Registered partnership in Switzerland

Legal recognition of same-sex relationships
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Same-sex marriage Same-sex marriage legislation Timeline of same-sex marriage Recognition of same-sex unions in Europe Marriage privatization Civil union Domestic partnership Listings by country
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Laws regarding same-sex partnerships in Europe

  Same-sex marriage

  Other type of partnership

  Unregistered cohabitation

  Issue under political consideration

  Unrecognized

  Constitution limits marriage to man–woman

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Switzerland recognizes same-sex registered partnerships. In a nationwide referendum on June 5, 2005, the Swiss people approved by 58% a registered partnership law, granting same-sex couples the same rights and protections as opposite-sex couples, except:

• adoption of children
• fertility treatments
• taking the same surname

However, in terms of next of kin status, taxation, social security, insurance, and shared possession of a dwelling, same-sex couples are granted the same rights as married couples. The official title of the same-sex union is "Eingetragene Partnerschaft" in German, "Partenariat enregistré" in French, and "Associazione registrata" in Italian, meaning "registered partnership".^[1] The bill was passed by the National Council, 111 to 72, on December 3, 2003 and by the Council of States on June 3, 2004, with minor changes.^[2][3] The National Council approved it again on June 10, but the conservative Federal Democratic Union collected signatures to force a referendum.^[4][5] The law came into effect on January 1, 2007.^[6]

Same-sex marriages formed outside Switzerland will be recognised as registered partnerships within Switzerland. Switzerland was the first nation to pass a same-sex union law by referendum.

Canton laws

The Canton of Geneva has had a law on cantonal level, "Registered Partnership" or "PACS" (Pacte civil de solidarité), since 2001. It grants unmarried couples, whether same-sex or opposite-sex, many rights, responsibilities and protections that married couples have. However, it does not allow benefits in taxation, social security, or health insurance premiums (unlike the federal law). The origin of the PACS lies in the French law of the same name.^[7][8] By February 2005, 215 same-sex and 54 opposite-sex couples took advantage of the law and 19 couples ended their partnerships.

On September 22, 2002, the canton of Zurich passed a same-sex partnership law by referendum that goes further than Geneva's law, but requires couples to live together for six months before registering.^[9]

In July 2004, the canton of Neuchâtel passed a law recognizing unmarried couples. By February 2005, 35 opposite-sex and 21 same-sex couples took advantage of the law.

Same-sex marriage

Discussions about allowing same-sex marriage are beginning in Switzerland and some politicians from the Social Democratic Party, the Greens and the Liberals support it.

The Green Party of Switzerland supports same-sex marriage, according to its 2007 electoral manifesto.^[10]

See also

• LGBT rights in Switzerland
• Civil union
• Recognition of same-sex unions in Europe

References

1. ^ Gay couples win partnership rights
2. ^ Parliament gives green light to "gay marriages"
3. ^ Parliament gives its blessing to gay couples
4. ^ Fight goes on for gay couples
5. ^ Government presses for gay-couple rights
6. ^ First same-sex union registered in Switzerland
7. ^ Homosexuals a step closer to equal rights
8. ^ Switzerland’s first “gay marriages” take place in Geneva
9. ^ Zurich grants gay couples more rights
10. ^ (French) Green Party - Equality Policy

External links

• "Act on registered partnerships between persons of the same sex (Partnership Act)" Outline of the provisions of the Partnership Act from the canton of Lucerne (PDF document)