Luxembourg legalises gay marriage in landslide vote

Luxembourg has passed its same-sex marriage bill by an overwhelming majority.

The bill was passed by the country’s Chamber of Deputies with 56 in favour, and just four against, The Independent reports. The new law – which also gives gay people equal adoption rights to straight couples – will come into effect in early 2015.

The country, whose Prime Minister is an out gay man, becomes the ninth in Europe to allow same-sex marriages, following the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Sweden, Portugal, Denmark, France and England and Wales.

“Gay people should have the same rights as heterosexuals,” said MP Viviane Loschetter in response to the news. “All we have done is give equal rights to gay people. We formally recognise a form of relationship that has always existed.”

However, Roy Reding, one of the four MPs to vote against the marriage bill, spoke out against the result, saying: “The most important institution of our society, marriage, is ruined.”

Meanwhile, Ann Widdecombe has recently said that she felt “alienated” by the Conservatives’ decision to legalise same-sex marriage in England and Wales earlier this year. Read the full story here.

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