Blade sits down with U.S. ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein
washingtonblade.comA law that extended marriage and adoption rights to same-sex couples in Switzerland took effect on July 1, 2022, three days before the Fourth of July.
Scott Miller, the openly gay U.S. ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein, on that day noted the marriage and adoption equality law in a speech that marked the Fourth of July. “The Swiss constitution states, ‘the Swiss Confederation shall … ensure the greatest possible equality of opportunity among its citizens.’ This is a powerful statement which acknowledges equality as one of the most basic principles of democracy,” said Miller. “Today, this is especially true as we celebrate the legalization of same-sex marriage and the right of adoption.” “Tim (Gill) and I know very acutely what it means when a government, and the rest of the citizens of a country, say you are entitled to the same rights and benefits to live happily in love who you love,” added Miller. “So, I am immensely … immensely proud that we get to celebrate our Independence Day on this historic day in Switzerland.” Miller, whose husband, Tim Gill, founded the Gill Foundation, assumed his post last December after the U.S.
Senate confirmed him. Miller is one of seven openly gay and lesbian American ambassadors. Miller on Sept. 23 told the Washington Blade during an interview in D.C.
that his Fourth of July speech “was perhaps one of the more meaningful aspects of my ambassadorship so far.” “I talked about the expansion of rights and our work to make a more perfect union,” he noted. “Tying that to equality was, I think, one of the most profound moments of this experience thus far.” Miller spoke at first Liechtenstein Pride in June Miller was previously an account vice president of the Switzerland-based UBS
