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Serbs pass gay law - just
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Serbia has passed a gay protection law, despite opposition from its Orthodox Church.
The law, which bans any discrimination based on race, religion, sexual orientation of gender, was narrowly passed by a majority of 127 in favour to 59 against – one more vote than was needed for the bill’s passage. Sixty-four deputies did not attend the voting session.
The Serbian Orthodox Church specifically objected to the inclusion of gay rights in the bill, and led other religious groups in opposing the change. The Church argued that the law could be misinterpreted, while other groups said that the new law ran counter to the conservative traditions of the country.
The change in law was part of a set of reforms required to allow the country entrance into the European Union. Serbia hopes to become the 28th member of the EU by 2014.
Homosexuality has been legal in Serbia since 1994 and there is an equal age of consent regardless of sexuality.
