Austria’s highest court ruled Tuesday to fully legalize marriage equality by 2019 after declaring the law restricting LGBTQ partnership to civil unions discriminatory. With this historic decision, the current restrictions on LGBTQ Austrians will be overturned on December 31, 2018 and marriage equality will be in full effect starting Jan. 1, 2019.
“Today, the differentiation between marriage and legally registered partnerships can no longer be upheld without discriminating against same-sex couples,” the court said. “For the separation into two legal institutions implies that homosexual individuals are not equal to heterosexuals.”
“Everyone deserves the full right to marry the person they love and build lasting relationships and families in their communities, and today Austria’s highest court ruled in favor of equality with this historic victory,” said Sarah Kate Ellis, President and CEO of GLAAD. “It is inspiring to see love prevail as the world faces a resurgence of anti-LGBTQ activism that reminds us of the work that must still be done to accelerate acceptance.”
Earlier this year, Germany and Malta both legalized marriage equality and voters in Australia overwhelming voiced their support of marriage equality in a national referendum.
