"Germany lags behind many of its Western counterparts when it comes to gay rights, still maintaining tighter restrictions." — Emma Anderson
Same-Sex MarriageIn many ways, Germany is still far behind of other Western nations when it comes to gay rights. While most Western European countries allow same-sex couples to marry, Germany does not.
In March 2017, the Social Democrats (SPD) announced that they would push for a new same-sex marriage bid along with the SDP and the Green Party. If the bid is successful, Germany would be the last Western European country, aside from Italy, Austria and Switzerland, to legalize same-sex marriage. In 2015, the SPD blocked consideration of a same-sex marriage bill proposed by The Greens. This change of heart could prove vital in allowing homosexual Germans the same rights as their heterosexual counterparts. Same-sex marriage laws in Europe. Dark blue (legal); light blue (civil unions legal); cyan (foreign marriages recognized); grey (no law); red (illegal).
Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recognition_of_same-sex_unions_in_Germany#/media/File:Same-sex_marriage_map_Europe_detailed.svg |
Joint AdoptionSince January 1, 2005, only stepchild adoption has been permitted in Germany for LGBTQ couples. Despite homosexual couples having been given the chance to live in civil unions which are meant to "feel like" marriages, they are still unable to fully adopt children.
The Christian Democrats (CDU), which has been at the head of government since 2005, has continually opposed reforming German law to allow homosexuals to marry and adopt children. While progress has been made, the CDU has been reluctant to change any long-standing traditional values within German society, meaning the country still lags behind other Western nations in the emancipation of homosexuals. Same-sex adoption laws in Europe. Dark purple (adoption allowed); Light purple (stepchild adoption allowed); grey (no law)
Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_adoption_in_Europe#/media/File:Same-sex_Adoption_Map_Europe.svg |
Political SupportDespite opposition from the CDU for full homosexual emancipation, there has been a strong push for same-sex marriage and adoption in Germany from other parties. The Greens have continually pushed for equal rights for LGBTQ Germans, representing the party which introduced the civil union bill in 2001. With the SPD announcing its intention to support same-sex marriage in March 2017, the German government is becoming more and more open to the idea.
Despite the lack of political support, a large majority of the German population supports same-sex marriage. In 2015, a Eurobarometer poll found that 66% of Germans agreed that same-sex marriage should be allowed throughout Europe. This number is much lower than opinions in the Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark, where 91%, 90% and 87% of those polled agreed. Eurobarometer Poll on Discrimination in the EU (2015): www.equineteurope.org/IMG/pdf/ebs_437_en.pdf
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