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(Brussels) European LGBT civil rights advocates
are calling on the European Union to force Latvia to adhere to the EU's human
rights laws.
Latvia this week moved closer to passing an
amendment to its constitution banning same-sex marriage. It is one of a number
of recent indications homophobia is increasing in the country.
Monday the proposed amendment received 73 votes
in favor with only three members of the Parliament opposing the measure in
second reading. The bill needs a final vote before the constitution is
amended.
The move would make Latvia the only EU member
state to explicitly ban gay marriage in its constitution.
"Latvia is clearly moving backwards compared to the majority of European
States ,said Sophie In'tVeld, vice-president of the European Parliament Gay and Lesbian
Rights Intergroup - a caucus of LGBT members of the European Parliament.
"The
European Parliament has to raise its voice against the right-wing and
homophobic elements in European politics who would like to re-impose their
backward and homophobic values on the rest of society," In'tVeld
said.
Caucus president Michael Cashman said that all member states must conform to EU law including laws which
protect citizens' fundamental rights and freedoms and urged the EU Commission to act.
Latvia has over the past year become increasingly
anti-gay. In July the capital city of Riga banned gay pride observances
following criticism of the event by Latvian Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis. (story)
Pride organizers went to court and won a
restraining order against the city, allowing the parade to go ahead. (story)
Hundreds of demonstrators lined the parade route and hurled rotten eggs and
insults at the marchers. Several of the demonstrators got into scuffles
with police and were dragged away.
The EU, meanwhile, has moved to rein-in another
former Communist state. In October the European Commission warned Poland that if
it continues to oppose gay rights the country risks losing its voting rights in
the EU. (story)
Last month Polish gays and lesbians demonstrated
in several cities demanding that the government abide by European civil rights
laws.
The marchers denounced the mass arrest of gays in
the city of Poznan, (story)
where riot police detailed 65 gays and lesbians who refused to disband when they
attempted to hold a gay pride march.
©365Gay.com 2005
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