Austrian Constitutional Court Somewhere under the Rainbow: Marriage Equality and the Role of the Austrian Constitutional Court

Abstract In 2010, Austria introduced the Registered Partnership as the only form of legal recognition for same-sex couples while marriage is limited to heterosexual couples. In a recent judgment, the Austrian Constitutional Court decided this limitation to be unconstitutional. Due to numerous legal changes in the last years, the legal framework governing registered partnerships and marriage became nearly identical. By upholding different terms for the same kind of relationship, same-sex partners are presented unequal to different-sex couples and forced to show their sexual orientation even in situations where sexual orientation should be irrelevant. This puts them at risk of discrimination. The Court considers this as a violation of the principle of equality.