Switzerland Will Hold A Referendum To Determine The Future Of Same-Sex Marriages

LGBT illustration. (Margaux Bellott / Unsplash)

JAKARTA - Swiss authorities will determine the future of same-sex marriage in the country, after previously the parliament recognized same-sex marriage in December 2020.

Switzerland adopted same-sex marriage in 2020, after a long debate in parliament, and received support from the Green Liberal Party.

Previously, same-sex couples could enter into 'registered partnerships' that did not grant them the same rights as to marriage.

But the new law allows them to marry and have access to a sperm donor, while shemale can also change their legal gender with a declaration.

However, the new law does not include provisions to allow same-sex couples to adopt children.

Swiss authorities said opponents of same-sex marriage had collected signatures calling for a referendum. This is in line with the statement by the populist SVP, Switzerland's biggest party which has warned it will launch a referendum against the December law.

In Switzerland, most of the laws and other measures passed by parliament come into effect without asking the public to vote.

However, a referendum is possible when citizens who oppose a particular decision collect 50.000 valid signatures within 100 days of the law's official issuance.

According to the Swiss Federal Chancellor, the request for a referendum on same-sex marriage garnered more than 61.000 legal signatures.

"The timing of the vote can be done in May and the earliest it can be held in September", a government spokesman said, according to Reuters on Wednesday, April 28.

A survey conducted by the Pink Cross in 2020 showed that more than 80 percent of Switzerland's population supports same-sex marriage, suggesting the law will take effect despite the referendum.

A number of countries have recognized and legalized same-sex marriage, such as France in 2013, Germany in 2017 to the United States Supreme Court in 2015 which ruled that the Constitution grants the right to marry same-sex couples.

Meanwhile, the Vatican Authority said on March 15, priests and other priests of the Roman Catholic Church cannot bless same-sex unity. And, such a blessing is invalid if done.

This decision was taken in response to practices in some countries, such as the United States and Germany, where parishes and priests have begun to bless same-sex unity in lieu of marriage, and are calling on bishops to de facto institutionalize this.