In a historic step, Germany's parliament overwhelmingly voted on Friday to legalize same-sex marriage, granting full marital rights to gay and lesbian couples and clearing the path for them to adopt children.
Start of the 1980s
End of the 1980s
1989
Summer 1991
August 19, 1992
May 14, 1997
September 27, 1998
August 24, 1999
November 10, 2000
April 1, 2001
August 1, 2001
The German Civil Partnerships Act enters into force. A few months earlier, Bavaria, Saxony and Thuringia had filed constitutional complaints. Using an urgent motion, they had wanted to prevent the Civil Partnerships Act entering into force on August 1st, but their appeal failed in the Federal Constitutional Court. This gave the green light on July 18th, 2001, for the Civil Partnerships Act to enter into force about two weeks later.
January 1, 2005
The Act for the Revision of the Civil Partnerships Act enters into force. This removes, among other things, the differences between civil partnerships and marriage in civil law, permits the adoption of the partner's biological children and puts civil partners on an equal footing with spouses in regard to the statutory pension for surviving dependents.
July 7, 2009
2011
Ten years after the introduction of the Civil Partnerships Act, Baden-Württemberg, a southwestern state bordering France and Switzerland, becomes the last federal state to decide that civil partnerships can be entered into at registry offices.
2012
The Constitutional Court rules in favor of the equal treatment of civil partnerships in regard to land transfer taxation and family allowances.
February 2013
March 22, 2013
June 6, 2013
September 9, 2013
View this video on YouTube
During an election discussion on ARD, Angela Merkel said she had doubts about full adoption rights for same-sex couples. "To be quite honest, I find total equality problematic (...) I'm unsure where the best interests of a child are concerned," she said.
January 12, 2017
Die Mehrheit der Bevölkerung ist für die #Ehefüralle. Für eine sofortige Abstimmung ohne Fraktionszwang im Deutsche… https://t.co/BVfbCjnLJG
According to a survey conducted by the Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency, 83% of citizens are in favor of marriage equality.
June 17, 2017
Bundestagswahl: Grüne machen #Ehefüralle zur Koalitionsbedingung https://t.co/2fdcIbpSKI
At their party conference, the Greens make marriage equality a condition for coalition in the upcoming elections.
June 24, 2017
June 25, 2017
Wir werden die Ehe für alle beschließen. Diese Woche.
At the SPD's party conference, its candidate for the Chancellorship Martin Schulz promises he won't sign any coalition agreement which doesn't incorporate marriage equality.
June 26, 2017
June 27, 2017
Angela Merkel hat für die von der SPD verlangte Abstimmung über die #Ehefüralle den Fraktionszwang in der Union aufgehoben.
The CDU and CSU remove the compulsory unanimity in voting. The members of parliament can decide as individuals how they will vote.
June 28, 2017
+++ Breaking +++ Ja zur Ehe für Alle im Rechtsausschuss des Bundestages. https://t.co/c7ib0YZ3C1
The German parliament's Committee on Legal Affairs recommends by majority that marriage should be opened up for same-sex couples.
June 30, 2017
Bundestag stimmt mit Ja: Homosexuelle Paare dürfen bald auch in Deutschland heiraten. https://t.co/4G8QNtFpaf #EheFuerAlle
The Federal Parliament votes to legalize marriage equality. Once German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier signs the bill into law later this year, same-sex couples in Germany will be officially allowed to marry.
This post was translated from German.