BERLIN: Two Austrian women are the first same-sex couple to officially tie the knot in the predominantly Catholic country, following years of legal challenges from gay rights groups.

Public broadcaster ORF reported Tuesday that Nicole Kopaunik and Daniela Paier wed in a ceremony in Velden, southern Austria, shortly after midnight Tuesday.

The couple, both 37, had reportedly been engaged for four years.

Austria's constitutional court ruled in 2017 that same-sex couples should have the right to marry from January 1, 2019.

Previously, same-sex couples could only enter into a registered partnership that granted fewer rights than marriage.

Austria's current governing parties, the People's Party and the Freedom Party, had strongly opposed granting same-sex couples the right to marry, but said they would respect the court's ruling. </s> Two women have become the first couple to take advantage of marriage equality in Austria, exchanging their vows shortly after midnight on 1 January.

Nicole Kopaunik and Daniela Paier were wed in the southern town of Velden just five minutes into 2019, when same-sex marriage officially became legal, reports ORF.

Austria’s Constitutional Court overturned the ban on same-sex marriage on 4 December, 2017 after a complaint was brought before the court by a lesbian couple and four other couples, but the change didn’t take full effect until the beginning of this year.

The current government of Austria, a conservative coalition of the Austrian People’s Party and the Freedom Party of Austria, strongly oppose marriage equality but said they would respect the court’s decision, according to The Associated Press.

The unnamed lesbian plaintiffs in the case were allowed to tie the knot in October of last year, but Kopaunik and Paier are the first to do so since marriage equality was extended to the entire nation.

“Getting married was only a matter of time for us, or rather a matter of legal regulation,” Kopaunik told ORF.

“Now everyone has the chance to decide for themselves, if they want a “marriage for all” or a legal partnership, but that was not the case before.”

In 2009 Austria granted same-sex couples the right to enter into legal civil partnerships, but the 2017 ruling has allowed all couples the choice of civil union or marriage regardless of sexuality.

The newlyweds, who were reportedly engaged for four years prior to the ceremony, have chosen to take Nicole’s surname as their new family name.

The Kopauniks were supported by the Velden community in their bid to marry, with wedding planners and the local government helping to clear any obstacles that stood in their way.

Mayor Ferdinand Vouk thanked church officials and wedding registrar Klaus Gottwald for things going so smoothly, describing Velden playing host to the wedding as a “great pleasure and honour”. </s> By The Associated Press

BERLIN (AP) — Two Austrian women are the first same-sex couple to officially tie the knot in the predominantly Catholic country, following years of legal challenges from gay rights groups. Public broadcaster ORF reported Tuesday…

BERLIN (AP) — Two Austrian women are the first same-sex couple to officially tie the knot in the predominantly Catholic country, following years of legal challenges from gay rights groups.

Public broadcaster ORF reported Tuesday that Nicole Kopaunik and Daniela Paier wed in a ceremony in Velden, southern Austria, shortly after midnight Tuesday.

The couple, both 37, had reportedly been engaged for four years.

Austria’s constitutional court ruled in 2017 that same-sex couples should have the right to marry from Jan. 1, 2019. Previously, same-sex couples could only enter into a registered partnership that granted fewer rights than marriage.

Austria’s current governing parties, the People’s Party and the Freedom Party, had strongly opposed granting same-sex couples the right to marry, but said they would respect the court’s ruling.

Copyright © 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed. </s> Haaretz In 2017, Austria’s constitutional court made a ruling that same-sex couples would be granted the right to marry on Jan.... </s> German lawmakers are one step closer to legalizing gay marriage. Parliament voted to allow it after only a short debate. The decision came after Chancellor Angela Merkel unexpectedly eased her parties stance on same-sex marriage.

The new legislation gives gay couples in Germany full marital rights and allows them to adopt children. Germany joins more than a dozen other European nations that have legalized same-sex unions.

After the 393 to 226 vote, Merkel announced that she believes marriage is between a man and a woman, but she hopes the decision will lead to "social cohesion and peace."

According to a recent survey taken by a German government agency, 83 percent of Germans are in favor of marriage equality.

The measure now goes to the upper house of Parliament for formal approval and then requires the signature of President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Once signed into law, Germany's first same-sex marriages will be on track to be celebrated in the early fall, according to The New York Times. </s> The German parliament voted Friday to legalize same-sex marriage, joining many other western European nations and the United States in implementing equal rights.

The move could spur other European countries where same-sex marriage is not recognized to follow suit.

Lawmakers voted 393 for same-sex marriage and 226 against it. There were four abstentions.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel voted against the measure. "For me marriage as defined by the law is the marriage of a man and a woman," she said.

But she paved the way for the vote after saying on Monday that lawmakers could take up the issue as a "question of conscience," freeing members of her ruling Christian Democratic Party to vote in favor.

The gay marriage bill, a last-minute addition in parliament's last session before the summer break, was backed by almost every party in the lower house.

There are several central and eastern European countries – including Austria, the Czech Republic and Italy – where only civil partnerships are open to gay couples, rather than marriage.

Germany currently recognizes civil partnerships for same-sex couples, which guarantees most of the benefits as married heterosexual couples.

Merkel's Christian Democrats, and their Bavarian allies, the Christian Social Union (CSU), have long opposed gay marriage. Their platform centers on "family values," and same-sex marriage was a red line for the party's conservative wing.

Germany holds national elections in September, and legalizing same-sex marriage could benefit Merkel and those running for parliament. Two-thirds of Germans support marriage for all, according to a YouGov poll in May.

"This gives unity and the right and freedom in Germany now for all those who love each other," Merkel's main political rival Martin Schulz of the Social Democratic Party said Friday reacting to the decision.

Christian Democrat Jan-Marco Luczak added: “It would be absurd to try and protect marriage by preventing people to marry.” </s> (CNN) German lawmakers will decide whether to legalize same-sex marriage Friday, just days after Chancellor Angela Merkel dropped her longstanding opposition to allowing a free vote on the issue in parliament.

The bill, which is widely expected to pass, would give homosexual couples in Germany the same rights as heterosexual couples. Once it has been officially signed into law, same-sex couples will be able to marry and jointly adopt children.

While civil partnerships have been available to gay couples in Germany since 2001, same-sex marriages have not been recognized by the state.

Two-thirds of Germans said they were in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage in a recent YouGov poll

Gay rights activists in Germany have been calling for same-sex marriage to be legalized for many years.

If approved by the Bundestag on Friday, the bill is likely to pass through the Bundesrat -- Germany's upper house -- next week, paving the way for Germany to enter the club of more than 20 countries where same-sex marriage is legal.

Friday's vote comes at the end of a turbulent week in German politics. Facing pressure on the issue from the leaders of other political parties, Merkel announced Monday that she would like to see parliament move towards a "vote of conscience" on same-sex marriage.

The Chancellor made the comment at an event in Berlin hosted by women's magazine Brigitte, where she was asked by a gay man in the audience whether he would be able to refer to his partner as "my husband."

Merkel responded by acknowledging the widespread support for gay marriage among German voters and suggesting a free vote in parliament, meaning lawmakers vote freely rather than being asked to support their parties' official positions.

Her comments represent a significant shift for the German leader and her conservative party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which has long opposed same-sex marriage and promoted "traditional" family values.

But with September's election looming, Merkel has come under increasing pressure, with her main rivals and potential coalition partners announcing support for "Ehe für alle" (marriage for all).

The left-leaning Green party and the centrist FDP both said that they would not enter into any coalition deal with Merkel if "Ehe für alle" was not enshrined in it. The left-leaning Die Linke party has long supported full equality.

Following the Chancellor's comments Monday, Martin Schulz, leader of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) -- the second largest party in parliament -- tweeted: "We will push through marriage equality in Germany. This week."

Friday is the last chance for parliament to vote on the issue before it breaks for the summer recess and election campaigning begins in earnest.

While Merkel's announcement delighted LGBT rights campaigners and many of the country's liberal politicians, the vote has caused a rift within Merkel's party.

Gay rights have long been a controversial issue within the CDU and its more conservative Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU). Some CSU politicians reacted angrily to Merkel's comments and the vote.

"This is about the further disintegration of the social order," tweeted CSU politican Hans-Peter Friedrich on Wednesday.

"Marriage is reserved for a woman and a man," wrote Hans Reichart, a CSU politician in the Bavarian state parliament. "That must prevail!"

Anja Neundorf, associate professor at the University of Nottingham, sees Merkel's change of stance as an election tactic designed to appeal to the average German voter -- but one that could backfire among traditional, religious CSU supporters in Bavaria. Merkel needs the support of those voters to win the election.

CSU supporters "are much more sensitive to this issue" than other voters, Neundorf told CNN. And some might choose to simply stay at home on polling day, she explained.

By legalizing gay marriage, Germany would follow the path of many of its European neighbors, as well as countries around the world.

In 2001, the Netherlands became the first country to legalize same-sex marriage. More than 20 other nations have followed suit, including Spain, Canada, Argentina, France, the United Kingdom and the United States. </s> German lawmakers voted by a wide margin to legalize same-sex marriage days after Chancellor, Angela Merkel dropped her longstanding opposition to a free vote on the issue.

The bill gives homosexual couples in Germany the same rights as heterosexual couples, and will allow same sex couples to marry and jointly adopt children.

The votes pass by 393 votes to 226, with four abstentions.

Speaking after the votes, Merkel said she had voted no on the issue, but that it had been important to put the question to a vote of conscience.

” For me and the basic law , its about the marriage of a woman and a man. That’s why i voted against it,” she said. </s> BERLIN — The German Parliament plans to vote Friday on whether to legalize same-sex marriage — only days after Chancellor Angela Merkel backed off her conservative party’s long-standing refusal to budge on the issue.

The German news agency dpa reported Wednesday the Parliament’s legal committee had given its OK for the vote to take place Friday.

Merkel surprisingly said Monday she could see lawmakers making the issue a “decision of conscience,” voting according to individual preferences rather than along party lines.

Her comment came ahead of Germany’s Sept. 24 election in which all of Merkel’s potential coalition partners, including the center-left Social Democrats of her challenger, Martin Schulz, are calling for same-sex marriage to be legalized.

Germany has allowed same-sex couples to enter into civil partnerships since 2001.

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Same-sex marriage becomes legal in Austria.