2015 Slovak same-sex marriage referendum

Referendum na Slovensku v roku 2015 January 2015 thumb | right | Ballot box and portable ballot box (on the table) used in referendum in Slovakia, 2015 A referendum on banning same-sex marriage was held in Slovakia on 7 February 2015.Slovakia to Hold Referendum on Same-Sex Marriage https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/slovakia-hold-referendum-sex-marriage-27218382 ABC News Nov 27, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141209034357/https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/slovakia-hold-referendum-sex-marriage-27218382 December 9, 2014http://www.bigstory.ap.org/article/e8c1072da28e44c5b28b7e695ef5d465/slovakia-hold-referendum-same-sex-marriage Slovakia to hold referendum on same-sex marriage 27 Nov 2014 AP Bigstory 26 January 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150206154317/http://www.bigstory.ap.org/article/e8c1072da28e44c5b28b7e695ef5d465/slovakia-hold-referendum-same-sex-marriage 6 February 2015 dead Critics claimed the referendum was pushed by religious and conservative organisations,http://spectator.sme.sk/c/20053418/sd-group-of-eu-parliament-slams-slovak-referendum.html Socialists and Democrats of EU parliament slam Slovak referendum Slovak Spectator 6 Feb 2015 aiming to block gay couples from gaining more rights.https://www.reuters.com/article/us-slovakia-referendum-idUSKBN0L91OQ20150205 Slovak conservatives seek to bar gay marriage in referendum Jan Lopatka 5 Feb 2015 Reuters.com The referendum was not valid as the turnout did not reach the required threshold of 50%, with only 21.4% of citizens casting a vote.https://www.wsj.com/articles/slovakia-referendum-on-gay-adoption-ban-fails-1423355269 Slovakia Referendum on Gay-Adoption Ban Fails Wall Street Journal Leos Rousek 7 Feb 2015 Background In June 2014, the Slovakia National Council amended the country's constitution to specifically deny same-sex couples the legal protections associated with marriage.https://jurist.org/paperchase/2014/06/slovakia-amends-constitution-to-define-marriage-as-between-one-man-and-one-woman.php Slovakia amends constitution to define marriage as between one man and one woman Jurist Paper Chase Julie Diesher 5 Jun 2014https://www.thedaily.sk/amnesty-international-condemns-anti-gay-constitutional-change/ Amnesty International Condemns Anti-Gay Constitutional Change thedaily.sk John Boyd 6 Jun 2014 The referendum was initiated after the conservative church backed group Alliance for Family gathered 400,000 signatures calling for a vote on the law. The Conference of Slovak Bishops, which organises anti-abortion and anti-euthanasia rallies overwhelmingly supported the move.http://spectator.sme.sk/articles/view/53304/2/group_seeks_gay_marriage_referendum.html Group seeks gay marriage referendum 17 Mar 2014 Slovak Spectator Questions Voters were asked questions on three issues:President announces the referendum on "protection of the family" The Slovak Spectator, 3 January 2015 Do you agree that only a bond between one man and one woman can be called marriage? Do you agree that same-sex couples or groups should not be allowed to adopt and raise children? Do you agree that schools cannot require children to participate in education pertaining to sexual behaviour or euthanasia if the children or their parents don't agree?https://www.economist.com/news/europe/21637820-genuine-grassroots-democratic-movement-deny-rights-same-sex-families-uncivil-society Slovakia's anti-gay activists: Uncivil society The Economist 5 Jan 2015 A fourth question on registered partners was rejected by the Constitutional Court. In order for the proposal to be approved, voter turnout needed to be at least 50%. Campaign Supporters of the referendum campaigned predominantly in churches, https://visegradinsight.eu/slovakias-anti-gay-referendum30012015/ Slovakia's anti-gay referendum Frank Markovic 30 Jan 2015 Visegrad Insight Visegrád Group with the Conference of Slovak Bishops raising funds for the campaign.Pope Endorses Referendum Denying Marriage And Adoption Rights To Same-Sex Couples https://www.buzzfeed.com/lesterfeder/pope-endorses-referendum-denying-marriage-and-adoption-right J Lester Feder Buzzfeed 5 February 2015 As quoted by https://www.advocate.com/politics/religion/2015/02/05/pope-has-kind-words-backers-anti-equality-measures-slovakia Pope Has Kind Words for Backers of Anti-Equality Measures in Slovakia Trudy Ring 5 Feb 2015 The Advocate 62% of Slovaks identify as Catholics, and although less than 40 percent of those attend mass regularly, Reuters describes Slovakia as "one of the most religious countries in Europe on the surface". The vote, which cost more than €6.3 million to run, led to conservative groups spending around €110,000 on advertisements.Turnout key to referendum result http://spectator.sme.sk/c/20053236/turnout-key-to-referendum-result.html Slovak Spectator Radka Minarechová 26 Jan 2015 The Christian conservative activism platform CitizenGo, run by Brian S. Brown, the American founder of the National Organization for Marriage, supported the referendum.https://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/brian-browns-citizengo-promoting-anti-lgbt-referendum-slovakia Brian Brown's CitizenGo Promoting Anti-LGBT Referendum In Slovakia Miranda Blue 28 Jan 2015 Right Wing Watch People for the American Way Slovakia's LGBTQ groups, which are smaller and less organised than their opponents, encouraged people not to vote at all, for fear that "no" voters might push turnout over 50%.https://www.thedaily.sk/anti-gay-referendum-stirring-sentiment/ Anti-Gay Referendum Stirring Sentiment John Boyd 19 Jan 2015 TheDaily.skhttp://blogs.ft.com/beyond-brics/2015/02/06/activists-trust-to-apathy-as-slovakia-faces-vote-to-ban-gay-marriage/ Activists trust to apathy as Slovakia faces vote to ban gay marriage 6 Feb 2015 Henry Foy Ft.com blog Reactions Former Slovak Prime Minister Iveta Radičová said that if the referendum passes, "It will not improve the standing of families and marriages; and there won’t be any more children, either."http://visegradrevue.eu/iveta-radicova-i-worry-that-all-we-will-be-left-with-is-filth/ Iveta Radičová: I worry that all we will be left with is filth Monika Tódová 6 Feb 2015 Visegrad Revue 7 February 2015 7 February 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150207014423/http://visegradrevue.eu/iveta-radicova-i-worry-that-all-we-will-be-left-with-is-filth/ dead She criticised the referendum as being pushed by people who want to "want to cover up the real problems" in Slovakia, like "balancing of work responsibilities with childcare, unemployment," financial insecurity and domestic violence. Radičová described the movement as motivated by "the fear of the new, the unknown, and the other" and condemned opposition to sex education, pointing out that it is proven to reduce sexually transmitted diseases, unwanted pregnancies, and delay sexual experimentation. The libertarian party Freedom and Solidarity criticised the referendum, as did the EU parliament's Socialists and Democrats. Boris Dittrich criticised the involvement of American Evangelical donors like Alliance Defending Freedom in determining the social agenda in Eastern European democracies, when they had lost on same-sex marriage in America.https://www.hrw.org/news/2015/02/06/dispatches-unholy-alliance-slovakias-referendum-risks-rights Dispatches: Unholy Alliance for Slovakia's Referendum Risks Rights 6 Feb 2015 Boris Dittrich Human Rights Watch Dispatches Amnesty International has condemned the country's discrimination against LGBTQ peoplehttps://www.amnesty.org/en/news/slovakia-referendum-marriage-panders-homophobic-discrimination-2015-02-02 Slovakia: Referendum on marriage panders to homophobic discrimination 2 Feb 2015 Amnesty International News Amnesty Internationalhttps://www.amnesty.org/fr/documents/eur72/001/2014/fr/ Slovakia: Amnesty International condemns discriminatory constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union between a man and a woman 5 June 2015 Amnesty Internationalhttps://www.loc.gov/lawweb/servlet/lloc_news?disp3_l205404021_text Slovak Republic: Marriage Defined as Between One Man and One Woman Wendy Zeldin 10 Jun 2014 Law.gov Library of Congress and the international media, including The Economist, critiqued the political process in the country.https://www.thedaily.sk/no-freedom-till-were-equal-slovakias-referendum/ No Freedom Till We're Equal, Slovakia's Referendum TheDaily.sk 23 Jan 2015 Gay rights groups criticised the referendum, saying "unemployment, social problems and alcoholism" would not be solved by a vote to ban gay marriages or adoptions.http://www.dw.de/slovakia-holds-referendum-on-gay-marriage/a-18241863 Slovakia holds referendum on gay marriage Deutsche Welle 6 Feb 2015 International critics criticised the ruling social democratic party for pandering to populist religious homophobia, and critiqued the ballot as a waste of millions of euros,http://spectator.sme.sk/c/20052482/bigoted-balloting.html Bigoted balloting Slovak Spectator 3 Nov 2014 Beata Balogová and a distraction from Slovakia's economic woes,http://studentsforliberty.org/blog/2014/07/09/the-dirty-politics-behind-slovakias-ban-on-same-sex-marriage/ The Dirty Politics behind Slovakia's Ban on Same-Sex Marriage Dave Stancel Students For Liberty dead https://archive.today/20150127212319/http://studentsforliberty.org/blog/2014/07/09/the-dirty-politics-behind-slovakias-ban-on-same-sex-marriage/ 2015-01-27 and "genuine problems of Slovak public policy."http://visegradrevue.eu/slovakias-curious-cultural-war/ Slovakia's curious cultural war Dalibor Roháč 25 Dec 2014 Visegrad Revue 6 February 2015 6 February 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150206164006/http://visegradrevue.eu/slovakias-curious-cultural-war/ deadAs quoted in http://www.cato.org/blog/unlikely-fight-over-gay-rights-heart-europe The Unlikely Fight over Gay Rights in the Heart of Europe DALIBOR ROHAC 5 Feb 2015 Cato Institute blog Pope Francis supported the referendum, blessing the opponents of gay rights, stating “I greet the pilgrims from Slovakia and, through them, I wish to express my appreciation to the entire Slovak church, encouraging everyone to continue their efforts in defense of the family, the vital cell of society.”https://www.advocate.com/politics/religion/2015/02/05/pope-has-kind-words-backers-anti-equality-measures-slovakia Pope Has Kind Words for Backers of Anti-Equality Measures in Slovakia Trudy Ring 5 Feb 2015 The Advocatehttp://bigstory.ap.org/article/83acba5f3cd846ceaa0e335f75595d7f/value-clash-west-slovakia-votes-gay-rights-curb In value clash with West, Slovakia votes on gay rights curb AP Bigstory KAREL JANICEK Associated Press 2015-02-06 2015-02-09 https://archive.today/20150209182230/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/83acba5f3cd846ceaa0e335f75595d7f/value-clash-west-slovakia-votes-gay-rights-curb deadPope Endorses Referendum Denying Marriage And Adoption Rights To Same-Sex Couples https://www.buzzfeed.com/lesterfeder/pope-endorses-referendum-denying-marriage-and-adoption-right J Lester Feder Buzzfeed 5 February 2015 A group of theologians issued a position paper claiming that the referendum is touching on ethical questions and those should be solved by discussion rather than by voting. The authors of the position Ondrej Prostredník, František Ábel and Igor Kišš, all from the Lutheran Theological Faculty of Comenius University in Bratislava also claimed that several times in history the way of shortcuts and authoritarian decisions in favor of Christian values proved to be bad and damaged the very cause of Christ's Gospel. They also criticized the referendum as an immoral attempt to shift the responsibility for the crisis of family values in the Slovak society to homosexuals. The position paper as joined by 48 theologians and intellectuals from different churches and sectors of the society.Stanovisko teológov k referendu 7. 2. 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150715131114/http://www.jetotak.sk/editorial/stanovisko-teologov-k-referendu-7-2-2015 2015-07-15 Jetotak, 2 February 2015 Another EU nation, Croatia, banned same-sex marriages in a constitutional referendum on 1 December 2013. Turnout in Croatia was also less than 50%, but its constitution does not invalidate a referendum based on turnout. Opinion polls A Eurobarometer poll on in 2006 found that 19% of Slovaks supported same-sex marriage and 81% opposed, while 12% supported and 84% opposed LGBTQ adoption.http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/eb/eb66/eb66_highlights_en.pdf EUROBAROMETER 66 FIRST RESULTS European Commission TNS December 2006 6 August 2014 80 A European Social Survey in 2010 found that 42% of Slovaks believe that “gay men and lesbians should be free to live their own lives as they wish.”http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2013/12/12/eastern-and-western-europe-divided-over-gay-marriage-homosexuality/ Eastern and Western Europe divided over gay marriage, homosexuality 12 December 2013 Polls suggested that only 35% of the population intended to vote in the referendum, with 85% of respondents supporting the first motion banning same-sex marriage, 78% supporting a ban on LGBTQ adoption, and 70% supporting the third question on sex education.http://spectator.sme.sk/c/20053360/slovaks-are-most-tolerant-of-sexual-education-question.html Slovaks are most tolerant of sexual education question Slovak Spectator 3 Feb 2015 Opposition towards the referendum questions was higher amongst students, single people, those under 35, supporters of the libertarian party Freedom and Solidarity, those with openly gay family members or colleagues, people who live in more progressive town environments, and atheists and people with weaker religious beliefs. Results thumb|The percentage of voters voting in favour of the question no.1 in districts of Slovakia The referendum was deemed invalid due to low turnout, with just 21.4% of eligible voters casting votes,Referendum invalid, turnout low http://spectator.sme.sk/c/20053434/referendum-invalid-turnout-low.html The Slovak Spectator 8 Feb 2015 far short of the 50% required for the results to be legally binding. QuestionForAgainstInvalid/blankTotalRegisteredvotersTurnoutVotes%Votes%Question 1 – marriage ban892,71994.5039,0884.1312,867944,6744,411,52921.41%Question 2 – adoption ban873,22492.4352,3895.5419,061Question 3 – sex education choice853,24190.3269,3497.3422,084Source: https://archive.today/20150208063828/http://volbysr.sk/en/tab01.html Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic See also Recognition of same-sex unions in Slovakia LGBT rights in Slovakia References 30em Category:Referendums in Slovakia Slovakia Same-sex Slovakia Category:LGBTQ rights in Slovakia Category:Same-sex marriage referendums Category:Opposition to same-sex marriage in Europe Slovakia