Sunday, September 22, 2002
Zurich extends marriage rights to same-sex couples
A story released today by the Associated Press reports that voters in Switzerland's most populous state voted overwhelmingly to give same-sex domestic partners rights previously reserved for married couples.
By a 63-37 percent margin, the referendum in Zurich canton approved civil registration for same-sex couples. They will have the same tax, inheritance and social security benefits as other married couples.
While a number of other European countries have already recognized same-sex unions, Zurich is the first Swiss canton to do so. Similar efforts are underway elsewhere in the country.
But partners must live in Zurich canton and formally commit themselves six months in advance to running a joint home and to providing each other with mutual support and aid.
The activists organizations said the governing Swiss cabinet should now move for all of Switzerland to treat same-sex couples and married couples with "perfect equality."
