Washington Blade - November 2, 2001
Czech lawmakers reject bill to legalize gay unions
PRAGUE, Czech Republic (AP) -- The lower chamber of parliament on Thursday rejected a draft law that would grant certain legal rights to gay men and lesbians, returning it to the government for revision. The draft would have allowed couples who register their unions in local government offices to enjoy rights in areas such as inheritance and health care similar to those now granted heterosexual married couples. It was the third time the Czech parliament has rejected a bill legalizing homosexual unions. In the 200-seat chamber, 85 of 166 deputies present voted against the draft, while 60 voted to discuss the bill as it was, and 21 abstained, parliamentary spokesperson Anna Stepkova said. Most of those who voted to send the bill back for revision are conservatives attempting to delay passage of the law, which enjoys growing popular support. A gay activist, Jiri Hromada, said parliamentÆs decision did not yet amount to defeat. "It is important for us that the draft was not completely rejected," he said.
Peter Piot said HIV and AIDS should be a major human rights issue. AIDS conference calls for prevention, treatment
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (AP) -- Governments must commit more money to prevention and treatment of HIV and AIDS, as they would to ward off terrorist or technological crises, said participants at a conference on the disease. Yolanda Simon, chair of the 10th International Conference for People Living with HIV/AIDS, criticized such priorities, questioning why "itÆs taking so long to experience mobilization for HIV in the same manner as that for terror-inspired anthrax." Peter Piot, director of the Joint U.N. Program on HIV/AIDS, said governments need "political will" to fund prevention and treatment campaigns for the estimated 36 million people infected. "Hundreds of billions of dollars were spent on the non-virus of the Y2K millennium," he said, referring to the campaign to update computers for the year 2000. "It illustrates that not because something is important with many people suffering from it that money is automatically available for it." Piot said HIV and AIDS should be made a major human rights issue.
Imprisoned gay Brit wants condoms made available
LONDON -- A jailed gay man has lost a legal battle for the right to be supplied with condoms, Reuters reported. The man, who was not identified, asked to be supplied with condoms to protect other prisoners he is sexually involved with from hepatitis C, with which he is infected. On Oct. 29, deputy judge Sir Christopher Bellamy dismissed a case brought to LondonÆs High Court against the "no condoms" policy of Ashworth Special Hospital, where the prisoner is detained. The hospital has a "no sex" rule, but the man says he is sexually active and by not allowing him condoms, the hospital was unlawfully infringing on the human rights of patients by not protecting their health. Hospital authorities said that by supplying condoms they would be contradicting their "no sex" rule. At a hearing in September, Bellamy was told that the prisoner was not seeking "universal provision" of condoms for patients but only wanted them where it was thought they should be made available to stop the spread of infection.
Cypriot govt. to lower age of consent for gays
NICOSIA, Cyprus -- The Cypriot government announced Oct. 22 that following pressure from members of the European Parliament, the age of consent for gays will be reduced from 18 to 16, the Cyprus Mail reported. Spokesperson Michalis Papapetrou said the government was concerned that Cyprus was coming under criticism in Europe over legal discrepancies between the treatment of gays and heterosexuals. Papapetrou said CyprusÆs attorney general prepared a letter to the House of Representatives appealing for help in bringing about a "swift change" to align Cypriot laws on homosexuality with those of other European Union countries, including a reduction in the age of consent and equalizing penalties for sexual offenses for gays and straights. Papapetrou said the island had recently come under pressure from members of the European Parliament who have opposed CyprusÆs accession in recent votes specifically because of the inequality in the legal treatment of gays. -- From staff and wire reports
011102
WB011103
Copyright © 2001 - The Washington Blade. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of The Washington Blade content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of the Blade. The Washington Blade shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. The Washington Blade.
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Boehringer Ingelheim, Bridgestone/Firestone Charitable Trust, Elton John AIDS Foundation UK, the National Library of Medicine, AIDS Walk of Orange County, and donations from users like you.
Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2001. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Copyright ©1980, 2001. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .