Switzerland Approves Same Sex Marriages

Some 64 percent of voters have supported the proposal, making Switzerland one of the last countries in Western Europe legalizing marriage between the same sex.

Campaign members for these marriages have welcomed the vote, considering it a historic moment for the rights of LGBT (homossexual, lesbian, bisexual and transginor) communities in this state.

Church groups and those conservative political parties have rejected the idea, saying it harms the traditional family.

Switzerland has enabled couples of the same gender to register partnerships since 2007, but some rights have been limited.

Switzerland has now returned to 30th place in the world that has allowed such marriages.

For the past 20 years, most countries in Western Europe have adopted same - sex marriages.

However, in Switzerland many major decisions are adopted through referenda, and this process slows changes in the legislature.