Gay Marriage in Germany and France?

Germany’s Social Democrat opposition (Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands, SPD) backed marriage equality at its national convention in early December.

The vote from delegates was unanimous that the party should seek to change German law should the party form the next government, almost certainly in alliance with smaller parties which already back gay marriage such as the Greens.

They also voted unanimously to end discrimination in adoption law.

Ansgar Dittmar, National Chairman of lesbians and gays in the SPD (Schwusos), said that the party had decided that there was now no more legitimacy in maintaining two parallel institutions of marriage and life partnership.

Marriage equality could come sooner as the city state of Hamburg has introduced it into the German Senate and the SPD has introduced a bill into the Bundestag.

Registered life partnerships (effectively, a form of civil union) have been instituted since 2001, giving same-sex couples rights and obligations in areas such as inheritance, alimony, health insurance, immigration and name change but no tax benefits.

Polls show a healthy majority of Germans favor marriage equality.

Despite marriage equality losing heavily in the French parliament in July, rumors are swirling in France that President Nicholas Sarkozy will support marriage equality and gay families in next year’s election.

He is reported to have been inspired by the leadership of fellow conservative David Cameron, who told his party’s congress earlier this year:

I don’t support gay marriage despite being a Conservative. I support gay marriage because I’m a Conservative.

More Progress on Gay Marriage in Brazil and…Poland?

Picture credit darcyandkat

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Haley S.

8:05AM PST on Jan 5, 2012

@Jenn C. :
"Pursuit and normalization of homosexuality is one of the things that's tearing our social fabric to ribbons."
Really? How? I'd love to hear your narrow-minded and probably very uneducated explanation to this. You seem very uncultivated, because in my country, Norway, we have come far enough to give gays the equal rights they deserve and I personally believe our society is thriving. It only "tears your social fabric" if you let it. Of course I'm not trying to say my country is perfect, but in this particular area I believe we're a great role model and can set an example not only for other European countries, but also the rest of the world.

Long live acceptance, equality and love!

send a green star

peggy p.

2:52AM PST on Jan 4, 2012

maybe america should sit up and take notice!!

Mel M.

3:03PM PST on Jan 3, 2012

Sarkozy will maybe support marriage equality and gay families in next year’s election ? Wow. I hope so.

Annmari L.

7:14AM PST on Dec 24, 2011

Wow! Sarkozy and Cameron on the side of the good. Well, I guess there's always something good in most people, even though they're politicians...

Ruby W.

7:47AM PST on Dec 22, 2011

the Pope must be gnashing his teeth about now. :D

Winn A.

5:36PM PST on Dec 21, 2011

Marriage Equality should be legal in all the countries of the world.

Marie W.

7:48PM PST on Dec 20, 2011

Germans have perspective. Unlike Americans they have true priorities.

lee e.

6:16PM PST on Dec 20, 2011

You're right Mark, and so I would think that with the business of gay marriage, and the business of gay divorce (sounds like a movie title) you'd think it would be favored by all the charlatans out there who want a fast buck! I'd think it would be the republican platform - maybe just log cabinites, Europe has always been more progressive -

pam w.

4:09PM PST on Dec 20, 2011

Jenn..."Pursuit and normalization of homosexuality is one of the things that's tearing our social fabric to ribbons"

++++++++++++ Really? PROVE THIS!

Norma V.

3:29PM PST on Dec 20, 2011

Two females I know from church got married in France a couple of years ago....well done!