Clinton defends LGBT rights in Geneva speech Wednesday, 7 December, 2011 Hillary Rodham Clinton is in Geneva to commemorate International Human Rights Day this weekend. The U.S. Secretary of State has also been meeting with members of the Syrian opposition, but in her speech at the United Nations, there wasn’t a word about the uprisings in the Arab world. She focused instead almost entirely on the rights of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgendered people. WRS’s Lucas Chambers reports:
Swiss society 'not ready' for gay adoption? Monday, 3 October, 2011 Last Friday, gay rights groups lost their battle to change the law to give equal adoption rights to same sex couples. The National Council rejected a petition which also argued gay couples should be able to adopt the children of their partner within a registered partnership. Currently, the Federal Registered Partnerships Act clearly bans that possibility. Gay associations estimate that between 6,000 and 30,000 children in Switzerland live in gay families. So what happens next? WRS’s Dave Goodman talks to Maria von Känel who is a member of the Committee for all Families which submitted the petition to the government and the Parliament. She is also vice president of Rainbow Families, a national association that seeks equal rights for gay families:
Swiss People's Party's first gay MP holds to right-wing views Monday, 30 May, 2011 Thomas Fuchs, an openly gay representative for Bern, is to be sworn in as one of three new members of parliament today. Fuchs is the first gay MP for the populist right-wing Swiss People’s Party. The party opposed the country’s civil unions law in 2005 and has a reputation for homophobia. But Fuchs hopes to show that you can be gay and still defend right-wing views. WRS’s Jordan Davis has this profile of the politician:
Zurich's gay library offers books and DVDs for niche market Monday, 2 May, 2011 Zurich has its own gay library, called a Schwulbiothek, which in English means the equivalent of “gay-brary.” Run by HAZ, the Homosexual Working Group of Zurich, the library stores books and DVDs on everything from gay icons to the history of the condom. WRS’s Jo Fahy reports:
Kids in Mind: What to do when a teen declares, 'I'm gay' Monday, 28 March, 2011 When a teen declares he or she is gay, many parents feel that their child is just trying to be different, or they wonder if it’s their fault. But child psychotherapist Rachel Melville-Thomas points out that research shows that parents don’t influence sexual orientation. Her advice is to firstly buy yourself some time by saying, “I’m glad you told me:”
Dealing with homophobic violence in Geneva Tuesday, 14 December, 2010 Following a number of homophobic incidents in Geneva, the city’s oldest gay association, Dialogai, has launched a survey to log all attacks against the community. The organisation is also collaborating with Geneva police to improve communication with gay people. WRS’s Conor Lennon speaks to Michael Häusermann, head of the health section of Dialogai and Patrick Pulh, spokesperson for the Geneva Police:
Gay couples demand right to adopt Wednesday, 16 June, 2010 Groups representing the gay and lesbian community have handed in a petition to parliament demanding adoption rights for gay couples. To bolster their demand, they’ve also published the results of an opinion poll which shows a majority of Swiss people are in favour of the move. WRS’s Vincent Landon reports:
Emotions flare after 'Swiss' B&B in Britain refuses gay couple Friday, 26 March, 2010 A gay couple have filed a complaint with police in Britain after being turned away from a Swiss-themed guesthouse. The owners of the Swiss Bed & Breakfast in Cookham, in the South East of England, refused to let them stay because the couple’s sexuality offended their religious beliefs. The inn’s stance may run afoul of British equality legislation—and it’s not doing any favours for the already beleaguered Swiss reputation for tolerance. WRS’s Mark Butcher called on our correspondent Olly Barratt in London for details:
Movie Week: Eyes Wide Open Wednesday, 18 November, 2009 Israeli movie Eyes Wide Open has been described as “the first gay Jewish orthodox film”—a weighty subtitle for any film. Homosexuality is a major taboo in orthodox society, so controversy was guaranteed element to this story of a married man who falls in love with his 19-year-old apprentice. WRS’s Marc Menichini spoke to director Haim Tabakman; he started by asking him what attracted him to the story:
A gay old time in Zurich Monday, 8 June, 2009 Europride festivities in Zurich wrapped up this weekend with a gay pride march through the city center. Organizers say 50,000 people attended on Saturday, although police place the number at more like 20,000. The weather was a bit stormy at times, but that didn’t put a damper on the party. Jordan Davis reports for WRS.
Homophobic attacks mar Europride launch Tuesday, 5 May, 2009 The city of Zurich is to host EuroPride ’09, a five week long celebration of gay rights, with programme including more than 200 cultural, political and sporting events. Tens of thousands of people from around Europe are expected to attend the closing parade and festival in the city’s old town on June 6. But not everyone wants to see EuroPride. A vicious letter-writing campaign by a small group of ultra-conservative Christians has overshadowed the launch, as WRS’s Vincent Landon reports.