In a historical move Luxembourg’s parliament overwhelmingly passed a same-sex marriage bill, by a vote of 56-4. The new bill introduces equal marriage, in addition to granting adoption rights to same-sex couples.

“Gay people should have the same rights as heterosexuals. With this law, we do not throw overboard all the values ​​of our society. All we have done is give equal rights to gay people. We formally recognize a form of relationship that has always existed.”

Viviane Loschetter, MP

Luxembourg’s parliament has only one chamber, and so the vote by the Chamber of Deputies has secured the passage of the bill as a whole.
According to the Chamber of Deputies, the law is expected to be in force by early 2015.

The only MPs to vote against the bill were Gaston Gibéryen, Fernand Kartheiser and Roy Reding, all of the right-wing Alternative Democratic Reform Party, and Aly Kaes, who was rebelling against the Christian Social People’s Party.

Last year, Luxembourg made history as the first country to have an openly gay Prime Minister and an openly gay Deputy Prime Minister at the same time.

“We commend the leaders of Luxembourg for granting the nation’s LGBT citizens the rights they deserve, and we congratulate the LGBT activists and advocates who made this historic day possible.”

Ty Cobb, Human Rights Campaign

Luxembourg will be the 9th EU country to introduce same-sex marriage, following the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Sweden, Portugal, Denmark, France and England and Wales in the U