Swiss voters back same-sex marriage in referendum

Geneva, Sep 26 (EFE).- Swiss voters on Sunday backed same-sex marriage in a national referendum on whether to allow homosexual couples to adopt children or have access to assisted reproductive techniques in the case of women, according to predictions.

Polls reported some 64 percent of the votes were in favor of the initiative proposed by the government after eight years of political and parliamentary debates about rights equality between homosexual and heterosexual couples.

The proposal counted with the support of all the political parties, except for the radical right-wing UDC party, certain religious groups and others who argued that marriage should be reserved for heterosexuals.

Switzerland becomes the world’s 30th country to accept same-sex marriage, leaving Italy, Greece and Liechtenstein in the list of the Western European countries that are yet to legalize equal marriage rights for homosexual people.

Until now, same-sex couples could register for a partnership status, approved in 2007, but some of their rights were restricted.

From now on, married female couples will be able to access sperm donation in Switzerland, where anonymous donations are prohibited, although the two women will be recognized as mothers from birth.

Surrogacy, meanwhile, is not allowed in the case of male couples, who are left with the option of adoption. EFE

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