Germany's long road to equality for same-sex couples
In 2001, same-sex couples in Germany were able to register a civil partnership for the first time. The Civil Partnership Act was a crucial step
In 2001, same-sex couples in Germany were able to register a civil partnership for the first time. The Civil Partnership Act was a crucial step toward "marriage for all," which was introduced in 2017. August 1, 2001, marked a turning point: with the Civil Partnership Act, same-sex couples in Germany got a legal framework for the registration of their partnerships. However, another 16 years would pass before marriage itself became an option. "The Civil Partnership Act was a milestone for the legal recognition of same-sex couples in Germany and laid the foundation for opening up marriage," Alexander Vogt of the national board of "Queere Vielfalt e.V. " (Queer diversity) told DW. "It introduced a legally secure partnership with rights similar to those of marriage — such as inheritance, maintenance, and residency rights — though it remained discriminatory in many areas – like adoption or tax law. Nevertheless, it gave us a foot in the door — a solid base from which further rights could be secured, usually by appealing to the Federal Constitutional Court." Reinhard Lüschow (r) and Heinz-Friedrich Harre were the first same-sex couple in Germany to register under the new Civil Partnership Act Image: picture alliance/dpa Public opinion was ahead of the political establishment The legislation was preceded by a fierce political debate. The opposition bloc of conservative parties, the Christian Democratic Union and the Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU), denounced it as an "unconstitutional attack on marriage and the family." Lawmakers from the ruling center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), however, described the law as "a long-overdue act of redress." "There was strong conservative opposition, for instance from churches and civic groups," Alexander Vogt noted.
"The debate reflected the classic culture war between traditional and progressive values." Backed by the governing coalition of Social Democrats and Greens, the majority of Bundestag lawmakers voted in favor of the Civil Partnership Act in November 2000, despite opposition from the CDU/CSU and the neoliberal Free Democrats (FDP). German public opinion was already a step ahead: A 1999 survey showed that 55% of respondents were already in favor of the Civil Partnership Act. However, Germany was by no means a pioneer. Denmark was the first country in the world to introduce civil partnerships for same-sex couples, doing so as early as 1989. Norway, Sweden, and Iceland followed in the mid-1990s, with France following in 1999. Two fathers, two babies To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video 'We simply want equal treatment' Twenty-five years ago, Reinhard Lüschow and his husband Heinz-Friedrich Harre — who has since passed away — became the first same-sex couple in Germany to tie the knot at a registry office under the new Civil Partnership Act. They had spent the preceding decade fighting for legal recognition as a couple. As early as 1992, they had made a public statement by applying to register their marriage — in a coordinated move by 250 male and female same-sex couples across Germany. When their application was rejected, they took the case all the way to the Federal Constitutional Court. "We simply wanted to be treated equally," Lüschow recently told the Protestant Press Service (epd).
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