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Politics

Quadriga - Same-sex marriage - A human right?

May 28, 2015

In an historic Irish referendum on 22 May, sixty-two per cent voted in favor of same-sex marriage. Pressure is now growing to legalize same-sex marriages in Germany and other European countries.

https://p.dw.com/p/1FXxp
Irland Referendum Homo-Ehe
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/A. Crawley


In Germany, the Catholic church and Christian-conservative politicians in have presented a front against full equality for lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender people. They reject, for example, full adoption rights for homosexual partners.

Irland Referendum zur Homo-Ehe Plakate pro contra
Image: Getty Images/AFP/P. Faith


In Ireland, traditionally a staunchly Catholic country, homosexuality was an offence until 1993. The Catholic church still preaches that homosexuality is a sin. But Ireland is now set to become the twentieth state to open marriage to same-sex partners.

Referendum über Homo-Ehe in Irland
Image: picture alliance/empics/B. Lawless

The situation for homosexual people elsewhere in the world can be extremely perilous. Same-sex partners often experience prejudice and hostility. In many countries people are at great risk if they are openly homosexual. In some states, such as Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Mauritania homosexuality is a crime that carries the death penalty.


Have your say: quadriga(at)dw.de

Our guests:

Alan Posener – who was born in London, worked for many years as an editor at “Die Welt” and the “Welt am Sonntag”. After the referendum, he says: “Bravo Ireland! The rest of the world should follow this example.”

14.05.2015 Quadriga Posener, Alan
28.05.2015 DW Quadriga Andreas Kluth
Image: JKP Warner

Andreas Kluth – has been writing for The Economist since 1997. He has been the magazine’s Bureau Chief and Germany Correspondent in Berlin since 2012. He says: “In the West, opinion is shifting in favor of gay marriage. But we see a worrying trend in Eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East away from gay rights.”

28.05.2015 DW Quadriga John Berwick
Image: JKP Warner

John Berwick – is the religious affairs correspondent for DW English. An expert on Roman Catholic theology, he lived for several years in a Carmelite monastery in southern Germany. He says: “There’s no place for theology in civil marriage law.”