German Legislature Legalises Same Sex Marriage In Historic Vote

German lawmakers voted by a wide margin to legalize same-sex marriage Friday, a landmark decision which came just 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. It passed by 393 votes to 226, with four abstentions.

The bill is likely to pass through the Bundesrat -- Germany's upper house -- next week. The Bundesrat has previously approved legalizing same-sex marriage
Supporters of gay rights celebrate following the vote Friday at the nearby Bundestag.

Once it has been officially signed into law, Germany will enter the club of more than 20 countries where same-sex marriage is legal.

Two-thirds of Germans said they were in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage in a recent yougov vote.