The legislation approved by parliament last December extends anti-racism norms to encompass discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation: a legal modification that allows for homophobia to be prosecuted just like racism, or anti-Semitism.
On Monday, opponents of the law – the ultra-conservative Federal Democratic Union (FDU) party, the youth wing of the Swiss People’s Party and the Youth and Family Working Group – handed in over 70,000 signatures to Federal Chancellery. A minimum of 50,000 is required to force a referendum.
The so-called “No to this censorship law” referendum committeeExternal link called for more tolerance and the removal of “censorship bandages”. They claim that the law will hurt freedom of expression and make it difficult for pastors to quote “biblical truths”.
The campaign has been accused by some of targeting gays and lesbians.
The government is still to set a date for the vote.
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Why one party is opposing the criminalisation of homophobia
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Last year, parliament approved legislation to criminalise homophobia. Now, a small conservative party wants to launch a referendum against it.
Train vs plane: would you take a direct train between London and Geneva?
Eurostar is planning to run direct trains from Britain to Germany and Switzerland from the early 2030s. Would you favour the train over the plane? If not, why not?
Swiss price watchdog negotiates lower fees for card payments
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Small businesses in Switzerland will have to pay fewer fees for cashless payments from customers over the next few years.
Lakes in Central Switzerland have best water quality for bathing
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Anyone who swims in a lake in Central Switzerland need have no fear of infection from intestinal bacteria. The water samples taken at 65 bathing sites in 13 lakes all have good to excellent bathing water quality.
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Unknown assailants have stolen a historic ring from a Basel museum. The stolen item was a gift from Russian Tsar Alexander I to his host in Basel in 1814.
More May hotel guests in Basel than at any time in past 90 years
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Basel hotels recorded 150,854 overnight stays for the Eurovision Song Contest in May. This corresponds to a year-on-year increase of 8.4%.
Demand remains high for rental flats in Switzerland
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More rental flats are once again being advertised on property portals in Switzerland. However, demand also remains very high.
One in five Europeans exposed to too much traffic noise
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More than one in five Europeans are exposed to unhealthily high levels of traffic noise, according to the European Environment Agency (EEA).
New living space through densification often comes at expense of the poor
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If demolition and new construction are carried out and tenants have to make way, low-income households are affected more often than average.
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The ceasefire in the Iran-Israel war has visibly eased tensions on the financial markets. The SMI, Switzerland's leading stock market index, has risen above the 12,000 point mark again.
How homophobia manifests itself in everyday Swiss life
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Five recent cases highlight a common problem of discrimination and violence against the LGBTIQ community that parliamentarians are now addressing.
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Switzerland should pave the way to allow same-sex couples to get married and adopt children, a parliamentary committee has said.
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