Germany celebrates its first gay weddings

Karl Kreile and Bobo Mende have been together as a couple for almost 40 years. Now they’ve made history by becoming the first same-sex couple in Germany to marry, following a recent change in the law.

Germany’s parliament voted by a majority of 393 to 226 to pass the law back in June, but it only came into effect last Friday. Many same-sex couples took advantage and held wedding ceremonies the very same day.

Same-sex couples have been able to enter into civil partnerships in Germany since 2001, but this is the first time a gay couple has been able to get married in the country.

Germany lags behind

Germany is the 15th European country to legalise gay marriage.

The Netherlands became the world’s first country to allow same-sex marriage, in 2000.

The most recent country to legalise gay marriage (prior to Germany) was Malta, which passed a law to legalize same-sex marriage in July this year.

Ireland introduced same-sex marriage in 2015 as a result of a popular referendum. Almost two thirds of the population (62%) voted “yes”.

Finland also passed a bill in 2015 that came into effect this year. That makes it the last of the five Nordic countries to legalize same-sex marriage.

Luxembourg legalised gay marriage in 2014. The Prime Minister, Xavier Bettel, is Europe’s first openly gay leader. He married his partner in 2015.

The picture is not the same across the UK. Scotland legalised same-sex marriage in 2014, one year after England and Wales had done so. But Northern Ireland still has a ban on same-sex marriage.

Europe’s east-west divide

When looking at the legalisation of gay marriage across Europe, an east-west divide begins to emerge. Many central and eastern European countries are still opposed.

A recent Pew Research Center survey of 18 countries in the region found that just 5% of Russians and 9% of Ukrainians say they favour allowing same-sex marriage.

Poland and Hungary are more in favour, with 32% and 27% respectively. The Czech Republic is the only country in Central and Eastern Europe where a majority of adults (65%) support gay marriage.

Equality

Gay marriage means that same-sex married couples are entitled to the same rights as heterosexual married couples.

This can include having the same financial rights, such as inheritance, pensions, and tax rights, as well as next of kin, immigration rights and the right to adopt children.

Beyond Europe

In some countries around the world, gay people face great physical danger. Being gay is still illegal in a number of conservative states. Homosexuality is punishable by prison sentences or even the death penalty. Some countries, primarily in Africa and Asia, continue to allow “conversion therapy”.

But there are signs that attitudes are continuing to change.

Currently, the Australian government is awaiting the results of a postal vote on whether same-sex marriage should be legalised. The poll closes in early November.

Ireland’s new prime minister is the country’s first openly gay Prime Minister.

And in Asia, Taiwan may be the first Asian territory to legalise gay marriage.

The campaign continues

After cutting their rainbow-flag themed wedding cake in Germany, Mr Kreile and Mr Mende planned to fly off for a five-day honeymoon. They’ve chosen Vienna for their romantic getaway. But after decades of campaigning for gay rights, the newlyweds still can’t visit large parts of the world for fear of persecution due to their sexuality.