Lesbian Couple First To
Tie Knot In Germany (August 1, Berlin) A lesbian couple who
met through a personal ad in a newspaper became Germany's first legalized
same-sex couple this morning. The 36 year old women arrived by a taxi
at the 19th century town hall in the Schoeneberg district of
Berlin Surrounded by family and friends, the
couple, in back tuxedos and white bow ties, said their vows. Angelika Baldow took Gudrun Pannier's
family name, signed a partnership certificate and sealed the agreement
with a kiss. The ceremony was followed up by a
two-hour celebration at the city hall, complete with a three-tiered
wedding cake and champagne. Town Halls were busy throughout the
morning in all regions of the country except Bavaria which lost a
constitutional challenge to Germany's partnership union law. The
conservative state says it can't have the offices set up until the end of
the year. Gay and lesbian groups which fought the state's
constitutional challenge say they are preparing to go back to court to get
an order forcing Bavarian officials to speed up the
process. The partnership law with came into
effect today allows gay and lesbian couples to register their partnerships
but stops short of granting equal status with married couples. The certificate grants the same
inheritance and tenant rights as heterosexual spouses and allows them to
share a health insurance policy. Baldow and Pannier chose to have the
ceremony in the Schoeneberg district because it had been the heart of the
city's gay community in the 1920s, when Berlin was a haven for gays and
lesbians oppressed in most other parts of Europe. After cutting the cake, Angelika said,
"It is very exciting. It is also very important to have my family beside
us on this great step for civil and human rights." Angelika is disabled with multiple
sclerosis and unable to work. The new law allows her to share Gundrun's
benefits. A passionate pasta cook Angelika
loves to collect Coca-Cola memorabilia, while Gudrun's specialty is potato
soup and her hobby gardening. Gudrun said she was overjoyed at the
change in the law. "We were really at a disadvantage and did not have the
same rights and benefits that we thought we deserved," she
said. Berlin's mayor Klaus Wowereit, who sent
a message of congratulations acknowledged that many gays and lesbians were
disappointed the new law did not include full marriage rights.
Wowereit, who is gay, said that the law "doesn't fulfil everyone's wishes
and dreams, but it's a great step forward."
by Peter
Moore
365Gay.com Newscenter
News | Money | Travel | Argument | Advancement | Enjoyment
Independent > News > World > Europe
Germany's gays can exchange vows at partnership ceremonies and receive some of the same rights as heterosexual marriages under a new law that went into effect on Wednesday despite fierce opposition from some conservatives.
The first ceremony complete with wedding rings was taking place in Hanover early on Wednesday, one of many planned across the country to celebrate the end of a decadeslong struggle by gay rights groups to bring Germany into line with countries such the Netherlands and Sweden.
"For gays and lesbians in Germany it's a huge step forward after a long battle," said Volker Beck, a prominent lawmaker from the Green party, which has fought for the new legislation.
"The law will make a lot of people very happy," said Beck, who is to be a witness for a couple's ceremony in Hamburg.
The new law allows gay couples to exchange vows at local government offices and requires a court decision for divorce. Samesex couples also will receive rights given heterosexual spouses in areas such as inheritance and health insurance.
The law was passed by the lower house of parliament last year, but the upper house where Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's coalition of the Social Democrats and Greens lacks a majority voted to withhold some tax privileges granted to heterosexual couples.
Berlin's mayor sent symbolic congratulations Tuesday to one gay and one lesbian couple who will register their relationships in Berlin.
"You have taken the first step into new territory," wrote Klaus Wowereit, who became Germany's most prominent openly gay politician when he took power in June.
Couples in three states Bavaria, MecklenburgWestern Pomerania and Hesse will have to wait before they can tie the knot, as authorities there haven't completed arrangements to implement the new law.
Germany's highest court is considering an application to force conservativeled Bavaria to put the new law into effect immediately, but wasn't expected to rule in time. Gay groups planned to protest in Munich, the state capital.
Bavaria, along with the eastern state of Saxony, unsuccessfully sought an injunction in Federal Constitutional Court to prevent the law from taking effect August 1 arguing that the law violates constitutional provisions protecting marriage and the family. That complaint still awaits a decision by the court.
The head of parliament's legal committee, Rupert Scholz of the conservative Christian Democratic Union, told German radio Tuesday he still considers the law "constitutionally highly questionable."
Gay activists protested on Tuesday by smashing dishes in front of the Bavarian government's office in Berlin.
Germany's move brings it into line with a number of other European countries. Denmark, France and Norway are among countries that have given homosexual couples legal status. The Netherlands legalized samesex marriages in April.
"It doesn't fulfill everyone's wishes and dreams, but it's a great step forward," Wowereit said. "It should cause something that was never abnormal to be recognized as normal everywhere in Germany."
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