Hey everyone,
I'm a little hyped because of events unfolding in Germany over the last couple of days. In a very sudden change of heart, chancellor Angela Merkel softened her previous anti-gay marriage stance by saying in an interview on Monday that any future decision on the matter should be a "vote of conscience" for members of the German parliament. To give you some context: Usually members of parliament are bound to vote along party lines. A openly declared vote of conscience is rare, and only held for topics which are considered to be of high social and moral importance. Merkel's own Christian party (CDU/CSU) has long held a firm conservative view on LGBTIQ rights and had only slowly agreed to improve the legal situation of queer people over the last couple of years. And although all other parliament parties have held a pro gay marriage stance for years now, the reluctance of the CDU/CSU has made any attempt at legalizing gay marriage futile.
Merkel's coalition partner, SPD, jumped at her words uttered in the interview, and they initiated a new vote set for Friday. Previously, they postponed every initiative for such a referendum to respect the coalition. But as the term is almost over and every major democratic party in Germany said that they will not enter a new coalition with Merkel's party without marriage equality, they rushed the issue to be voted on during the last parliament session before the summer break. The vote is likely to pass with the votes of SPD, opposition parties and even a few CDU members. So very, very suddenly the fight for marriage equality in Germany might end this Friday - and nobody would have even dared to guess that a week ago!
Neither would I have guessed last December when my boyfriend and I entered a "registered partnership" (civil union). We can't wait to change that arrangement to a real marriage... which will likely happen in September when the law will be officially changed. And I'm still stoked and shocked that this is really happening right now.
The NYT has a good overview over the events in
http://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/27/world/europe/germany-gay-marriage-merkel.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fworld&action=click&contentCollection=world®ion=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=2&pgtype=sectionfront. So, when the law passes this Friday, maybe raise a glass or two for the German community and the many, many people who have fought for this change over the last couple of decades!
