02/26/2008
Spanish PM Zapatero Appears on Gay Magazine, Warns Conservatives
Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero made his third appearance on the cover of the Spanish gay magazine Zero this month in advance of national elections on March 9, using the occasion to warn the conservative Partido Popular against rolling back LGBT rights:
"'We will continue to make reforms to improve the conditions of all," he said in an interview with the monthly gay magazine Zero, where he appeared on the cover for the third time since 2002. 'We must facilitate the implementation of the rights that we have already approved: the right to adoption (for same-sex couples), of course, and the right to legally change sex,' he said. If the conservative opposition Popular Party of Mariano Rajoy wins the election, Zapetero vowed to prevent 'a single step backwards' in the policies of his government. 'I will do whatever possible so that Mr. Rajoy does not withdraw the rights of any family,' he said. Spain became only the third member of the European Union, after the Netherlands and Belgium, to allow same-sex marriages in July 2005 with a law that also legalised adoptions by gays and lesbians. The measure was heavily criticised by the Roman Catholic Church in Spain and a section of the Popular Party. The PP has gone to the constitutional court to challenge the use of the word 'marriage' in the law, and has vowed if elected to withdraw the right of gays and lesbians to adopt. Homosexuality was legalised in Spain in 1979, four years after the death of dictator Francisco Franco whose regime shipped gays to institutions that some activists have likened to concentration camps. 'We are the envy of other countries for what we have achieved (on gay rights), and we have the support of a lot of countries,' said Zapatero."
Earlier this month, Spanish gay activists rallied in Madrid outside the PP's headquarters.
Sphere: Related ContentPosted 10:03 AM EST by Andy in Gay Rights, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, News, Spain | Permalink
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I, for one, and glad that Spain is so progressive. I'm getting married there in December. It's a shame that I have to cross an ocean to do it, but at least I can do it now.
Posted by: MT | Feb 26, 2008 10:38:20 AM
Zapatero is a hero in the gay movement.
I hope to god his government wins the election on March 9th.
I'm sure the opposition party is getting all kinds of advice and help from their like minded homophobe fundamentalist nationalists brothers in Italy and the US including how to steal a close election.
Posted by: Zeke | Feb 26, 2008 3:27:38 PM
Zapatero rocks! I hope they win the election. Pity I can't vote here. Or at least I assume I can't... Must look into it.
Posted by: EireKev | Feb 26, 2008 4:06:58 PM
I am from Europe. My mother is from Greece and my father is from Quebec. I was raised in Athens, the Greek isles, Venice, Istanbul, Quebec and New England. Yet I am still for European culture and in catholic nations gay marriage isn't permitted. It can be done by the state, but not the church. Spain will revoke this law and return to it's original law. I do believe that gay men and women should be able to marry by the state though. I don't think you can marry in Spain as a foreigner anyway, you at least need to marry catholic. Please don't vote for us either. The US needs you anyway. Gracias.
Posted by: Caligula | Feb 28, 2008 11:13:45 PM