What consequences does the "Yes" to marriage for all have for Swiss queers?
At the end of September, many Swiss breathed a sigh of relief. Because: a referendum decided that marriage for all would be approved. Thus, a big step was taken on the way to more equality. But what does this actually mean exactly?
What do queer couples in Switzerland have to consider now? The following articles provide some information, but also show that there are some questions associated with Swiss marriage for all. The good news, however, is that no major bureaucratic hurdles seem to have to be overcome either in connection with marriage among queers or with regard to the conversion of registered partnerships into marriages.
Same-sex weddings can (presumably) be celebrated starting July 2022!
This was probably one of the most frequently asked questions surrounding same-sex marriage in Switzerland: When will couples "finally" be allowed to marry? Basically, it is true that - at least according to the current status - it will be possible to marry from July next year.
The Lucerne offices, among others, have - according to reports - already received some bookings. Interestingly, however, there has not (yet?) been a major rush. Possibly also because some still want to wait how the overall situation develops and how uncomplicated the individual steps can be implemented. Due to the setting of a transition period, as is standard in connection with resolutions of this kind, it is not yet possible to say "Yes!" directly. It will therefore take a few more months before all the details have been clarified.
How many Swiss queers will claim marriage for all?
Hard to say. The very fact that many people had expected demand for appointments for the period from July 2022 to be high, but the "big rush" mentioned above failed to materialize, shows that it is difficult to make a prediction here.
Whether or not queers in love want to say yes to each other in the context of marriage for all depends on several factors, including, of course, the value they place on the institution of marriage. The basic situation here is not too different from that in the context of hetero partnerships. While for some marriage simply belongs, for example after a few years of partnership, others do not feel the urge to commit themselves in this way.
Therefore, at this point in time, it is completely open to what extent the new possibilities will actually be taken up. What is certain, however, is that many queers welcome the fundamental right to marry. This is definitely about much more than "just" exchanging rings. It is about an important step on the way to more equality.
How can registered partnerships be converted into marriages in Switzerland in the future?
The bureaucratic effort that has to be dealt with in the course of a conversion of a registered partnership into a marriage is kept within limits and is accordingly manageable.
The first step is, of course, to check whether a registered partnership already exists. Those responsible use the civil status register for this purpose. If everything is in order here, a registered partnership can also become a marriage (for all). In this case, it is up to the two partners to decide how solemn the whole thing should be. The ideas about how a conversion should take place are certainly just as individual as the ideas about the "perfect" marriage.
By the way, this happened on Prince Charming - Season 3 - Episode 8.