Same-sex marriage legal in Austria from 2019

Same-sex couples will be allowed to get married in Austria from 2019, the country's supreme court ruled on Tuesday, saying a current law to the contrary violated the principle of non-discrimination.

The move brings Austria into line with many other European nations including Germany, France, Britain and Spain.

Austria's constitutional court examined a 2009 law, which allows registered partnerships for same-sex couples but prevents them from getting married at the request of two women who were rejected by two lower authorities.

"The resulting discriminatory effect is seen in the fact that through the different title of the family status people living in same-sex partnerships have to disclose their sexual orientation even in situations, in which it is not and must not be relevant and... are highly likely to be discriminated," the court said in its ruling.