People celebrate the vote outside the Bundestag

German MPs passed the law after a long, tough discussion. The law received strong support from gay rights groups and the Left Party and was criticized by the Conservative Party and the Catholic Church. Many people of the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) Community and gay rights groups gathered in the front of the German Lower House of Parliament to celebrate the event. On June 26, German Chancellor Angela Merkel called for a vote on gay marriage in Parliament saying it is a question of conscience. She said she hoped that the vote not only promotes respect between the different opinions but also brings more social cohesion and peace.

While civil partnerships have been legal in Germany since 2001, full gay marriage remained banned. Approval of same-sex marriage in Germany could build momentum for similar legislation in other German-speaking countries, like Austria and Switzerland, said Katrin Hugendubel, advocacy director of ILGA-Europe, a gay and transgender rights group. She said the developments in Germany showed the difference that opposition parties could make.

Finland voted to allow same-sex marriage in March giving couples the right to take each other’s surname and makes them eligible to adopt children, erasing the previous legal distinctions between same-sex partnerships and heterosexual marriages.

Scotland comes ahead of the rest of the countries in Europe in the legal protections offered to LGBT people. It legalized same-sex marriage in 2014 and put in place a number of legislations on LGBT. Thanks to the efforts of campaigners and the Scottish Government and Parliament, Scotland is rated the best country in Europe for LGBT legal equality. Scotland is followed by Britain, Belgium, Sweden, Norway, Spain, and Portugal.