Swiss Review 4/2021

Swiss Review / August 2021 / No.4 26 Politics EVEL INE RUTZ Alternative or “non-traditional” families live more openly in Switzerland than they did a decade or two ago. Same-sex couples are fulfilling their wish to have children. Members of the LGBTQI community who used to live “convention- ally” are coming out and reaffirming their relationships. The ReformedChurchhas given same-gender partnerships its blessing. Even some Catholic ministers are doing like- wise in complete contradiction to the Vatican’s position. “Society has changed a great deal,” says Maria von Känel, managing director of the umbrella organisation represent- ing alternative families in Switzerland, and co-chair of the “Marriage for all” committee. Increased acceptance means that alternative families have become more mainstream, she adds. Even conservative circles have sat up and taken notice. Switzerland has, to date, been fairly slow in giving le- gal recognition to diverse lifestyles. It introduced registered partnerships in 2007 and stepchild adoption in 2018. Now the Federal Council and parliament want to go one step fur- ther with the “Marriage for all” proposal, under which Alternative families are here to stay – now they want greater recognition Alternative families are becoming more commonly accepted in Switzerland. Now they face an important mile- stone. On 26 September, voters will decide whether same-sex couples can marry. same-sex couples would be able to get married and have the same rights as married heterosexual couples when it comes to areas such as naturalisation, inheritance, pension provision, and hospital visits. In future, theywould also be able to identify themselves as “married” on official forms. Furthermore, married female couples in Switzerland would have the chance to receive sperm donations. Their children would have the same rights from birth as the children of heterosexual married couples. “Families with two mothers are here to stay. They are a part of our society and should have the same rights as everyone else,” says GLP National Councillor Kathrin Bertschy, who began calling for a change in the lawback in 2013. For Bertschy, the issue at stake in the 26 September referendum feels behind the times. Indeed, 28 other countries have already extended marriage to same-sex couples – starting with the Nether- lands in 2001. Tortuous path through parliament In Switzerland, the ball began rolling over 20 years ago. Giving the children of alternative families better legal protection is one of the objectives of the “Marriage for all” project. Photo: Keystone