10 votes

Switzerland votes to ban homophobic discrimination

2 comments

  1. [2]
    unknown user
    Link
    Seems like a reasonable set of requirements by law. I'm assuming the lack of inclusion of transgender people is because it would be a separate law? Ideally, you'd have one that's all-encompassing,...

    It outlaws:

    • Publicly denigrating or discriminating against someone for being gay.
    • Inciting hatred against a gay person in text, speech, images or gestures.
    • Operators of restaurants, cinemas and public facilities such as swimming pools discriminating based on sexual orientation.

    It does not outlaw:

    • Homophobic comments made in a family setting or among friends.
    • Discrimination based on gender identity including transgender people.
    • Public debate on discrimination.
    • Jokes about gay people.

    Seems like a reasonable set of requirements by law.

    I'm assuming the lack of inclusion of transgender people is because it would be a separate law? Ideally, you'd have one that's all-encompassing, but given the case, transgender issues are different from gay issues and require a different approach, are they not?

    4 votes
    1. Algernon_Asimov
      Link Parent
      From my reading of this, it looks like the legislation that Swiss people voted on was only about discriminating against people based on their sexual orientation. Like this old article says: This...

      From my reading of this, it looks like the legislation that Swiss people voted on was only about discriminating against people based on their sexual orientation. Like this old article says:

      The Swiss parliament has extended the scope of anti-racism laws to include discrimination based on sexual orientation. Intersexual (people born with male and female chromosones and/or sexual organs) and transgender people, on the other hand, will not enjoy the same level of protection.

      Parliament has however refused to add discrimination based on gender identity, i.e. against transsexuals or intersexuals to the text of the law criminal amendment. A majority of parliamentarians felt that gender identity was too vague a concept.

      This is the law that was brought to the Swiss people in this referendum: one that includes sexual orientation, but not gender identity.

      4 votes