Same sex couples have won a few victories in Germany.Recently, the highest court in Germany ruled that same sex couples can receivethe same tax benefits as married heterosexuals. The ruling did not please a group of conservatives supporting Chancellor Angela Merkel who is up for reelection in threemonths. In August of last year,Merkel refused to allow same sex couples receive the same tax benefits enjoyedby married heterosexual couples. However, her democratic supporters wereanxious to grant same sex couples with equal tax benefits. Foreign MisiterGuido Westerwelle describes his feelings regarding the change in the law sayingthe holding shows that the law is finally catching up with society and itschanges. That is not the only change in German law. This past February, the Constitutional Court heldthat a member of a civil union could adopt their partners child. This law willbe effective in 2014.
See Scott Roberts, Angela Merkel Told to Equalise Tax Benefits for Gay Couples in Constitutional Court, Pink News, Jun. 6, 2013.
