The Chancellor voted against it, but same-sex marriage has been approved by a big margin in the German parliament.<br /><br />The country has become the 14th in Europe and 23rd in the world to legalise same-sex weddings.<br /><br />This after Angela Merkel did a u-turn and allowed MPs in her ruling conservative bloc to follow their conscience instead of vote along party lines.<br /><br />After the vote, Merkel told reporters: “For me, matrimony protected by the constitution means marriage between a man and a woman, and therefore I did not vote for this draft law today.”<br /><br />But Merkel added that she hopes the vote promotes “respect between different opinions and brings more social cohesion and peace”. <br /><br />Some in the German media think Merkel’s change of heart on the issue might have been a strategy to look for extra votes in the upcoming elections in September.<br /><br />Her announcement on the matter was condemned by some in her traditionally Catholic conservative bloc.<br /><br />One supporter of the law, Ulli Köppe, spoke outside the parliament after the result came through: “I am no less worthy than a heterosexual man. I’m equal, and that had to be fixed, and now it is, and I am unbelievably happy. <br /><br />“And if I want to, I now can – in one of the most democratic countries in the world – finally have the opportunity to call my partner my husband.”<br /><br />Celebrations are being held across the country after the vote.<br /><br />Lesbian woman Shoshana Brand said: “We’ve been married for eight years, very happily married, but we were never allowed to call it that. We feel absolutely equal, proud and happy.”<br /><br />The German parliament voted by 393 votes in favour of same-sex marriage and 226 against.<br /><br />The bill is likely to be signed into law by the president in July.<br />
