Sweden May Ban Anti-Gay Hate Speech
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Sweden's Parliament has voted to add sexual orientation to the list of criminalized hate speech categories:
Protect civil liberties, in all its forms, and gays will still be able to find ways to protect themselves from mean words (which aren't really the problem anyway, in Sweden or anywhere else).
Since it involves changes to the constitution, the legislation, which is scheduled to take effect next year, must pass another parliamentary vote after national elections in September.Of course, I'd prefer that Sweden go in the opposite direction and add a "First Amendment" equivalent protecting hate speech. Go figure.
The Scandinavian nation of some 9 million people has liberal freedom of expression laws, but speech that threatens or condemns a group of people because of their race, skin color, national or ethnic origin, or religious faith is banned.
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Violations are punishable by up to two years in prison.
Protect civil liberties, in all its forms, and gays will still be able to find ways to protect themselves from mean words (which aren't really the problem anyway, in Sweden or anywhere else).
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Posted by Kip on
5 December 2005
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