Latvian President backs gay protection

By Staff Writer, PinkNews.co.uk • June 21, 2006 - 0:00

Vaira Vike Freiberga vetoed the decision and wrote to Parliament Speaker Ingrida Udre, saying she saw a “logical reason” to include gay people

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The President of Latvia has called for the gay community to be included in anti discrimination laws, just a week after the country's Parliament rejected such legislation.

Vaira Vike Freiberga vetoed the decision and wrote to Parliament Speaker Ingrida Udre, saying she saw a "logical reason" to include gay people in the law.

The Latvian Parliament defied European Union laws last week after refusing to implement anti discrimination policies regarding sexual orientation.

The legislation, stipulated as a basis for the country's membership of the political body, was rejected by MPs, after some described homosexuality as a sin.

Latvia's Christian Democratic Party called homosexuals "degenerate."

It is the seventh time such legislation has failed in the country which joined the EU in May 2004

The Parliament must now rethink the bill or vote on it again.

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