SEX in the NEWS 9/24/02
 

Zurich voters give married rights to same-sex couples
Associated Press
Zurich, September 23

Voters in Switzerland's most populous state voted overwhelmingly on Sunday to give same-sex pairs rights previously reserved for traditional married couples.

By a 63-37 per cent margin, the referendum in Zurich canton approved civil registration for gay and lesbian couples. They will have the same tax, inheritance and social security benefits as other married couples.

The condition is that the partners must live in Zurich canton and formally commit themselves six months in advance to running a joint home and to providing each other with mutual support and aid.

While a number of other European countries have already recognized same-sex unions, Zurich is the first Swiss state to do so. But similar efforts are underway elsewhere in the country.