Xavier Bettel, who is expected to
become Luxembourg's prime minister, says the nation will legalize gay
marriage in 2014.
Bettel, the leader of the Democratic
Party and the current mayor of Luxembourg City, on October 25 was
designated as the nation's “formateur” and as such will lead the
formation of a coalition government.
Bettel will not become the first openly
gay person to head a nation when he takes over the reigns in a few
weeks. Iceland's former leader Johanna Siguroardottir served a
4-year term ending in May. Under her watch, Iceland extended
marriage rights to gay couples. Neither will Bettel be the first gay
male prime minister. Belgium's Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo is also
openly gay.
In
speaking with BuzzFeed.com, Bettel explained that he sought
permission from his partner Destenay Gauthier before pursuing the
position.
“My partner is a bit scared,”
Bettel said. “I try to be at home most nights as we're a team.
But the obligations [of prime minister] mean I will have to go abroad
a lot. I asked him the day after the election whether it was OK to
form a government and he supported me. If he had said no, I would
have to think whether I could accept it or not – I didn't want to
break up a relationship! We're a team for good times and bad.”
On marriage equality, Bettel said: “Gay
weddings will be done forthly [sic]. At the moment in Luxembourg, we
have to go through the situation of weddings, religion and divorce
laws. But I don't think it'll be in the next five years – it'll be
next year.”