France Passes Wide Reaching Anti-Homophobic and Sexist Law

Paris, December 25 (RHC)-France has outlawed the use of sexist and homophobic insults in legislation that places such insults in the same category as racist or anti-Semitic hatred.

On Friday, the French Parliament effectively made any public insult that attacks a person’s gender or sexual orientation a punishable offense with a maximum fine of €45,000 or one year in jail.

The legislation is an attempt to curb what authorities see as increasing homophobia and verbal violence against women. Opponents says that the law goes too far in that it will be almost impossible to apply.

The law is seen as too wide in that it covers any public remark made of a general nature that tends to denigrate homosexuals as a whole, including on the air, in print or at a public meeting. Private sexist or homophobic abuse is not free from the legislation and is punishable by fines of up to €375.

Legal experts say that the courts will have to try to preserve freedom of expression while respecting the law. They acknowledge that insults to gays and women are incitements to violence and must be punished, but that opinions on homosexuality could hardly be punished if they remained just that - opinions.

http://www.radiohc.cu/homeing.htm