The Swiss widely approved this Sunday in referendum a law that prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation, which was fought by conservative formations.
The "Yes" won by 63%, reaching 70% in some cities like Geneva or Basel while the "No" only won in three small Germanic cantons.
Mathias Reynard, the socialist parliamentarian who proposed this reform of the Swiss criminal code, greeted on the RTS-1 chain "a historic day " and "a magnificent signal for all affected people."
Marc Frueh, of the small party defending Christian values UDF, which launched this referendum with the democratic Union of the center (UDC, populist right), the country's first formation, said that despite its failure, the recourse to a vote was justified . This referendum "allowed the Swiss people to make a decision," he said on the same chain. He added, however, that his training will be attentive to the way in which the reform is implemented.
The new law, of 2018, extends another existing law on discrimination and racial and religious hatred, and extends it to sexual orientation. Conservative parties launched this referendum in hopes of blocking the law, which they consider a "censorship" that threatens "freedom of expression, conscience and commerce."
Jean-Pierre Sigrist, 71, a former high school teacher in Geneva and a gay activist, replies that freedom of expression "is not the freedom to say anything", and this law constitutes "an added safeguard against homophobic acts" .
If the so-called antihomophobia law had existed 40 years ago, " maybe I would not have received a beating at the exit of a bar in Geneva and they would not have laughed at me when I filed a lawsuit," he told AFP days before the vote .
Insufficient protection
All major parties, with the exception of the most important, the UDC, believe that in Switzerland the protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation is insufficient.
Supporters of the law claim that discrimination based on sexual orientation is sanctioned in other European countries, and that the Council of Europe and the UN have asked Switzerland to strengthen its arsenal against homophobia.
Representatives of the UDC and the UDF, defender of Christian values, launched the referendum and called to vote "no" on the new regulations.
"We also want to fight against hate and discrimination in our society," says the "No to censorship" committee on its website.
According to him, "the current law only adds fuel to the fire and does not solve any long-term problem. On the contrary: it calls into question our free and ideologically plural Switzerland."
Public denigration
The new law sanctions public denigration and discrimination against any person due to their sexual orientation , or any attitude aimed at fueling hatred towards them, in writing, speech or through images or gestures. It does not repress the comments made in the family circle or among friends.
Restaurants, hotels, transport companies, cinemas or swimming pools cannot refuse access to someone due to their sexual orientation. The text provides for fines and penalties of up to three years in prison if they do.
In LGBT circles, some fear that special protection stigmatizes them even more. "I fight for the acceptance and normalization of my sexuality. For me, normalization also means not demanding special rights," says Michael Frauchiger, co-chair of the "Special rights NO!" Committee.
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