14 January 2017

Deutsche Welle: Germans not opposed to same sex marriage

Gays, lesbians and bisexuals still face discrimination in Germany, even though the country's General Law on Equal Treatment (AGG) prohibits it. Christine Lüders, the head of Germany's Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency, told journalists in Berlin on Wednesday that it is "clear" that there are still problems. She cites the examples of a lesbian couple that was refused an apartment by a landlord, a man who was fired when it transpired that he was living with another man, or a gay couple that was asked to leave a hotel lobby because the pair was seen kissing there. The people affected all turned to the Anti-Discrimination Agency.

Yet, a study commissioned by Lüders' office shows that a majority of Germans clearly support legal equality for homosexual and bisexual marriage. Of those surveyed, 83 percent are for same-sex marriage and 95 percent believe it is a good thing that gays and lesbians are legally protected from discrimination. [...]

A large part (75.8 percent) of the approximately 2,000 people surveyed between October and November 2016 are in favor of allowing same-sex couples to adopt children together. The current laws do not allow it. [...]

Beate Küpper, head of the study, also found that the younger and more educated the interviewees were, the less prejudiced theya were against same-sex marriage. Women generally have a more positive view of homosexuality than men. Another factor that plays into attitudes is religion. The more religious people are – be it Jewish, Christian, Hindu or Muslim – the less tolerant they are of homosexuals and bisexuals.

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