This archive report was first published on 26 September 2021.
On September 26, 2021, Swiss voters made history by approving a law allowing same-sex marriages, a significant step forward for LGBTQ+ rights in the country.
Until now, same-sex couples in Switzerland faced significant barriers to starting a family, including being prohibited from using Swiss sperm banks and adopting children, despite unmarried individuals being allowed to do so.
"It is clearly discrimination based on sexual orientation," said Maria von Känel, president of the 'yes' campaign and a same-sex parent herself. "Everyone should be treated equally," she added.
Estimates suggest that up to 30,000 children are currently being raised by same-sex parents in Switzerland, with many couples having to travel abroad to start their families due to the country's restrictive laws.
Opponents of the law change, led by Daniel Frischknecht, argued that it undermined traditional families and would have far-reaching consequences for Swiss society. "We are convinced that for children to grow up in the best possible way, they need a father and a mother," he said.
