Same sex marriage is legal from today. Voters gave the go ahead to the new law in September – by a clear margin of 64%.
Although Switzerland has had civil partnerships for same sex couples for over 15 years – commentators say marriage means equality. This country is the last in Western Europe to allow same sex marriage.
It will mean automatic parental recognition and make naturalization easier for non-Swiss partners.
The process of changing names will also be easier – although not compulsory and some differences in social security which was between civil partnerships and marriage will be levelled, especially in the case of a death of a partner.
No new civil partnerships can now be formed after today.
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