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Homosexuality finally legalized in all of Europe

Sidney — Wed, 29 Jan 2014 17:00:22 +0000

BY JANE EISNER
dot429

The Northern part of Cyprus decriminalized homosexuality on Monday, January 27; the region was the last territory in Europe to consider homosexual acts to be a criminal offense. In addition to ending the criminalization of same-sex relationships, the new Decriminalisation of Homosexuality Bill, will also set in place protections for the LGBT community. The bill prohibits the hate speech against gay and lesbian individuals and also protects against discrimination on the basis of gender and sexuality in regards to public services.

A member of the LGBT Intergroup, Marina Yannakoudakis added her hope that Cyprus’ new progressive piece of legislation will send a message to Uganda and Nigeria, two countries which recently passed laws criminalizing homosexual activity. She wants the example of Cyprus to show them that “the anti-gay legacy of Britain’s colonial past should be scrapped and not strengthened.”

German President, European Union Commissioner announce Sochi boycott

candy — Fri, 13 Dec 2013 15:15:02 +0000

German President Joachim Gauck

BY TRAVIS WALDRON
Think Progress

European Union commissioner Viviane Reding said Tuesday that she would not attend the 2014 Winter Olympics, which open in Sochi, Russia in February, because of the country’s treatment of minorities including the LGBT community. It is unclear whether Reding, who chairs the EU’s committee for Justice, Citizenship and Fundamental Rights, was invited to the games as an official EU representative, but regardless, she won’t be present.

“I will certainly not go to Sochi as long as minorities are treated the way they are under the current Russian legislation,” Reding tweeted.

Top 7 European countries for LGBT rights

candy — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 18:00:08 +0000

BY STEVE WILLIAMS
Care2.com

Which European countries are best for LGBT rights recognition?

If you’re planning a trip or move to Europe and want to take into consideration the LGBT rights landscape of your destination, it can be tricky because no two countries recognize LGBT rights in quite the same way.

Fortunately, a leading rights group, ILGA Europe, has just released a series of infographics covering 49 European nations. Below are the top seven countries in reverse order.

France: Marriage and adoption equality approved

Sidney — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 15:30:24 +0000

BY MICHAEL K. LAVERS
Washington Blade

The French National Assembly on Tuesday gave final approval to a bill that would extend marriage and adoption rights to gay and lesbian couples. The 331-225 vote took place less than two weeks after the country’s Senate approved the measure.

The measure’s supporters, however, have become increasingly concerned in recent weeks with rhetoric against the bill they contend has sparked a spate of anti-gay violence across France. National Assembly President Claude Bartolone on Monday received a letter that contained gunpowder. French police reportedly placed water canons outside the building to deter those who may have wanted to try and disrupt the vote.

European financial CEOs convene for LGBT equality

candy — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 08:54:17 +0000

BY THE SEATTLE LESBIAN

Chief executives from some of the world’s largest companies will come together with senior leaders from Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Barclays, Citi, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, HSBC, KKR, KPMG, Morgan Stanley, and UBS to discuss how the financial services industry can advance lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality at the first Out on the Street: Europe Leadership Summit. The summit will be held in London on November 12 2012, at the global headquarters of the law firm Clifford Chance.

This is the first time so many senior leaders have convened to work for LGBT equality in Europe. The event will build on the successful Out on the Street summits held annually in New York. Those summits brought together over 200 senior leaders from across Wall Street including the CEOs of Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, KPMG, and Elliott Capital.

LGBT protections mandatory for EU candidate member states

candy — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 14:14:33 +0000

BY RYAN COLLETTE
dot429

A new policy has been passed in the European Union preventing any candidate-nation that does not have current laws protecting the LGBT-community from joining. However, the policy does not require it of countries that are already members of the European Union.

The new policy was announced by the European Commission, the 27-member executive panel of the European Union, in a statement earlier this week. The statement uses the 1993 “Copenhagen criteria” of EU eligibility and the second article of the EU Treaty which prohibits discrimination against minorities as validating reasons.