The German government wants to push through legislation to put gay partnerships on the same tax footing as straight marriages before the summer recess. But adoption rights remain a point of contention.
Gay couples in civil partnerships must have the same tax breaks as married heterosexuals, Germany's top court says, telling the government that if action is not taken, it would intervene directly.
Organizers of Berlin's Christopher Street Day will not give Angela Merkel's conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) their normal float at this year's gay pride parade in protest against the party's opposition to same-sex marriage.
Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union party is ready to give up its resistance to giving gay couples the same rights as heterosexual ones, the <i>Süddeutsche Zeitung</i> reported on Saturday.
Conservatives should be glad when gay and lesbian couples want to get married, says Der Tagesspiegel's Malte Lehming, as it strengthens tradition. The UK has paved the way on gay marriage and Germany must now follow suit.
Leading German conservatives have ruled out putting same-sex partnerships on the same footing as marriage, dousing an effort by Justice Minister Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger to put gay marriage on the agenda.
The opposition Greens have re-opened the issue of gay marriage in Germany, calling for same-sex partners to have the same rights under the law as heterosexual couples.
Volker Kauder, the parliamentary leader of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative Christian Democrats, said on Monday that homosexual couples had no right to have children.
