Switzerland votes in favor of LGBT protection bill

[solid_core]

"Although Switzerland's reformed church backed the new law, the Swiss Evangelical Alliance, which has significant support in rural areas, was sceptical.

"We don't even know if jokes about gays will be allowed," Benjamin Fischer of the right-wing Swiss People's Party told Swiss television.
"Some say yes, some say no they will be punishable. We live in a country with freedom of expression, people should be allowed to think and say what they like, even if it's a bit stupid or tasteless."

Swiss vote in favour of LGBT protection bill

 

[Cis.jd]

Is there something wrong with this. Let them keep their business and you keep to yours.

 

[solid_core]

Is there something wrong with this. Let them keep their business and you keep to yours.

Its news. If its wrong or not is on you. There is no need to react if you do not have anything to say.

 

[FallenAndBack93]

Is there something wrong with this. Let them keep their business and you keep to yours.

I think the fear here is that they, the gays, won't keep to their business. As this Mr. Fischer points out, he is not even sure if gay jokes will be allowed. Does a joke about gays really warrant government intervention?

 

[PloverWing]

I think the fear here is that they, the gays, won't keep to their business. As this Mr. Fischer points out, he is not even sure if gay jokes will be allowed. Does a joke about gays really warrant government intervention?

Maybe not, but this does: "Members of the gay community interviewed by Switzerland's 20 Minuten paper said they were often physically attacked, some even hospitalised. Other groups of young men told the same paper they felt it was ok to hit openly gay couples, even suggesting they could be 'cured with a few punches'." [The quote is from the linked article.]

 

[SkyWriting]

Maybe not, but this does: "Members of the gay community interviewed by Switzerland's 20 Minuten paper said they were often physically attacked, some even hospitalised. Other groups of young men told the same paper they felt it was ok to hit openly gay couples, even suggesting they could be 'cured with a few punches'." [The quote is from the linked article.]

Is there a blood test or anything so we can weed them out?
The attackers, I mean.

 

[Handmaid for Jesus]

I think all human beings need protection from vicious attacks.

 

[PloverWing]

Is there a blood test or anything so we can weed them out?
The attackers, I mean.

I think all human beings need protection from vicious attacks.

If your point is that existing assault laws already prohibit assaults on gay and transgender people (because they prohibit assaults on everyone), then, yes, that's a good point.

I haven't looked at the details of the Swiss law, but here in the US, it was once legal in some states to discriminate in hiring or housing on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. The Swiss law may be addressing that kind of situation.

 

[grasping the after wind]

Quote form the article referencing a supporter of the new Law.
"Freedom of expression in a liberal democracy only goes as far as the individual right to human dignity is protected," she says.

Seems like the major expressed fear of those opposed to the law is somewhat justified. A joke making fun of or mocking a gay person for being gay might well be considered illegal if the law is interpreted in the way that this supporter would like to see it interpreted.

 

[Quartermaine]

Is there a blood test or anything so we can weed them out?
The attackers, I mean.

nope....hate is always a choice

 

[Quartermaine]

If your point is that existing assault laws already prohibit assaults on gay and transgender people (because they prohibit assaults on everyone), then, yes, that's a good point.

I haven't looked at the details of the Swiss law, but here in the US, it was once legal in some states to discriminate in hiring or housing on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. The Swiss law may be addressing that kind of situation.

Sadly such discrimination is still legal in most of the United States

 

[Quartermaine]

The joke nonsense is easy to address. the protection bill is simply an extension of the laws that protect religious and racial minorities. No one is or has been prosecuted for telling a black joke or a Jewish joke.

It seems the question of being punished for telling a gay joke is just something the far right as cooked up in an attempt to stop passage of this.