German president signs gay marriage bill into law

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier signed the “marriage for all” bill into law on Thursday, his office announced.

The final step in the process to legalize gay and lesbian marriage comes three weeks after the country’s lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, approved the legislation at the end of June.

Of the 623 votes cast, 393 lawmakers voted in favor of the motion, while 226 voted against it, and four abstained. The legislation was next approved by the German parliament’s upper house, the Bundesrat, on July 7 before being sent to President Steinmeier.

Until now, Germany had only recognized civil partnerships between gay and lesbian couples, which came into legal effect in 2001. But unlike several other European Union member states that had already established full marital rights for same-sex partners in the past, “marriage for all” remained an elusive prospect for same-sex partners across the country for many years.

Read more: Hostile environment for homosexual refugees

Opposition remains strong

The issue, however, is not without controversy, as it was rushed through both houses of parliament before the summer break.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is running for a fourth term in general elections in September, was among those who had cast a “no” vote.

However, Merkel had allowed members of her conservative Christian Democrat Party (CDU) to vote according to their consciences and not along party lines. The CDU’s long-standing opposition to same-sex marriage would otherwise have blocked the motion.

Lawmakers that remain staunchly opposed to “marriage for all” have threatened to have its legality checked by the Federal Court of Justice, the country’s highest court.

The prospect of legalizing gay marriage remains controversial, with some opponents threatening to take the issue to the country’s highest court

Adoption for all

German Minister of Family Affairs Katarina Barley welcomed the move, saying “marriage is a question of love and responsibility and not of gender.” Barley, whose center-left Social Democrats (SPD) had pushed for legalizing same-sex marriage, said that “marriage for everyone makes Germany a more modern country.”

The main change between civil partnerships and marriage equality in German law means same-sex couples will be able to jointly adopt children.

• Parliamentarians react to ‘historic’ vote in favor of gay marriage

  ‘Yes’ vote prompts kisses

  Moments after parliament endorsed “marriage for all,” with 393 in favor, 226 against and four abstentions, same-sex couples in the chamber’s public gallery openly kissed and hugged one another. Those voting in favor included 75 members of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative CDU-CSU bloc.

• Parliamentarians react to ‘historic’ vote in favor of gay marriage

  Sober Merkel tells media she voted ‘no ‘

  Following the vote, a sober-looking Chancellor Angela Merkel waiting in parliament’s canteen revealed to journalists that she voted against the legislation because of her “basic belief” in marriage being solely “between a man and woman.” She claimed her belief was anchored in the German constitution.

• Parliamentarians react to ‘historic’ vote in favor of gay marriage

  Pensive moment as parliament votes

  For same-sex advocates, the first legislative hurdle was to get the bill – rejected 30 times in committee – onto the agenda in parliament. Its procedural adoption via a consensus reached between the Greens, the Left and the Social Democrats left Merkel and conservative whip Volker Kauder taken back. Kauder insisted that as a Christian he could only accept marriage between a man and a woman.

• Parliamentarians react to ‘historic’ vote in favor of gay marriage

  Angry words from an advocate

  Social Democrat Johannes Kahrs, a same-sex marriage advocate who organized parliament’s cross-party “yes” bloc for the snap vote, accused Merkel and her conservatives of “wretchedly” blocking the measure for years. “I’m fed up. We deserve [gender] equality,” Kahrs told parliament. He said the legislative victory was a turning point in history similar to the fall of the Berlin Wall.

• Parliamentarians react to ‘historic’ vote in favor of gay marriage

  The ‘wall’ has fallen

  Greens parliamentarians showered their retiring colleague and same-sex advocate Volker Beck with confetti as the vote result was announced. Later in tears, he told German television that the “yes” vote had helped restore harmony in German society. The “wall” has fallen, Beck said, adding that the key was how two individuals cared for one another, regardless of their gender.

• Parliamentarians react to ‘historic’ vote in favor of gay marriage

  Coalition partner celebrates ‘victory’

  SPD leader Martin Schulz (right) said the vote was a “victory,” less so for his center-left party but for the dignity of the individual, as enshrined in Article 1 of Germany’s constitution. SPD whip Thomas Oppermann (center) said the vote was “good for the public,” even if it didn’t align with Merkel’s vision on the matter.

• Parliamentarians react to ‘historic’ vote in favor of gay marriage

  Euphoria outside parliament

  Dozens of activists celebrated the legislation outside the Bundestag in the aftermath of the vote. A Bild newspaper survey earlier in the week showed three quarters of Germany’s population favored legal recognition of same-sex marriage. In 2001, legal reform recognized homosexuals in partnerships but left gay couples unable to jointly adopt children.

• Parliamentarians react to ‘historic’ vote in favor of gay marriage

  Still controversial in some parts of the world

  Countries across Europe, the Americas and Oceania have adopted same sex marriage. This map shows the situation across the world prior to the Bundestag vote. Despite the legislative victory in Germany, same-sex marriage remains a controversial issue in many parts of the world, most notably in the Middle East, Africa and parts of Asia.

• Parliamentarians react to ‘historic’ vote in favor of gay marriage

  A dream come true

  The legal recognition of same-sex marriage marked a dream come true for former Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, who died of leukemia in 2016. He long fought for sexual equality and the recognition of constitutional rights for same-sex couples.

  Author: Ian P. Johnson

ss/rt (dpa, AP)

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