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Switzerland agreed to legalize civil marriage and the right to adopt children for same-sex couples on Sunday (September 26).
As per Reuters, the country agreed to do so, courtesy of nearly two-thirds majority of voters, with 64.1 percent of voters in the nationwide referendum that was conducted under the country's system of direct democracy. Switzerland has allowed same-same couples to register partnerships since 2007, but this move makes the country one of the last in western Europe to legalize same-sex marriage. The first marriages are expected to take place next July.
"It is a historic day for Switzerland, a historic day when it comes to equality for same-sex couples, and it is also an important day for the whole LGBT community," Jan Muller, who was in favor of the decision, told AFP news agency via BBC News.