The outcome of the public referendum, which took place in Slovenia on 25 March 2012 is a huge disappointment for LGBT community and the liberal public. The voters rejected the new Family Code, which brings equal rights to same sex unions and families. Out of 30 percent of all voters, who took part at the public referendum, 55 percent were against Family Code, and 45 percent in favor.

After the liberal Family Code was adopted by the Slovenian national parliament in June 2011, the conservative civic initiative lead by the catholic church started a hostile campaign against Family Code and submitted a demand for a public referendum. After that also the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Slovenia gave its approval to a public referendum on human rights. The public opinion in Slovenia was strongly divided between opponents and supporters of Family Code, and the referendum campaign was overheated and very intense. The supporters of Family Code joined in the »Movement For Family Code« (including all Slovenian LGBT associations, numerous NGOs, liberal political parties and trade unions) were faced with strong opposition, hate speech and militant campaigning methods of the opponents of Family Code.

Tatjana Greif, SKUC-LL