La Suisse approuve le mariage gay par un large "oui" | Euronews

Official regnn of the homosexual muny Swzerland was given a big boost on Tuday wh the first ever legally-regnised partnership between same-sex upl. Although not a marriage, the new partnership, which is only available Geneva, giv gay partners many of the rights enjoyed by hbands and wiv. The ceremony on Tuday, which lasted barely 10 mut, took place a small room Geneva's Cy Hall. It was a most ocsn, wh no mic and no nfetti. Journalists outnumbered iends and fay by about three to one. It's not a marriage, 's jt an admistrative procs, said Patrick Berguer, 42, one half of the first uple to enter to the partnership. It won't change the way we live our liv . However, Patrick did adm to beg moved . There will be no honeymoon, though. Patrick said he would have to return the afternoon to his job as a puter specialist. His partner, Yv Matteis, has been a drivg force mov to get the partnership law passed Geneva. We now have the same rights as heterosexual upl. So is symbolilly important. But also shows that society has re-evaluated s attu towards homosexuals, Matteis told swiss. The thori are regnisg our life together, and that may give our relatnship a more lastg perspective, he add. Unr the new law, which was approved by the ntonal ernment last week, all habg upl - whether homosexual or heterosexual will be treated exactly the same way as married upl their algs wh the state, except wh regard to taxatn and social secury benefs. Patrick and Yv, who have been together for over five years, rmed the thori of their wish to make their stat as a uple official. Armed wh the requise documents, they filled a claratn to that effect, and return, they received a certifite provg their partnership. Geneva is regnised as beg more liberal-md than the rt of the untry, but gay activists are hopeful that the Geneva experience will have an effect on a natnal level. The Swiss Jtice Mister, Ruth Metzler, is currently drawg up a draft feral law on same-sex partnerships. Geneva has shown that the prciple of equaly has to be rpected - and that sends a strong msage to the nferatn and to Ruth Metzler, Matteis said. The new law will have no impact on homosexual upl' tax, health surance premiums or rights to adopt children. But will give them herance rights, and make easier for them to rent an apartment together, and have visg rights hospals. Society will now also have to regard as a uple, says Matteis. The law has been dubbed the Geneva PACS, after the French Civil Solidary Pact approved October 1999. It do not specifilly mentn same-sex partners, although was origally nceived jt for homosexuals. Makg the law apply to all upl mak flexible means n be ed by habg elrly people who have found another partner after beg widowed. by Roy Probert