Germany finally showed the green signal to the Gay and Lesbian's legal marriage. Today Germany celebrated its first same-sex weddings after a new law came into enforcement providing gay and lesbian couples equal legal rights alike every heterosexual couple.
The surprise bill was passed in Germany Parliament three months ago and finally, Germany saw their first gay marriage. Many Town halls in the capital city of Berlin and Hamburg opened their gates to embress the recently sanctioned rules, hence it was possible to witness the history being created.
Karl Kreile and his partner Bodo Mende wedded on 10-02-017
The lucky couple Karl Kreile and his partner Bodo Mende are the very first couple to start the trend. It was a beautiful sight for all 60 visitors and somewhat the same number of reporters in Schoeneberg Townhall located in Schoeneberg district of Berlin.
Germany finally accepted same sex marriage
Gay marriage legalized in Germany
Berlin branch of Germany's lesbian and gay association's head, Joerg Steinert said:
"This day sends a significant signal, which is that the state's discrimination of lesbians and gays is finished, This was long overdue in Germany and so this is a day of great joy."
Gordon Holland, a registrar in Berlin's Schoeneberg district said
"We're making a single exception to fire a symbolic starter pistol because same-sex marriages are possible from today".
Holland forther said: Schoenberg was surely a right place to conduct the first ever gay marriage because it's been a center of gay life for a very long time.
Kreile, 59 and Bodo Mende 39 married as the first gay couple married in Germany. The grooms made their entrance to the room to popular "Wedding March" composed by 19th century's German composer Felix Mendelssohn and they exchanged their vows and received congratulations as well as applause from all the guests present in the room.This day also marks great to Kreile as he was actively involved in gay moment from past decade in Germany.
Karl Kreile and his partner Bodo Mende celebrate the first same-sex marriage in Germany
After the couple enjoyed their wedding, the newly married couple in their reception shared that they have planned a five-day honeymoon to Vienna.
Kreile too spoke up that the registration of their partnership in 2002 as:
"We had a huge party 15 years ago that can't be topped"
Germany introduced registered partnerships in 2002, the right given to the Homosexual couple was much lesser in compared to heterosexual couples. Chancellor Angela Merkel long opposed same-sex marriages, only agreeing to a free vote in Parliament on the matter this June, shortly before national elections.
The bill, which enjoyed strong public support, passed by a wide margin, with 393 lawmakers voting in favor of marriage equality and 226 including Merkel voting against the bill. After passing the law in favor of same-sex marriage Germany becomes the 23rd country to support equal rights for same-sex marriage.