The Lesbian News Snatch - April 8th

By maxime68 on Wednesday, April 8, 2009 - 10:24

Whereas European politicians already seem to be preparing their Easter-vacation – or perhaps they were simply busy with the various international congresses held over the weekend on the European continent – our friends living in the US had grounds to do summersaults several times, congrats to the States of Vermont where gay marriage was legalized and Iowa’s supreme court backed gay marriage. Washington DC at least decided to recognize unions from other (US-) States.

Germany

German Green Party, which not only cares about ecology and it’s issues but also fights against discrimination of minorities, positioned several questions in the Bundestag (Federal Parliament). One question deals with a topic others prefer to bury deep down in their piles, the topic of “forced/arranged marriages” and what the Government knows incl. the figures of concerned lesbians and gays and how they intend to deal with this.

Another question deals with the “equality law”, which was accompanied by the creation of a new department. Questions enquire about the performance, the numbers, the costs, lessons learned. This is quite interesting as the preface reminds us that the chair of said department spoke vehemently against an extension of the current antidiscrimination law on a European level. Which, you remember – cause eurOut reported this in a Newsflash on April 2^nd- was adopted by the European Parliament last week.

CDU/CSU (Christian Democrats – party of Chancellor Angela Merkel) speaker for family politics made clear what his party thinks of this: “we don’t need more regulations from Brussels” and “we oppose the equality of same-sex unions to ‘traditional’ marriage”

Tags: belgium, column, equality, eu, Germany, political, Spain, Sweden, UK, vermont

News from Norway?

Submitted by Bente on April 8, 2009 - 11:12.

Well, not really. I think Norway shut down for Easter as early as last friday... So there's no much to report. But I have to congratulate my mom and dad with their 31st anniversary!

Murcia et al

Submitted by Cath on April 8, 2009 - 12:33.

First of all, thanks for the round up!

-Can't those conservative Germans go celebrate Easter instead of being dumb enough to say "we don't want more bureaucracy" and then spill the real reason with "we don't want equality for gays" in the next phrase? Duh. No Easter Eggs for that one this year.

As for Spain, there are lots of positive news, as well - and actually, the story about the "Bio Ethics Professor" (who is teaching at a CATHOLIC university, so go figure) has something positive since she was ridiculed nationally by a wide variety of newspapers and websites, the general tenor being "Please, how could anyone still be so backwards?".

As homophobic sermons go, hers was neither coherent nor even grammatically correct, so God alone knows what she meant by "being homosexual" since she kept contradicting herself all the time (it's genetic... it's not... it's curable... it's not... young men turn gay because they can't land a girl... it's an illness... and on bisexuals: sure, you can sleep with both sexes, but only because you could it doesn't mean you should. Because dignity is more important than freedom. etc., etc...). Really, you don't even need to ridicule her, she did an awesome job there all in her own.

More Spanish good news: yesterday's episode (17x06) of Hospital Central. Fotos here (provided by the fan club of the Esther actress, Fatima Baeza). - Yep, definitely a good lesbian week in Spain!

____________________________

Blogging against windmills:

1 Spaniard. 1 German. 2 pairs of glasses. 3 languages. ...and trying to get married.

thanks:)

Submitted by maxime68 on April 8, 2009 - 13:45.

so there's really some hope left :)

Thanks for the details and the link, I should pay more attention to the spanish tweets anyway ;)

uh and nice pics, will make sure that entertainment takes notice too.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Maxime-Bruler/1622450857

Oh entertainment took notice alright

Submitted by Natazzz on April 8, 2009 - 14:18.

Damn those are some hotties on HC. I'm sure Clarix will have lots to say about that soon :-)

- - - - - - - - - -

Who doesn't have a blog these days?

Homophobia in Spain

Submitted by Teruel on April 9, 2009 - 00:34.

In spanish, whe you say "homosexual" you can refer both men and women. If you use the anglicism "gay" you refer almost exclusively to men.

That video is a must see. So, this woman thinks that:

- if a person can not complete an heterosexual intercourse, the frustration can led him/her to homosexuality.

- homosexuality is a non-genetic disease, and it has a cure. - teenagers who have working parents, spent too much time alone. When they have some kind of concern or frustration, they seek for compensation in masturbation. Then they discover the pleasure in their own sex.

- Bisexuality is a perversion, and a big problem. Bisexuals have the wrong idea that freedom is more important than dignity.

- Homosexuality was removed from the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) for political reasons.

At least the audience was laughing at her, and applauding to the comments of the other moderator (who totally disagreed with the homophobic statements).

*LOL*

Submitted by Clarix on April 9, 2009 - 00:57.

Well I sent HC S17E06 recap yesterday so will be up soon and you all could enjoy with our hotties and great stories *lol*

Appart from that I totally agree with Bradamante, this was an ultra catholic woman the news was not her thinking that about homosexuals the news is that she was asked to gave a conference, WTF???, so you can imagine...

There are TONS of great news in Spain, really, but as alwyas, is the bad ones that make it to international press...

Did you know that since 2006, when lesbians use insemination in Spain they are both legal mothers of the child without having to go through adoption?

Look carefully at the date of that Netherlands Goverment press release:

http://www.government.nl/News/Press_releases_and_news_items/2008/August/...

I think Spain is now one of the best countries to live being lesbian, beinh a human being. I'm really proud.

And here people usually use "homosexual" and "gay" for males and only "lesbians" for women. Only some legal papers use homosexual the real way, that being including male and female, but usually you can read "homosexuals and lesbians"... we have tried to tell them is like saying "Persons and women" but you know... usually they don't listen.

We have a long way to go, but we are in the right path.

Do you know we have new goverment with some new intelligent, cute women on it as ministers???. Yay!!.

Hate to rain on your parade...

Submitted by Little G on April 9, 2009 - 01:17.

Clarix, I'd like to point out that in the Netherlands adoption - whether it's by straight couples or same sex couples - happens by request to a court. Yes, even today. Despite the impression that courts still intervene, depending on the case and its circumstances, in a lot of cases the adoption procedure is mostly a formality (meaning a request is filed, and the case is handled without a hearing).

Having said that, I'd also like to add that press releases aren't always up to par; as they're often released following a "new" trend.

Thanks!

Submitted by Clarix on April 9, 2009 - 01:35.

Thanks for pointing that!

We all learn!, that's great!

Glad I could clarify

Submitted by Little G on April 9, 2009 - 19:19.

You're welcome, Clarix