Swiss Review / December 2021 / No.6 20 Politics Lara and Delia tie the knot in Regensdorf. A tangible example of society’s new normal. Photo: Keystone EVEL INE RUTZ Same-sex couples in Switzerland can nowmarry and adopt children together. They have the same rights as married heterosexual couples. Consequently, their situation has improved with regard to inheritance and naturalisation as well as in numerous other areas. Married lesbian couples can also become parents through sperm donations. Both female partnerswill be legally recognised asmothers. Their children will be able to learn the identity of the biological father from the age of 18. A large proportion of the population supports “Marriage for all”, with 64.1 per cent of the electorate having approved the proposal on 26 September. Remarkably, all 26 cantons voted in favour. Even themore conservative cantons voted yes. The Swiss Abroad were very much in agreement, with almost 72 per cent giving their approval. Wedding bells next summer Federal Councillor Karin Keller-Sutter expressed her delight at what she called “society giving recognition”. “The state should not tell people how to lead their lives,” she said. The relevant amendment to the Swiss Civil Code is scheduled to come into force on 1 July 2022, afterwhich same-sex couples can get married and civil partnerships can be converted to marriage. The Reformed Churchwill also conduct same-sexweddings from July next year. However, the church constitution has to be amended first in some cantons, so there could be delays. The result of the referendumwill probably have less of an impact within the Catholic Church. Demand for blessing ceremonies, which have already taken place in some parishes, is likely to increase. However, it is hard to imagine the Vatican offering the sacrament of marriage to same-sex couples any time soon. Difficult ethical and legal questions Same-sex couples will soon bewelcome at registry offices. One particular activist on Twitter said shewas looking forward to a bumperwedding season. The LGBTQImovement called it a “milestone on the road towards equality”. Switzerland has been relatively late to approve these changes. It is the 29th country to have taken the step – a decision taken by the Swiss people that goes even further than in other countries by granting female couples access to sperm donations. However, egg donations and surrogacy are still banned. The Centre aswell as the centre-right and right-wing parties have nowish to change this. As reasons they cite the difficult ethical and legal questions that the procedures raise. The Social Democrats share their reluctance. However, they are calling for private sperm donations to be allowed. These aremore cost-effective and easier to access, says SP co-chair Mattea Meyer. The Green Liberals want to legalise egg donations. They criticise the way in which current legislation discriminates between sperm and eggs. “The biological father is free to donate his sperm, so it is difficult to seewhy a separation between thewomanwho gives her genes and the woman who carries and gives birth to the child is justification enough to prohibit egg donations,” wrote National Councillor Katja Christ in a parliamentary motion. Same-sex couples can now marry in Switzerland too Now that the Swiss electorate has emphatically approved the “Marriage for all” proposal, lobbying for further changes has already begun. These include legalising egg donations and improving the rights of cohabiting partners and single people.
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