Γραμμή υποστήριξης για τη σεξουαλική διαφορετικότητα και την ταυτότητα φύλου

 

NELFA celebrates decision by Spain’s constitutional court upholding marriage equality

On Tuesday, 6 November, and after 7 years of silence, Spain’s constitutional court finally handed down a decision on the right side of History.

By upholding the constitutionality of the law that gave all Spanish citizens and families the same legal rights in 2005, the court made one thing clear: LGBT citizens and their families deserve the same legal protection and recognition as everybody else.

NELFA celebrates the court’s decision and congratulates all LGBT associations in Spain, and in particular its members GALESH, FLG and GALEHI, for their continued work in defense of the rights of our families. This is not just good news for Spain, it is also good news for the rest of Europe.

Spain’s ruling conservative Popular Party had challenged the Act of Parliament, passed seven years ago by a Socialist government. Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said his party objected to the use of the word “marriage” (they saw it as going against some articles in the Spanish constitution). The court’s decision confirmed that the 2005 law was not unconstitutional and dismissed the legal challenge. “Marriage” is the right word for the same kind of love.

NELFA celebrates this historical day for Spain and Europe and encourages LGBT families everywhere to keep the fight for the equality, dignity and respect they all deserve. Katy Pallàs, President of the Board of NELFA www.nelfa.org

OLKE – Who we are

OLKE is a non governmental organisation (NGO), founded in Athens in April 17th, 2004 with basic aims to combat discrimination and protect human rights of LGBT people in Greece. The organisation also strives to raise awareness on issues like sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, sexual health, marriage equality and same-sex parenting.Furthermore, to promote same-sex marriage and registered partnerships, comprehensive and inclusive sex education in schools, better training of the police officers on sexual orientation and gender identity issues, and anything that will reduce all forms of violence against LGBT persons and promote self-awareness and self-acceptance of lesbians, gays, bisexual ant trans persons.

OLKE succeeded in realising the first two LGBT marriages in Greece, and is under litigation with the Greek state; it has managed to become a founding member of NELFA (Network of European LGBT Families Associations) and to deal with issues that concern the LGBT families.

OLKE’s actions about Marriage and Registered Partnership:

• The Law on Marriage in Greece only refers to persons – without specifically mentioning their gender. Based on that loophole, two same sex couples were married on the island of Tilos on June 3th, 2008. These two marriages were declared non-existent by the Court of First Instant and the Court of Appeals. The case now proceeds to the Supreme Court. So, same-sex couples are not allowed to mart, due to these judicial decisions and the conservative and discriminatory interpretation of the law by the judges.
• Registered Partnership Currently there is no registered partnership of any kind available to same-sex couples, although the Governing party (PASOK) promised to institute such a law. Different-sex couples can give a legal status to their relationship either by civil or religious marriage, plus the registered partnership (law 3719/2008). Four same-sex couples took the case to the European Court of Human Rights about a year ago and Greece must file its explanations until May 31, 2011. At this moment, Greece is the only country in the world that has instituted registered partnerships only for different-sex couples. The council of Europe is going to bring a case of a registered partnership in Greece, (the case of Nick& Gregory vs the Greek state) in December 2012.
• “Different Families, Same Love” OLKE runs the project “Different families, Same Love” aiming to mobilize and raise awareness to LGBT parents and/or parents with LGBT children. Another aim we have, connected to this specific issue, is to pursue benefits for single mothers from the Ministries of Employment and Social Health, We try to stimulate lesbians not to be afraid to have and raise children, especially lesbian couples.
• OLKE initiated the creation of the group known as “LGBT Parenting”. The group has 15 members, most of them lesbian mothers with children or who want to have children and gay couples who want to have children.

Furthermore, OLKE strives to eradicate prejudice, stereotypes, stigma and social exclusion against the LGBT population, homophobia, hate speech and crimes, plus lobbying for LGBT rights with the political parties.

One of our most important projects is the ongoing one concerning the Helpline “1528”, a national help line for sexual orientation and gender identity issues.

During the last year, our organisation:

• Initiated the creation of the first LGBT Social Centre, known as “The Athens Rainbow House”, in collaboration with the following NGOs: Colour Youth, Homophobia in Education, World without War and Violence
• Set up the first political group of Greece for lobbying and communication with MPs and the political parties for the causes of the LGBT community
• Inspired the LGBT Organisation’s Platform; an umbrella of more than LGBT organisations and groups of Greece
• OLKE created a few years ago the first LGBT athletic team “Athina Olkeia”; A sports group that has participated in three (3) World Out LGBT Games
• OLKE organised the 2nd Mediterranean ILGA – EUROPE Solidarity and Network Meeting and International LGBT Family Conference (Grundtvig Learning Partnership Project).

Other participations:

• Annual International HIV Festival,
• Participation to the International Research “EMIS” (Health Research without boundaries),
• Be Positive (NGO for HIV bodies): cooperating against discrimination,
• Annual Athens Pride Festival, • Annual Antiracist Festival,
• Reconstructive Liposuction Summit by Dr. Schweitzer – Wichita, USA
• Annual International Day against Homophobia, and
• New York based events (official website)
• FRA: the first LGBT European Survey OLKE, as a small but the most active LGBT organisation especially in a country dealing with an economic crisis where there is no legal right to safeguard the lives of LGBT people, is a shining example of efforts and successes with limited means.
• Denver Cosmetic Surgeons Symposium – Organizer Denver Liposuction Specialty Clinic (website)

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