Switzerland now allows people of the same sex to marry and adopt children

The Government of Switzerland already allows people of the same sex to marry and adopt children in the country, as announced in November, after same-sex marriage was approved in a referendum held in September 2021.

Thomas Osborne
Thomas Osborne
01 July 2022 Friday 15:56
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Switzerland now allows people of the same sex to marry and adopt children

The Government of Switzerland already allows people of the same sex to marry and adopt children in the country, as announced in November, after same-sex marriage was approved in a referendum held in September 2021.

"As of July 1, 2022, same-sex couples will be able to marry or convert their registered partner into marriage," the Swiss Executive explained in a statement at the time.

In the vote on September 26, "the clear majority of voters accepted" the marriage equality proposal, after which Parliament decided to launch the project in two phases. The first of these was launched on January 1, when a single provision on the separation of assets came into force, referring to the "balance of people of the same sex who have married abroad."

The law required that the initiative enter into force six months later, which means that from this Friday same-sex marriage is allowed, although those who have wanted to marry before have been able to request it earlier.

In addition to being able to marry, married same-sex couples can also jointly adopt children and, in the case of single women or lesbian couples, have access to assisted reproductive techniques. If one of the partners is a foreigner, she will be able to benefit from a shorter and less expensive naturalization procedure.

The referendum was approved in September by 64% of the votes. Opponents of this measure are the ultra-nationalist party, known as the Swiss People's Party or Center Democratic Union (SVP, for its acronym in German) and some religious groups, among others.