, who heads the Christian Social Union in Parliament, argued that while all Germans deserved respect, conventional marriage was the foundation of family life and the “basis of order in our state.” | Gerda Hasselfeldt, who heads the Christian Social Union in Parliament, argued that while all Germans deserved respect, conventional marriage was the foundation of family life and the “basis of order in our state.” |
| Christine Lüders, the director of the German government’s anti-discrimination agency, said that the law was “not about special rights for anyone, but about equal rights.” | Christine Lüders, the director of the German government’s anti-discrimination agency, said that the law was “not about special rights for anyone, but about equal rights.” |
| Ms. Lüders said the law would play a significant role in combating discrimination, by helping make same-sex relationships a social norm in Germany, as they have become in many countries across Europe. Last week, the German Parliament voted to void the convictions of 50,000 men punished under an anti-gay law repealed in 1994. | Ms. Lüders said the law would play a significant role in combating discrimination, by helping make same-sex relationships a social norm in Germany, as they have become in many countries across Europe. Last week, the German Parliament voted to void the convictions of 50,000 men punished under an anti-gay law repealed in 1994. |
| “I am certain that just a few years from now, as a society, we will look back on this decision on marriage equality and ask ourselves, ‘Why on earth did it take us so long?’” Ms. Lüders said. | “I am certain that just a few years from now, as a society, we will look back on this decision on marriage equality and ask ourselves, ‘Why on earth did it take us so long?’” Ms. Lüders said. |