Swiss to vote on same-sex marriage on September 26 after fraught campaign
Zee News
The federal government and parliament have approved opening civil marriage to same-sex couples, but opponents forced a referendum on the issue under Switzerland`s system of direct democracy.
Zurich: Swiss voters decide on Sunday (September 26) whether to allow same-sex couples to wed and adopt children after a highly charged campaign pitted gay rights activists against traditionalists in one of the last Western European countries to still ban gay marriage.
The federal government and parliament have approved opening civil marriage to same-sex couples, but opponents forced a referendum on the issue under Switzerland`s system of direct democracy.
In a provocative campaign, opponents of the reform used images of crying babies and the word "slaves" written over dark-skinned pregnant bellies, in a reference to surrogacy that is illegal in Switzerland, in stark contrast to proponents waving "Yes, I do" rainbow flags at Zurich and Geneva pride parades.
Showing the no-campaign in the traditionally conservative and Christian Switzerland had gained traction in recent weeks, the share of voters set to approve same-sex marriage fell to 63% in the latest poll by gfs.bern for broadcaster SRG, while the share of opponents rose to 35%, versus 69% to 29% a month earlier.
