Germany legalises same-sex marriage

Germany's parliament on Friday voted by a wide margin in favor to legalise same-sex marriage after Chancellor Angela Merkel made a U-turn that freed members of her ruling conservative party to follow their conscience rather than the party line.

The parliament voted by 393 votes to approve the amendment to 226 against while four abstained.

Merkel, who will seek a fourth term in a national election on September 24, told reporters after the vote that the issue was “emotionally touching ... for me personally,” but that she voted no because of her “basic belief” that “marriage is marriage between man and woman.”

 
She said her decision was a personal one, adding that she had become convinced in recent years that same-sex couples should be allowed to adopt children.

I hope that the vote today not only promotes respect between the different opinions but also brings more social cohesion and peace, Merkel said.

The amendment grants full marital rights, including child adoption, to gay and lesbian couples, who in Germany have been allowed since 2001 to enter so-called civil unions.

Several other European countries, including France, Britain and Spain, have already legalised same-sex marriage. Germany is the 23rd country to legalise same-sex marriage.

Green Party's gay rights activist Volker Beck, front right, and fellow faction members celebrate

Merkel announced on Monday that she would allow lawmakers to vote on same-sex marriage according to their individual conscience which drew the ire of some in her traditionally Catholic conservative party.

The measure will likely be signed into law by the president some time after July 7.

The matter still has to be debated in the upper house Bundesrat before it can become law. However, no Bundesrat vote is required reports Reuters.