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Loading ...Serbian lawmakers pass anti-discrimination law
03.26.2009 4:30pm EDT
(Belgrade, Serbia) Serbian lawmakers narrowly gave final approval Thursday to an anti-discrimination law that is part of pro-Western reforms but was strongly opposed by the Serbian Orthodox Church and other conservatives.
Parliament passed the bill with a slim majority of 127 votes in favor to 59 against – one more vote than was needed for passage in the 250-member parliament. The remaining deputies did not attend.The law bans any kind of discrimination, whether based on race, religion, sexual orientation or gender or other factors.
The legislation was part of reforms to align the nation with European Union policies and was crucial if Serbian citizens were to gain the right to travel without visas to the 27 EU member nations.
But its adoption triggered public turmoil in Serbia, which is predominantly conservative.
The Serbian Orthodox Church, supported by other religious groups, had requested changes to the articles on gay rights and religious freedoms. It has argued the law could be open to misinterpretation and misuse. Other critics have said it runs counter to Serbian tradition.
The government initially withdrew the law to review the church’s remarks, but that angered liberals. In the end, the government made no major changes.
Apart from banning discrimination, the law also provides for a special state representative to monitor possible discrimination, and outlines punitive measures.
The US is behind, but no one is pushing us to make rapid progress. In Europe they have the EU which requires non-discrimination as part of its common rules on the workplace, so lots of very intolerant countries were forced to legalize gay sex and prohibit discrimination, or else they be denied EU money. The EU has been very bold and uncompromising on minority rights, thank god, otherwise minorities in Europe would be hostage to their national governments
Ok America, time to wake up and smell the coffee that’s brewing. If Serbia, SERBIA for christ’s sake, can move forward this way then surely the land of the free and the home of the brave can get its act together. Really now, this is getting a little embarrasing…isn’t it?
You may be shocked with Serbia passing this law, but in the 70s and 80s, before the war we had two sex magazines with articles on sex education, and erotic writing and was very gay affirmative, the names were REPORTER and DVOJE. On the lake on the river next to the Beograd half of public beach is nude and mostly gay and lesbian.
The war fucked it up all, and remember we didnt have religion since 1945, and eve though it took roots after 91 its very vague and little influential, people are mostly atheist.
Americans don’t worry ! There’s always Italy lagginng behind you !
Not just Serbia… VENEZUELA is even passing a national domestic partnership law, and apparently already has some kind of national non-descrimination law. See http://blabbeando.blogspot.com/2009/03/venezuela-same-sex-partnerships-on-fast.html
Very Soon Hong Kong and China will pass bills like this and give rights to the gay community never thought of before. In the meantime… what is the US doing? dealing with its religious issues. Indeed the US has lost its leadership on so many rights issues despite having had the guts to vote for a non-white president. Europe is doing such a better job at it. By the way several times now China has had proposals for gay rights on the agenda of its national party conference. they have been defeated but events may surprise us!
It is a tragedy that the USA will again be a follower when it comes to civil rights. We can’t get the US Congress or president Obama to pass this simple statement. Shame on this country, its promise is a lie.
Wow, Serbia is further along the many parts of the U.S. Will wonders never cease.