Vienna: Tougher laws are needed to combat homophobia in the European Union, a new report says, urging leaders across the 27-nation bloc to grant same-sex partnerships the same rights and advantages as married couples. Lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transsexuals enjoy significant legal protections in only 18 member states, the Vienna-based EU agency for fundamenatal rights said yesterday. "Equal treatment is a fundamental right that all members of our society should enjoy," the agency said, calling homophobia and discrimination "a cause of concern for us all". Better use of EU-wide criminal legislation could tamp down homophobic hate speech and hate crime, it said.
-Associated Press
no, these girls ARE girls, Dayana of Venezuela and Elisa from Mexico
Miss UniverseLabels: Gay Relationships, Gay Rights, Pageants
