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24 aprii 1£. 2004 PïïTTÏïlneivs access to ordinary marriage and the additional rights that come with it. “Lesbian and gay couples are being s* „ fobbed off with second-best partnership rights,” the Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association said. Spokesperson Terry Sanderson asked: “Why are gay couples required to sign a different register to everyone Michael Cashman (left) and Kursad Kahramanoglu else? Why is the government inventing blame Vatican and Islamic arm-twisting for the delay a whole new structure of partnership of a U .N . gay rights resolution registration when there is a perfectly good one in place already— called mar IN T E R N A T IO N A L riage? The government makes great play about groundbreaking resolution on gay rights its efforts to give equality to gay people, yet it has gone to enormous lengths to avoid giving was scuttled again this year March 29 at the 60th session of the U.N. Commission on equality." Human Rights in Geneva. Sponsored by Brazil, the resolution “express R U S S IA es deep concern at the occurrence of violations committee of the lower house of Russia’s of human rights in the world against persons on Parliament, the State Duma, rejected a the grounds of their sexual orientation” and measure to recriminalize gay sex April 1. “calls upon all states to promote and protect the Russia decriminalized homosexuality in 1992 human rights of all persons regardless of their shortly after the fall of the Soviet Union. Legis sexual orientation.” Brazil opted to withdraw lators said the proposed ban would have been the measure before it came up for a vote, saying unconstitutional because the Russian Constitu Muslim nations and the Vatican had enough tion guarantees the inviolability of private life clout to defeat it. and private and family secrets, according to a At last year’s session, the vote was postponed report from the Interfax wire service. for a year because of opposition from Muslim, African and Latin American countries, Vatican ECUADOR City, China and India. The United States had cuadorian gay activist Patricio Ordonez been expected to abstain. Maico was knifed in the chest and back “Millions of people across the globe face March 12 in the Quito office of the gay group imprisonment, torture, violence and discrimina Friends for Life- Foundation by a person who tion because of their sexual orientation,” Mem shouted, “I’m going to kill you, you son of a ber of the European Parliament Michael Cash- bitch.” man said after Brazil’s backdown. “It’s depressing The attack happened a week after Ordonez when religions can succeed in denying ordinary spoke at an international human rights meeting men and women their universal human rights. about a complaint he has filed against National Both the Vatican and the conference of Islamic Police officers who allegedly assaulted, sexually states should hang their heads in shame for hav abused and threatened to kill him. Amnesty ing reduced their beliefs to the gutter of bigotry International urged its supporters March 19 to and discrimination." appeal for Ordonez’ protection. A statement released by several gay and gay- friendly nongovernmental organizations attend ing the session expressed “disappointment.” “Around the world, {queers] face serious human rights abuses on a daily basis,” the groups said. “For years, special rapporteurs have noted instances of death, electroshock therapy, flog ging, torture, multiple rapes and other egregious rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity. This resolution is urgently needed to send a clear message that lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender and intersex people are not less than human and that our rights can not be violated with impunity.” Kursad Kahramanoglu, International Les bian and Gay Association co-secretary general, voiced dismay at what he called Vatican and Islamic arm-twisting. “This unprincipled alliance of the Vatican and Organization of the Islamic Conference in the U.N. has already twisted the arms of many countries to almost the breaking point in the p4st,” he said. “The lukewarm support from some of the traditional supporters of LG BT rights has also contributed to the feeling of iso Prime Minister José Luis Rodriguez lation of the Brazilian government.” Zapatero says Spain will extend marital rights to same-sex couples U N IT E D K IN G D O M ay couples in England and Wales will gain a long list of marital rights by regis S P A IN tering their relationship if the government’s pain’s new Socialist prime minister, José Luis Civil Partnership Bill, unveiled March 31, Rodriguez Zapatero, said March 18 that the becomes law. Spousal rights and obligations nation will give same-sex couples all the rights would be extended in areas such as immigra of marriage. tion, benefits, pensions, inheritance, property "We are going to present a bill to set gay and tenancy rights, parental responsibility, unions on the same footing as marriage," he told court testimony, hospital visitation and acci Telecinco TV. “From a semantic point of view, dent compensation. marriage may be a concept that does not cover Some gay activists have denounced the bill, this type of union, but it will have the same legal arguing that same-sex couples should have effects.” A A PALM SPRINGS! 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