MOSCOW, June 6 (RAPSI) - The German Federal Constitutional Court ruled on Thursday that heterosexual and gay couples should have equal rights, AFP reports on Thursday.

Until recently, only conventional couples were entitled to a tax break, which allows them to file taxes jointly, thereby splitting the tax burden equally. The country's top court recognized that the law violated sexual minorities' rights. Under the ruling, homosexual partners may be taxed as a couple rather than just individually.

German legislation does not allow for same-sex marriages. However, Germany legalized same-sex partnerships in 2001. Now, tens of thousands of partnerships have been established between same-sex individuals given that they are both of age. Legally, these partnerships are almost identical to heterosexual marriages.