Dutch gay rights organisation welcomes German vote to legalise gay marriage
The Dutch gay rights organisation the COC has welcomed a vote by the German parliament to legalise same-sex marriage, reports RTL Nieuws on Friday.
President Tanja Ineke told the broadcaster: ‘What started in 2001 with the opening up of marriage [rights] in the Netherland is gradually becoming the norm in Europe, and that is a victory for love.’
The Netherlands was the world’s first country to legalise marriages between people of the same sex, followed by Belgium, Canada and South-Africa.
Although she had allowed a vote of conscience, German chancellor Angela Merkel had herself voted against the law, but it was carried with 393 in favour and 226 against.
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