![\"Thomas_Oppermann_neu\"](\"http:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.towleroad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/Thomas_Oppermann_neu.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nGermany<\/a>\u2018s Social Democrats (SPD) party has announced plans to launch a new push to legalize same-sex<\/a> marriage.<\/span><\/p>\n In 2015, the SPD-Christian Democrats coalition agreed to small changes in same-sex<\/a> civil partnership rules, but staunch opposition<\/a> from the conservatives prevented approval of gay<\/a> marriage.<\/span><\/p>\n According to <\/span>Reuters<\/b><\/a>, SPD\u2019s Thomas Oppermann (above) said his party would raise the issue at the next coalition meeting, a move welcomed by the Green party.<\/span><\/p>\n Oppermann added that the party also intends to push for rehabilitation and compensation for people charged under a law\u00a0in effect until 1969 that criminalized homosexuality.<\/span><\/p>\n A study by Germany\u2019s Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency in January found that 83 percent<\/a> of Germans supported legal equality for same-sex<\/a> marriage.<\/span><\/p>\n It is thought that Northern Ireland could soon allow for same-sex<\/a> marriage after recent elections<\/a> reduced the majority of Arlene Foster\u2019s DUP which has blocked legislation on a number of occasions.<\/span><\/p>\n (Oppermann image via Wikipedia<\/a>. Schwesig image via Wikipedia<\/a>)<\/p>\n The post German Lawmakers Launch New Push For Marriage Equality<\/a> appeared first on Towleroad<\/a>.<\/p>\nRELATED:\u00a0German Chancellor Angela Merkel: Marriage is Between a Man and a Woman<\/a><\/em><\/h2>\n
<\/a>German Family Minister Manuela Schwesig (right) said that legalizing same-sex<\/a> marriage would mark important societal progress, adding that it\u2019s time for conservatives to \u201cstop putting the brakes on modernization.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n