Swiss voters OK
partner law
Swiss voters approved a same-sex registered-partnership law June 5. Fifty-eight percent of voters favored the measure.
Although numerous European nations have enacted such laws, this was the first time the matter was put to a public vote in Europe—and the first time in the world that voters passed a gay-partnership law. The measure had passed Parliament in June 2004 but religious conservatives then collected enough signatures to force a referendum on it.
The law extends numerous marriage rights to registered same-sex couples but withholds rights in the areas of adoption, in vitro fertilization and taking each other's last name.
Nineteen of the nation's 26 cantons, or states, approved the law. The highest level of support was in Basel-Stadt—68.59 percent. The lowest level was in the small northeastern canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden—41.6 percent.
' [ The result ] shows that we are a pluralistic society that defends its minorities,' activist Christian Verdon told Swissinfo.org . 'Homosexuals have earned their place in society today. [ This law ] will give gay couples far more visibility. People only fear what they don't know.'
London borough bans rainbow flags
Westminster City Council has banned rainbow flags from storefronts in London's gay Soho district. Councilors declared the flags to be advertising rather than a symbol.
London Mayor Ken Livingstone responded by calling the councilors 'Neanderthals.'
'Westminster's decision ... shows that its planning committee is completely out of touch with the needs of 21st-century London,' Livingstone said. 'Lesbian and gay businesses make an enormous contribution to the life of this part of London. They should be congratulated not discriminated against.'
Panamanians plan
first pride parade
Panama will see its first gay pride parade June 25.
Organized by the New Men and Women Association of Panama, the 3 p.m. Parade for Sexual Diversity will depart from the intersection of Vía España and Vía Argentina and head to Andrés Bello Park.
The march has received financial support from two gay bars, a Web site, a gay tchotchke shop, Spain's Triangle Foundation, and GrupoFSM, a corporation that owns the trendy Madrid nightclub Cool.
'Knowing that most marches of this type always start small—and then grow into carnival-type parties—we chose a very short path for our march, and we are not planning on having floats or anything like that,' said Javier Rodríguez of the organizing group. 'We hope that many hetero friends and family will show up. We are inviting everyone. Hence the 'sexual diversity' character of the march.'
Following a rally at the park, the marchers will release 600 helium-filled balloons, 100 for each color in the rainbow flag. They are still looking for about $400 in donations to pay for the balloons. For more information, e-mail ahmnp@yahoo.com .
Nigerian scammers target gay chat rooms
The United Kingdom's Gay Police Association has issued a warning about Nigerian fraudsters targeting users of various online gay chat rooms.
'Many people are familiar with receiving e-mails from people based in Nigeria asking for money and are now wise to this fraud, but it is much easier to be taken in by someone if you have spent some time chatting with them online,' said GPA Community Advisor Ian Saunders. 'People using gay chat rooms need to ... treat with caution any requests for money or bank details from people they have recently chatted to.'
The scammers often claim to be dying of cancer or involved in charity work, the association said.
100,000 attend
Milan pride
Some 100,000 people gathered in Milan's Piazza della Repubblica June 4 for the city's gay-pride parade.
Organizers and marchers demanded passage of a partnership law for same-sex couples.
Numerous politicians joined the parade, including the president of Milan province, Filippo Penati; the openly gay president of the Puglia region, Nichi Vendola; and openly gay Member of Parliament Franco Grillini.
400 march in Seoul
About 400 GLBTs marched in the gay pride parade in Seoul, South Korea, June 7.
The march was the centerpiece of the 15-day Queer Culture Rainbow Festival 2005, JoongAng Daily reported.
'Stereotypes against sexual minorities in Korea have almost disappeared,' said parade organizer Han Chae-yun of the Korean Sexual-Minority Culture & Rights Center. 'This event was to help sexual minorities become confident and to protest against social prejudice.'
Man's driver's license pulled because he's gay
A court in Sicily on June 7 overturned a decision by officials in the city of Catania to suspend a man's driver's license because he is gay.
The man, Danilo G., had his license pulled after authorities learned he was exempted from military service because of his sexual orientation. The officials said they needed to investigate the 'suitability' of allowing him to drive.
Danilo's lawyer called the move 'utterly scandalous and offensive' and sued for half a million euros ( US$613,397 ) .
'Danilo ... is deeply perturbed by what has happened,' attorney Giuseppe Lipera told the Ansa news agency. 'He has lost his hair and is suffering shock.'
In siding with Danilo, the court declared: 'It is clear that sexual preferences do not in any way influence a person's ability to drive motorcars safely. [ Homosexuality ] cannot be considered a true and proper psychiatric illness, being a mere personality disturbance.'
