by Christopher Cappiello

EU backs pension rights for gay spouse

In a decision that could have far-reaching ramifications for same-sex couples in the European Union, the EU’s highest court ruled that refusing to grant the pension of a gay man’s dead partner was direct discrimination and a violation of EU directives.

The decision came in the case of a gay man from Germany, Tadao Maruko, who was denied a widower’s pension when his partner died in 2005.

“I’m happy. It’s a very important step,” Helmut Graupner, an attorney representing Maruko, told BBC News. “This will help all those countries which have registered partnerships. It’s the first time the [European Court of Justice] has ruled in favor of same-sex couples.”

The court’s ruling emphasized that any country that grants same-sex couples rights similar to marriage cannot discriminate based on sexual orientation.

“It all depends on the country,” European Commission spokesman Johannes Laitenberger told BBC. “The right to a survivor’s pension exists if the two regimes are analogous,” he said, referring to marriage and civil partnerships.

According to the International Lesbian and Gay Association, at present 10 EU countries offer no legal rights for same-sex partners: Bulgaria, Cyprus, Estonia, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania and Slovakia.

Controversy continues over Canadian MP’s remarks

Homophobic remarks by a Conservative Canadian MP caught on tape 17 years ago continue to dog the party as activists call for Prime Minister Stephen Harper to take some kind of action against Saskatchewan’s Tom Lukiwski.

“Obviously something has to happen to Tom Lukiwski, either he be stripped of his duties or resign,” Nathan Markwart, of the Gay and Lesbian Community of Regina, told the Canadian Press.

In videotapes released by the New Democratic Party, Lukiwski is heard to say, “There’s A’s and there’s B’s. The A’s are guys like me. The B’s are homosexual faggots with dirt on their fingernails that transmit disease.”

The video was taken during a 1991 party at the Saskatchewan Progressive Conservative campaign headquarters. Lukiwski has publically apologized and said that the statements do no represent his views. In the foyer of the House of Commons in Ottawa, Lukiwski said he “would give anything in the world to take those comments back.”

“I believe when such an apology and remorse is sought from an individual member, the generous and high-minded thing to do is accept that apology,” Harper said after returning from a recent trip to Romania. He also described Lukiwski’s remarks as “completely unacceptable.”

“What we’re saying, as the leaders of the gay and lesbian community,” Markwart said, “[is] that apologies don’t wipe out prejudice.”

“If [Lukiwski] sincerely wants the queer community’s forgiveness, he has to demonstrate his willingness to pay some sort of personal price for the pain that words like that can cause,” Rick Pollard, of Regina Pride Committee, told the Canadian Press.

Lukiwski’s predecessor in Parliament, Canadian Alliance MP Larry Spencer, was stripped of his duties and ultimately left the party after saying that homosexuality should be outlawed.

Thailand bans nonmedical castration

Health officials in Thailand issued a temporary ban on castrations performed for nonmedical reasons in an effort to stop a trend among young transsexuals.

“As of today, doctors can perform the surgery if there is a medical reason to do so—not for any other reason,” Health Ministry spokesman Suphan Srithamma told The Associated Press.

Letters were sent to 16,000 hospitals warning that they would face closure for violating the ban.

The action came after the Gay Political Group of Thailand, under the leadership of activist Natee Teerarojjanapongs, urged the Medical Council of Thailand to act to stop widespread, Internet-fueled castration among young gay men. Vulnerable teens found enticing Internet ads offering cheap operations that promised to give them more feminine features and figure.

Many young people believe that castration is a cheap route to changing gender. Some Bangkok clinics reportedly offer adult male castration for around $100.

“It’s a totally wrong perception that castration will make boys more feminine,” Teerarojjanapongs told the AP. “These youngsters should wait until they are mature enough to thoroughly consider the pros and cons of such an operation.”

Castration in the late teens “could cause severe damage to [the teen’s] health, both physically and mentally,” said Pipit Yingseree, chair of the committee overseeing hospitals and clinics.

Officials say the temporary ban will last until the Medical Council formulates a policy on castration.

“These castrations are unethical,” a health official told the AP.