by Philip Van Slooten

Switzerland’s Federal Assembly on Friday will vote on a marriage equality bill that passed in both chambers on Dec. 9.

The Swiss Green Liberal Party first introduced the “Marriage for All” legislation in 2013. Scheduled votes were delayed several times before the Council of States, the Federal Assembly’s upper house, first approved it on Dec. 1. The National Council, which is the Federal Assembly’s lower house, passed it eight days later.

The bill would also allow lesbian couples to have access to donated sperm.

“This is good news as well as the vote in favor of lesbian couples’ access to sperm donation,” said ILGA-Europe Advocacy Director Katrin Hugendubel on Wednesday in an email to the Washington Blade. “However, there is still work to do until all children from rainbow families are protected.”

The full Federal Assembly on Friday is expected to declare the “Marriage for All” bill law. Conservatives are expected to call for a referendum to challenge it. Read more via Washington Blade