Parliament in Germany Approves Same-Sex Marriage

Lawmakers in Germany voted on Friday to allow same-sex marriage after a brisk but emotional debate in Parliament, setting the stage for the country to join more than a dozen European nations — including Ireland, France and Spain — in legalizing such unions. The historic decision came with swiftness rare in Germany’s usually staid politics, after Chancellor Angela Merkel unexpectedly eased her conservative party’s opposition to gay marriage and said she would allow deputies to vote their conscience. Reuters reported that the parliament voted by 393 votes in favor of same-sex marriage to 226 against. It is reported that the measure will likely be signed into law by the president sometime after July 7.