GRAZ (APA) – Das erste Paar in der Steiermark ist über die “positive Stimmung” bei der Eintragung erfreut.
Schauplatz Grazer Amtshaus, Schmiedgasse: Im dritten Stock, rechts ganz hinten, brüllt eine Beamtin ins Telefon, dass es auch für Wartende heraußen noch hörbar ist, ein junger Schwarzer flucht auf der Suche nach einem Raum, vermutlich dem Staatsbürgerschaftsreferat, durch die schwach beleuchteten Gänge – man könnte sich das Ambiente stilvoller vorstellen, wo sich Jörg und Paul-Bernhard am Donnerstag als erstes steirisches Paar trauen, ihre Partnerschaft eintragen zu lassen.

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The same-sex couples will be able to formalise their relationships from 1 January 2010

The final vote was 64 against the bill, and 110 in favour, reports the Associated Press.
“We are living in the 21st century and I’m very glad this step is being taken today,” said Justice Minister Claudia Bandion-Ortner on Friday.
While the new bill will give gay couples access to legal rights like a pension if one partner dies, it also formally bans the adoption of children or artificial insemination for same-sex couples.
And unlike straight couples, gay couples will not be able to record their unions at the civil registry office, but with another authority instead.

Photo by Galina Toktalieva

A Russian lesbian couple, Irina Fedotova, right, and Irina Shipitko kiss each other by a marriage registry office in central Moscow, May 12, 2009.

AP- Russian lesbian couple was denied a marriage license by an government official. They were handed a written rejection from an official in a registry office in central Moscow. The office director said Russian law recognizes a marriage “only” between a man and a woman. Despite the rejection, the couple said they would not give up. “We won’t stop in midstream,” Fedotova told journalists later, adding that she and her partner plan to get married in Canada. She said Russia recognizes marriages registered abroad.

Despite the rejection, the couple wearing suits and bow-ties and holding flowers, said they would continue to fight for recognition of gay rights in Russia. Russia decriminalized homosexuality in 1993, but opposition to gay rights remains widespread. Russian spiritual leaders have claimed that homosexuality threatens the country’s traditional values. (more…)

Galina Toktalieva for Die Wiener Nachrichten

Moscow City Hall does not allow a gay parade that activists had planned, according to Russian news agencies.
City Hall spokesman Sergei Tsoi said “there have never been gay parades in Moscow and there never will be”
Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov has described homosexuality as “satanic” and tried to justify official discrimination against gays in Russia by telling they spread the AIDS virus.
Russian gay rights movement leader Nikolai Alexeyev said the May 16 parade would go ahead in spite of ban.
“I would like to point out that police and City Hall will be responsible for any negative consequences of the event,” he said, adding that right to be gay or not guaranteed by Russian constitution.
Russia decriminalized homosexuality only in 1993, but opposition to it remains widespread. Russian spiritual leaders have claimed that homosexuality threatens traditional Russian values.
When Vladimir Putin was asked by one of the young journalists what was his personal attitude toward prospect of having gay parades in Moscow, he replied his attitude was justified by difficulty of demographic situation in the country. Reply was met with laughter and applause of audience.

Jörg Haider (* 26. Jänner 1950 in Oberösterreich; † 11. Oktober 2008 in Kärnten) war ein österreichischer Politiker des so genannten dritten Lagers. Haider war zwischen 1971 und 1975 Bundesobmann des Rings Freiheitlicher Jugend und von 1986 bis 2000 Vorsitzender der Freiheitlichen Partei Österreichs (FPÖ). Im April 2005 spalteten sich unter seiner Federführung zahlreiche Funktionäre von der FPÖ ab und gründeten die Partei Bündnis Zukunft Österreich (BZÖ). Er war von 1989 bis 1991 sowie von 1999 bis zu seinem Tod Landeshauptmann von Kärnten. Sometimes woman may be involved with man, who demonstrates obscure coldness and detachment, and it never occurs to her, that he prefers boys. Once I had friendly conversation with middle-aged fag, who told me that gays often consider women to be inferior and dirty: their silliness, their periods – like sewer running through beautiful garden. When I was looking straight in the eye of Jörg Haider at press-conferences, I knew it was impossible for me to gain power over heart of such a person. Then I did not know why. Hundreds of people come to my website with search words “Jörg Haider Schwul”(Jörg Haider- pederast) What about my intuitive knowing that he didn’t like women, it confirmed universal law of fascination. We love the man, in whose presence we love ourselves.  Photographing young solders during national holiday in Heldenplatz on Sunday, I was thinking why so many women fall for men in military uniform. It is thirst for strength and masculinity. Women can not see much of that in their actual husbands and partners. All society slides in homosexuality. Women become more and more competitive, ruthless, tough, and men, o, these Austrian men! More and more lazy, cowardly, impotent and talkative. But all the same I like these odd creatures with balls. Some of them are really superior to women- from intellectual point of view. They are also often less mercantile than women. And they can be real friends.

Deep in my sad thoughts, I awaked to notice an African middle-aged woman sitting at secluded bus stop bench and talking to herself. There was nobody around. Apparently woman was delirious and argued with voices in her head. Perhaps, her problems were imaginary, but her fierce emotions, her rage were quite real. If she spoke German, I would not slow my pace to listen to her. But she spoke African English. I came up to her and asked whom she was talking to. She instantly looked at me with eyes, red from suppressed anger, but unclouded, and replied:

- I am talking to God.

These are one of the most popular kea-words in realm of Austrian internet: Jörg Haider Schwul.

DE_Wien (OTS) – Zur aktuellen blau-braun-orange-rosa Schlammschlacht
und neuerlich aufgeflammten Debatte darüber, ob Jörg Haider schwul
ist, ruft die Homosexuelle Initiative (HOSI) Wien das Outing Haiders
durch Jochen Herdickerhoff auf ihre Website-Abteilung
http://www.hosiwien.at/haiderouting. Dort
finden sich viele interessante Beiträge von damals zum Nachlesen. www.ots.at
ENG_ Is Jörg Haider gay?
In course of recent political blau-braun-orange-rose battle and corresponding debates on whether Jörg Haider is gay the homosexual initiative (HOSI) Vienna reffers to some past gone facts and offers to visit their website
http://www.hosiwien.at/haiderouting, where one can find some materials on this topic www.ots.at, 05.08.08

Action in defense of same-gender partnership
It was rather hot morning, and I felt the gravity of my photo bag, walking by zigzags and asking every pedestrian where civil registry office is. I anticipated picturesque manifestation at the place, but found only small group there. As usual, I photographed persons whose faces I found to be interesting. This time it was woman in red jacket
10.04.08 Aktion “Wir wollen da rein!” zur gleichgeschlechtlichen Partnerschaft
Die Debatte um gleichgeschlechtliche Partnerschaften wird immer absurder: In der ÖVP wird darum gestritten, ob das Standesamt der richtige Ort für die Eintragung von Partnerschaften ist, und die SPÖ sieht zu und schafft es nicht, ihre eigenen Wahlversprechen auch nur ansatzweise umzusetzen. (more…)