Switzerland's same-sex civil-union law came into force Jan. 1 and the first couple tied the knot a day later in the southern canton of Ticino, Swiss public radio reported.
The men, ages 89 and 60, asked to remain anonymous. They have been together for 30 years.
The law extends spousal rights in the areas of pensions, inheritance, taxes and immigration. It does not grant rights to adoption or fertility treatment.
Other countries with nationwide civil-union laws include Andorra, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Greenland, a self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark, also has a civil-union law. There are state or local partnership laws in parts of Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Mexico and the United States.
Full marriage is available to same-sex couples in Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, Spain and South Africa – as well as in the U.S. state of Massachusetts.
Informal cohabitation of same-sex partners has become legally recognized in Austria, Brazil, Colombia, Croatia, Hungary, Israel and Portugal – and in parts of Australia, Italy and the United States.
Swiss same-sex partnership law takes effect
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