Date: Sun, 6 Mar 1994 13:48 N From: Lewis Taylor <LT%SESUFEK.BITNET@BROWNVM.brown.edu> Subject: News from Swedish Gay/Lesbian Politics, no.5, 1994 News from Swedish gay/lesbian politics Published by the Swedish Federation for Gay and Lesbian Rights (FSL), P.O.Box 350, S-101 26 STOCKHOLM, Sweden. Phone +46-8-736 02 13. Fax +46-8-30 47 30. No. 8/94 (February 21st-27th, 1994) 1 No change in accommodation allowances This week the Government submitted its bill on accommodation allowances for 1995. In the bill there is no proposal on change of the discrimination against homosexuals in the Accomodation Allowances Act. In June 1993, the Parliament resolved that the categories that may apply for allowances should be expanded in order to lso include two people of the same sex. The parliament asked that the government submit a bill in the issue. In the Budget Bill in January 1994 the Government stated that it intends to come back to the Government in the issue during the spring of 1994. Now the Government has submitted its Bill on Accommodation Allowances without having taken the Parliamentary resolution into consideration (see News from Swedish gay/lesbian politics 2/93, 5/93, 9/93, 14/93, 15/93 and 17/93). The RFSL has written to Carl-Anders Ifvarsson, Under-Secretary of State, and asked him whether the Government will submit yet another bill during spring or if the Government intends to neglect the Parliament's request. 2 Formal remarks on temporary parental benefits The RFSL has now submitted its formal remarks on the proposal on changed regulations about temporary parental benefits (see News from Swedish gay/lesbian politics 8/93, 9/93 and 3/94). The RFSL proposes a rejection of the proposal with the following argument. "Gay and lesbian parents are currently not included in the term 'marriage-like circumstances'. Thereby they are excluded not only from the possibility to transfer their right to temporary parental benefits to their cohabitants. In a very insulting way the legislator has also clarified that their relationships absolutely are not 'marriage-like'. The working group proposes in its report that the definition of what kind of couples that can be considered to live under 'marriage-like circumstances' be unchanged. This is unacceptable. By introducing a new category in the regulations about temporary parental benefits, 'single', the text of the regulation becomes even more unacceptable. From the text of the working group it can be concluded that gay and lesbian cohabitants will be regarded as singles. This means turning back to a view of gay and lesbian relationships that was abandoned already in the 1970's. The proposed regulations will mean that people in the category 'singles' may transfer the right to temporary parental benefits to a close friend. This means, if the legislation is passed, that a gayor lesbian parent may transfer her right to temporary parental benefits not only to her cohabitant of the same sex but also to e.g. a neighbor. Thereby, gay and lesbian parents will get a greater flexibility than that of heterosexual parents in the corresponding situation, who may transfer teir temporary parental benefit only to the cohabitant. The RFSL has never striven to get an economically more beneficial or more flexible situation for gay and lesbian couples than for that of heteroexuals. Therefore, the RFSL cannot support the proposed changed regulations on temporary parental benefits. In addition, the RFSL can never accept the fact that a Governmental working group as late as 1994 proposes a law that clarifies that gay and lesbian cohabitants are not cohabitants but rather 'singles'. the situation becomes even more absurd when comparing the proposal from the working group with the proposal from the Partnership Commission that gay and lesbian couples may enter into a partnership, e.g. in order to recognize gay and lesbian love. In conclusion, the RFSL regards the proposal of the working group to be in principle a deterioration rather than an improvement. Therefore the RFSL proposes a rejection of the proposal." 3 The report from the Standing Committee on the Labor Market The Standing Committee on the Labor Market has now finalized its report on the motions urging a law against discrimination against gay men and lesbians on the labor market (see News from Swedish gay/lesbian politics 7/94). The Standing Committee proposes rejection of the motions, but states that "there seems to be a need for legislation" against discrimination agaist gay men and lesbians on the labor market. The Standing Committee rfers to the fact that the issue on partnership is currently considered in the Government. The issue will be considered by the Parliament on March 16th. 4 Stockholm District Court The Stockholm District Court has now submitted its formal remarks on the report of the Partnership Commisson, accordin to the news agency TT: "Sweden should await a possible membership in the European Union before a decision on partnership is made." "There are strong reasons for awaiting a European harmonization, particularly because a partnership legislation still does not exist outside the Nordic countries." According to TT the district court is not attracted by the proposal that the partnership should be entered in a civil marriage ceremony: "This can disturb the confidence for the wedding, which primarily should promote a responsibility for the coming generations. Besides, the procedure could make some judges hesitant." The district court proposes that partnership is to be registered through a form in the tax office. The periodic publications of RFSL Kom Ut (in Swedish): 6 issues a year. Subscription 150 SEK a year. Fakta fraan RFSL (in Swedish): Approximately ten fact sheets that are updated regularly. Subscription 200 SEK per ten mailings. News from Swedish gay/lesbian politics (in Swedish and English): 52 issues a year. Subscription 180 SEK a year or 30 international reply coupons. Hivbladet (in Swedish): 12 issues a year. Free of charge. Membership in the RFSL: 160-250 SEK a year, depending on which local branch is chosen. Includes subscription to Kom Ut.