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<\/p>\nHaiti May Ban Public Support for LGBTQ Rights, Set Prison Term for Gay Marriage<\/b><\/p>\n
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The Haitian Senate passed a bill last week<\/a> that would prohibit\u00a0public support for LGBTQ rights as well as further criminalize same-sex<\/a> marriage, which is already illegal.<\/p>\n It must still be approved by the Chamber of Deputies, and LGBTQ rights organizations have already signaled a campaign against that outcome:<\/p>\n A bill passed by the Haitian Senate last week provides for up to three years in prison and a fine of about $8,000 for either party to a marriage not between a man<\/a> and a woman<\/a>. The bill also would prohibit any public support or advocacy for LGBTQ rights.<\/p>\n Haitian law already specifically defines marriage as between a man<\/a> and a woman<\/a>.<\/p>\n Charlot Jeudy of the gay<\/a> rights organization Kouraj said the legislation would violate Haiti\u2019s constitution and his group will try to persuade members of the Chamber of Deputies to reject it.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have the right to protest and we have the right to be who we are and we have the right to be free,\u201d Jeudy said in an interview.<\/p>\n The bill, entitled \u201cLaw on Strengthening the Provisions of the Civil Code Relating to Marriage and the Protection of the Family,\u201d includes same-sex<\/a> marriage \u201caccomplices\u201d as being subject to penalty along with participants, and restricts \u201cany public demonstration of support for homosexuality and proselytizing in favor of such acts.\u201d<\/p>\n Jeudy outlined steps his organization would take<\/a> in opposition to the bill\u2019s final passage, according to the Haiti Sentinel:<\/em><\/p>\n To face what he presents \u201cas a measure aimed at reinforcing discrimination against LGBT people\u201d, Charlot Jeudy indicates that his organization is in full consultation with many national and international human rights actors. They intend to advocate in the Chamber of Deputies and with the Administration for the outright rejection of the bill, \u201cwhich tends to justify acts of violence against people on the basis of their sexual orientation.\u201d<\/p>\n In the event of failure of these procedures, the\u00a0Kouraj<\/i>\u00a0does not rule out the possibility of bringing the question before the Haitian judicial bodies to question the \u201cconstitutionality\u201d of these laws. A complaint, to be filed with international human rights organizations is also in the works \u201cin order to force the Haitian state to assume its responsibilities towards all its citizens.\u201d<\/p>\n The Caribbean island already poses a difficult environment for LGBTQ individuals and has seen\u00a0violent opposition to marriage equality<\/a>. An\u00a0LGBTQ-themed film festival had to be called off<\/a> late last year when it came under threats of death and arson.<\/p>\n The post Haiti May Ban Public Support for LGBTQ Rights, Set Prison Term for Gay Marriage<\/a> appeared first on Towleroad<\/a>.<\/p>\n