Austria's top court legalizes same-sex marriage

Austria's top court said on Tuesday that it has ruled that same-sex couples can marry, bringing the Alpine country into line with more than a dozen other European nations.
"The Constitutional Court nullified with a decision on December 4th, 2017 the legal regulation that until now prevented such couples from marrying," a statement said.
It said that this would come into force on December 31, 2018. The ruling came after a case was brought by two women in a registered civil partnership who were denied the right to marry by authorities in the capital Vienna.
READ ALSO: Vienna to host EuroPride event in 2019
In April 2001 the Netherlands became the first country in the world to allow gay and lesbian couples to marry in a civil ceremony.
More than a dozen European countries have followed including most recently Germany. But others only allow same-sex couples to enter into civil partnerships.
Many eastern European countries -- including Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia -- deny homosexuals the right to marry or enter into unions.
Comments
See Also
"The Constitutional Court nullified with a decision on December 4th, 2017 the legal regulation that until now prevented such couples from marrying," a statement said.
It said that this would come into force on December 31, 2018. The ruling came after a case was brought by two women in a registered civil partnership who were denied the right to marry by authorities in the capital Vienna.
READ ALSO: Vienna to host EuroPride event in 2019
In April 2001 the Netherlands became the first country in the world to allow gay and lesbian couples to marry in a civil ceremony.
More than a dozen European countries have followed including most recently Germany. But others only allow same-sex couples to enter into civil partnerships.
Many eastern European countries -- including Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia -- deny homosexuals the right to marry or enter into unions.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.