Just in: German Congress Authorizes Same-Sex Marriage

The German lawmakers, today legalised same-sex marriage, days after Chancellor Angela Merkel vowed to allow her conservative lawmakers to follow their conscience in the vote.

The reform grants full marital rights, including child adoption, to gay and lesbian couples, who in Germany have been allowed since 2001 to enter so-called civil unions.

The lower house passed the bill by a margin of 393-226, after the The German legal code was changed to say “marriage is entered into for life by two people of different or the same sex”, and the bill was strongly supported by leftist parties. the measure is expected to enter into force before the end of the year.