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Loading ...Anger as Spanish queen denounces gay marriage
10.31.2008 8:07am EDT
(Madrid) Queen Sofia has angered Spanish LGBT groups for remarks she makes in a new book about same-sex marriage and gay pride celebrations.
Portions of the new biography, The Queen Up Close, by Spanish journalist Pilar Urbano, appeared in the daily newspaper El Pais.In her first comments on the subject, the queen said that she is opposed to Spain’s gay marriage law, suggesting that Parliament should have opted for civil unions.
“If those people want to live together, dress up like bride and groom and marry, they could have a right to do so, or not, depending on the law of their country, but they should not call this matrimony, because it isn’t,” she is quoted as telling Urbano. “There are many possible names: social contract, social union.”
The same-sex marriage law was enacted in 2005. Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has called it one of his greatest achievements. But the law has drawn the ire of the Roman Catholic Church.
Nevertheless, recent polls show same-sex marriage has broad acceptance in Spain. A survey by Instituto Opina showed that nearly 75 percent of those questioned said they are fine with the law and it should not be repealed. Only 18 percent favor abolishing the law.
In the book Queen Sofia also questioned gay pride parades.
“I can understand, expect and respect that there are people with other sexual orientations. But should they feel proud of that? Should they climb on top of cars and hold parades?” she asked. “If everyone who wasn’t gay rallied through the streets, traffic would come to a standstill.”
Her remarks drew a swift rebuke from LGBT rights groups.
The State Federation of Lesbians, Gays and Transsexuals called for the queen to retract the statements.
“It is unprecedented that the palace, which usually never comments on social issues, now has to vent about one group of citizens who have been discriminated against in the past,” FELGTB president Antonio Poveda said in a statement.
“Many mothers of gays and lesbians are going to ask why the queen understands that the prince would marry a divorced woman, but she can’t understand why other mothers wouldn’t want that same happiness of marriage for their children,” said Poveda, referring to Prince Felipe, who married divorcee Letizia Ortiz in 2004 with the crown’s blessing.
El Pais published the excerpts from the book in advance of its release to coincide with the Queen’s 70th birthday which falls on Nov. 2. The book’s publisher said the quotes were accurate and that the book was reviewed by the palace before publication.
Sofia sadly you’re an ignorant old Queen. I’m glad that more than 70% of Spaniards understand that human beings are equal regardless of who you love! She could learn something from the “commoners”… Vote NO on 102!!!
Sofia, Sofia… in words of your husband: porque no te callas? (Why don’t you shut up?)
There are lots of names for Sofia, Royal is not one of them
That proves what happens with all that inbreeding!
That’s proves what happens with all that inbreeding!
Spain will be free when the last royal is hanging by the last priests guts.
It’s puta, not perra.
And besides, to call her a perra is to imply that she’s as ugly as Elizabeth Dole; no woman can be that ugly. Her very existence makes me realize that I am a 1 rather than a 0 on the Kinsey scale.
Hugo Chavez: Chosen by 10,000,000 Venezuelan citizens in 2005.
Juan Carlos and his bimbo broad: Chosen by 1 Spanish dictator sometime in the 1970s.
My comment to her
“Chinga su madre”
Um? There is a queen of Spain???
how do we say this in Spanish … Oh yeah “Perra” [female dog]!!!
These comments are from someone who has never struggled in her life. Of course she doesn’t understand why pride& unity are needed for people who have been persecuted for so long. She doesnt understand struggling to be accepted and treated sub-human. With a culture so supportive of Diva’s and inlove with the idea of queens, she really has no idea what her comments have done.
With all due respect, I would suggest to her majesty that she educate herself on all of her citizens, whether gay or straight. If like any other country that is ruled by a monarchy, her bread and butter, her home, all her needs are supported by the public coffers; people from all walks of life and that does include gay people. History will also tell her that gay people are born of all families including Royal Families, such as the brother to Czar Nicholas II and currently a Prince in India has recently come out as gay. So, she as a mother, should think what if she had had a gay son or daughter – would she have denied them right to happiness or would she have loved them unconditionally and blessed their unions?
“Off with her Head”-Queen of Hearts.
Sorry I couldn’t say it.
Well, I guess that it is true that all “queens” don’t approve of gay marriage and we all know what a difficult time some “queens” have with keeping their mouths shut.