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Croatia approves civil partnerships for same-sex couples
ZAGREB, Croatia — The Eastern European country of Croatia on Tuesday approved a law granting civil partnerships for same-sex couples. The Life Partnership Act, approved by the Croatian parliament by a vote of 89-16, grants same-sex couples many of the same rights as marriage, with the exception of adoption.
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Italian mayor wants to ban public kissing between same-sex couples
The mayor of the town of Borgosesia in northern Italy, says he wants to ban public displays of affection between members of the same-sex. Gianluca Buonanno, a member of the Italian parliament for the right-wing Northern League party, has proposed that same-sex couples who kiss in public be fined 500 Euros (about $680 USD).
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No charges for man who attacked politician because there were no injuries
VIENNA — A man who attacked Austria’s openly gay Greens politician Ulrike Lunacek by spraying butyric acid on her at Vienna’s LGBT pride parade last month, will not face charges because no injuries were sustained. While the suspect has been identified, yet remains at large, prosecutors say he will not be charged, as no one was injured.
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Russian MP says naked Apollo on banknote promotes ‘gay propaganda’
A Russian lawmaker wants his country’s Central Bank to change the 100 rouble note and remove naked images of the Greek god Apollo because it violates Russian law by exposing minors to “gay propaganda.” “You can see clearly that Apollo is naked, you can see his genitalia,” says Member of Parliament Roman Khudyakov.
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Former Italian Prime Minister comes out in support of LGBT rights
Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi made a rare public statement Sunday indicating his support of LGBT rights, according to Italian media reports. “The [fight] for civil rights for homosexuals is a fight that in a truly modern and democratic country should be everyone’s responsibility,” Berlusconi said, according to La Repubblica.
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Mayor, diplomats join LGBT pride festival in Thessaloniki, Greece
THESSALONIKI, Greece — Police say more than 6,000 people have marched through the streets of Greece’s second largest city, Thessaloniki, in its third gay pride parade. Taking part was Mayor Yiannis Boutaris and the consuls of the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, the Czech Republic, Finland and Portugal.
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Luxembourg legislature votes to legalize same-sex marriage, adoption
Luxembourg’s legislature voted Wednesday to legalize same-sex marriage and adoption, making the tiny country the eleventh in Europe to allow marriage equality for same-sex couples. The measure passed in the Chamber of Deputies by a vote of 56-4 after a petition by opponents failed to gain the required 4,500 signatures.
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Gay politician attacked with acid substance at Vienna pride event
VIENNA — Austria’s first openly gay politician was the victim of an attack at Friday’s annual LGBT pride parade in Vienna. An unknown assailant sprayed butyric acid at Ulrike Lunacek, leader of the Austrian Greens’ delegation to the European Parliament, as she was giving an interview on the sidelines of the parade.
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Slovakia parliament approves constitutional ban on same-sex marriage
Slovakia’s parliament approved a constitutional ban on same-sex marriages, amending its definition of marriage to be the “unique bond between a man and a woman.” The bill, approved Wednesday by a vote of 102 to 18 with three abstentions, was jointly proposed by the ruling socialist Smer party and the Christian Democrats.
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Three men sentenced in 2013 attack on gay couple in Paris
PARIS — Three French men were sentenced in Paris on Tuesday for a 2013 attack on a gay man and his partner who were walking arm-in-arm. The men were sentenced for the attack on Wilfred de Bruijn, who was beaten unconscious near his home early in central Paris on April 6, 2013, sustaining five fractures in his head and face, abrasions and a lost tooth.