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Statement by the Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Aid on the ruling by the US Supreme Court on same-sex marriage
Christoph Strässer, the Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Aid issued the following statement on 26 June concerning the ruling by the US Supreme Court on the legality of same-sex marriage:
I very much welcome the decision by the US Supreme Court on the legality of same-sex marriage. This marks an important step towards equality and means that the discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation in relation to marriage has now been abolished in all US states. I hope that the remaining 14 states will swiftly implement the ruling.
This decision should prompt us here in Germany to continue openly discussing the reasons for the existing differences between marriage and registered partnerships – and whether maintaining this differentiation is outdated. I hope and expect that we in Germany will create full equality between registered partnerships and marriage. I am working to completely abolish discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and identity. I stress this regularly during my trips to other countries and I am championing it in Germany, too.
Background information:
The US Supreme Court has ruled that same-sex marriage is legal in all 50 states. The decision published on Friday stated that the judges had ruled that the American constitution guaranteed a right to same-sex marriage nationwide. The existing bans in 14 states therefore have to be lifted. At present, 36 states as well as the federal district of Washington D.C. allow same-sex marriage.
Germany promotes respect for the human rights of everyone without any ifs or buts around the world. This also means that states have to ensure the effective protection of LGBTI persons from violence and prevent discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Furthermore, Germany is working with representatives of civil societies around the world and supports projects which help strengthen and network human rights defenders and overcome prejudices within societies against LGBTI persons.
