To be shocked that same-sex marriage isn’t legal in Switzerland?

[plodalong12]

They’re holding a referendum on it this month. I’m not Swiss, nor follow the goings-on in Switzerland but I (wrongly) assumed that same-sex marriage was legal there. For some reason I thought it was one of the first countries that legalised it.

Ah, good old 'neutral' Switzerland who's banks are still stuffed full of Nazi gold and assorted priceless artwork etc that the Nazis also stole.

It's an utter disgrace of a country so this doesn't come as any great surprise sadly.

I'm surprised about that to be honest.
Agree that the bankers in Zurich will never change!

Swiss women first got the vote in 1971, with the last Canton to ban them conceding in 1990.

I always considered Switzerland to be quite 'Conservative' and religious, so it doesn't surprise me.

@PeggyArmstrong embarrassed to say I had no idea about the Nazi gold. That’s shocking. Then again I know fuck all about Switzerland in general tbh.

It’s an extremely conservative country.

I've never been there and I don't think I ever will now!

I had no idea it was conservative and religious. Maybe I’ve got my countries mixed up I thought Switzerland was often cited as being liberal and open and leading the way on many things.

@plodalong12

I had no idea it was conservative and religious. Maybe I’ve got my countries mixed up I thought Switzerland was often cited as being liberal and open and leading the way on many things.

No LOL, that's Sweden

But oddly their animal rights laws are very good. Apparently
guinea pigs, and some other animals, must be kept with members of their own species...

"The species that “must be kept in groups of at least two animals” are (for mammals) guinea pigs, mice, gerbils, rats, degus and chinchillas, and (for birds) Japanese quails, macaws, cockatoos, parakeets, parrots, canaries, estrildid finches and – of course – lovebirds. Domestic rabbits “may not be kept on their own during their first eight weeks”, after that they should be kept in groups “whenever possible”. If it’s not possible, they must at least be able to hear and smell other rabbits..."

Progressive in some ways and really not in others

I love Switzerland and the swiss in general. They are a very conservative people so this doesn't surprise me at all.

@PeggyArmstrong

Ah, good old 'neutral' Switzerland who's banks are still stuffed full of Nazi gold and assorted priceless artwork etc that the Nazis also stole.

It's an utter disgrace of a country so this doesn't come as any great surprise sadly.

'Disgrace of a country' is a bit strong, isn't it? You think lots of countries aren't built on wealth from dubious sources? What else makes it a disgrace in your eyes?

My DH is a banker in Zurich, they’re not all sitting on pots of nazi gold.😒

Switzerland is a direct democracy, so for a change to occur someone needs to suggest it and then it’s voted upon, so change is often quite slow.

Very limited diversity. A colleague sent to Switzerland as a consultant in the '90s was sent home for being 'too black'

Absolutely no bones about it. Disgraceful.

@FinallyHere

Very limited diversity. A colleague sent to Switzerland as a consultant in the '90s was sent home for being 'too black'

Absolutely no bones about it. Disgraceful.

That’s awful.

They're just different. In many ways (women's rights and equal marriage) deeply conservative. They also have a LOT of guns and do military service.

In others they are very very 'liberal'. They take a huge number of refugees and allow medical opiate use.

That's a direct democracy for you.

@PeggyArmstrong

Ah, good old 'neutral' Switzerland who's banks are still stuffed full of Nazi gold and assorted priceless artwork etc that the Nazis also stole.

It's an utter disgrace of a country so this doesn't come as any great surprise sadly.

Are you in the UK?

No LOL, that's Sweden

Definitely didn’t get it mixed up with Sweden! I thought for some reason, especially during the Brexit referendum, that people were touting Switzerland and wondering why we couldn’t be more like Switzerland I’m pretty sure I have got my countries mixed up lol. (And I’m not thinking of Norway or the Norway model before anyone suggests that lol).

The UK legalised same-sex marriage eight years ago. YABU to expect everyone else to fall in line within a decade.

@plodalong12

No LOL, that's Sweden

Definitely didn’t get it mixed up with Sweden! I thought for some reason, especially during the Brexit referendum, that people were touting Switzerland and wondering why we couldn’t be more like Switzerland I’m pretty sure I have got my countries mixed up lol. (And I’m not thinking of Norway or the Norway model before anyone suggests that lol).

Yes, they meant economically, not for stuff like this! Switzerland arranged very good trade deals etc. and the country runs very smoothly compared to most. They are quite behind/conservative on social issues, as others have noted.

Swiss women first got the vote in 1971, with the last Canton to ban them conceding in 1990.
I came on to say this. And yes, high gun ownership. And army conscription.

I'm sure I also read on here once a poster living in Switzerland who said they have laws about hanging out your washing on a Sunday, or somesuch.

Thank you @Rozziie

I'm sure I also read on here once a poster living in Switzerland who said they have laws about hanging out your washing on a Sunday, or somesuch.

But there's no threads on MN Switzerland about noisy raves in back gardens on a Tuesday or people burning stuff and ruining washing.

Again incredibly progressive drug management. One of the best in the world.

Not worse, just different.

Yeah I just heard this too! They have had civil partnerships for a while so it’s not as conservator as may sound but yeah still I was surprised

@MasterBeth

The UK legalised same-sex marriage eight years ago. YABU to expect everyone else to fall in line within a decade.

NI only legalised it last year.