Turnout too slim to strengthen Slovak ban on gay marriage
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 8 February 2015 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Turnout too slim to strengthen Slovak ban on gay marriage, 8 February 2015, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/55094046e.html [accessed 22 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Last updated (GMT/UTC): 08.02.2015 14:39
A referendum in Slovakia to strengthen the country's already-existing ban on marriages and child adoptions by same-sex couples has failed.
Voter turnout in the February 7 plebiscite was just over 21 percent, far below the 50 percent needed for the vote to be valid.
Slovakia does not allow gay marriages or civil unions, nor adoptions by same-sex couples.
The conservative movement that backed the referendum sought to make it more difficult to change those bans through legislation.
Liberals, gay rights activists, and some media outlets had advised voters to defeat the referendum by not taking part.
The group behind the referendum, Alliance for the Family, argued that the traditional family is under threat with more countries, including neighboring Austria and the Czech Republic, allowing forms of same-sex unions or child adoption by gay couples.
Based on reporting by Reuters and AP
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
