Gay Today: World

ILGA Europe to Four Nations:
'Lift Military Bans'

Compiled by GayToday

ILGA Europe, the European branch of the International Lesbian and Gay Association, has announced that Monday's "overwhelming and unqualified condemnation by the European Court of Human Rights of the UK's ban on service in the armed forces by lesbian and gay persons leaves no doubt that similar restrictions in certain other member states of the Council of Europe are in clear violation of the European Convention on Human Rights."

ILGA enjoys consultative status with the Council of Europe.

In Germany, lesbians and gay men are disqualified from becoming officers or military instructors. Defense Minister Rudolf Scharping recently supported these restrictions, commenting that "homosexuality is cause for considerable doubt of suitability and shuts out employment in such functions as leading, education and training in connection with soldiers."

In Greece and Poland lesbian and gay service personnel can be discharged on the basis that they suffer from a personality disorder, while in Turkey a law dating from 1996 states that those who engage in "unnatural sexual intercourse" are to be expelled from the army.

ILGA Europe is calling on the governments in these countries to lift their restrictions now. As parties to the European Convention on Human Rights, they are under an obligation to secure for their citizens the rights and freedoms protected by the Convention.

Related Stories from the GayToday Archive:
Euro Court to Denounce Military Ban

British Military Admits No Good Reason for Gay Ban

ILGA's 'End of the Century' Message

Related Sites:
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Yesterday's judgment, ILGA insists "leaves no doubt that these rights include that of lesbians and gay men to serve in armed forces of their country."

The International Lesbian and Gay Association is a world-wide federation of 350 national and local groups dedicated to achieving equal rights for lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgendered people everywhere. www.ilga.org