The National Council says “NO” to the petition “Equal Opportunities for All Families”
14/10/2011
Submitted by
The Swiss Rainbowfamilies Association in Switzerland
Press Release, 30 September 2011
The National Council says “NO” to the petition “Equal Opportunities for All Families”
The Familienchancen Association as well as the Rainbow Families Umbrella Organisation along with the organisation Friends and Parents of Lesbians and Gays (FELS), the Lesbian Organisation of Switzerland (LOS), the Swiss gay umbrella organisation Pink Cross and Transgender Network Switzerland are concerned about the National Council’s rejection (83 votes against 97 with 8 abstencion) of the petition “Equal Opportunities for All Families” on 30 September 2011. This vote continues the discrimination of Swiss rainbow families.
“We are disappointed to see a majority of members of the National Council consciously perpetuating the legal discrimination of thousands of children growing up in rainbow families,” says Martina Scheibling von Känel of the Rainbow Families Umbrella Organisation.
By rejecting the petition “Equal Opportunities for All Families”, the demands for recognition of same-sex parenthood have been shelved for the time being. The two pending motions aimed at repealing the ban on adoption and on second-parent adoption are scheduled for deliberation during the winter or the spring session.
For interview requests:
Martina Scheibling von Känel, Rainbow Families Umbrella Organisation board member
mail: info@regenbogenfamilien.ch
With its petition, the Familienchancen Association and 19,380 fellow signatories ask Parliament and the Federal Council to concern themselves with the issues of rainbow families. Its goal is legislation that eliminates the legal discrimination of rainbow families – discrimination which is primarily borne by the children. The main issues are second-parent adoption and the adoption of children in a close personal relationship. The current peremptory ban on adoption for registered partners prevents adoptions even in those cases where an adoption would be in the best interest of the child.
The Rainbow Families Umbrella Organisation champions the concerns and interests of rainbow families at the federal level. It is the primary contact for all questions related to the topic. Societal recognition of alternative family structures, an end to discrimination and equality in terms of parental rights are the organisation’s principal demands.
The National Council says “NO” to the petition “Equal Opportunities for All Families”
The Familienchancen Association as well as the Rainbow Families Umbrella Organisation along with the organisation Friends and Parents of Lesbians and Gays (FELS), the Lesbian Organisation of Switzerland (LOS), the Swiss gay umbrella organisation Pink Cross and Transgender Network Switzerland are concerned about the National Council’s rejection (83 votes against 97 with 8 abstencion) of the petition “Equal Opportunities for All Families” on 30 September 2011. This vote continues the discrimination of Swiss rainbow families.
“We are disappointed to see a majority of members of the National Council consciously perpetuating the legal discrimination of thousands of children growing up in rainbow families,” says Martina Scheibling von Känel of the Rainbow Families Umbrella Organisation.
By rejecting the petition “Equal Opportunities for All Families”, the demands for recognition of same-sex parenthood have been shelved for the time being. The two pending motions aimed at repealing the ban on adoption and on second-parent adoption are scheduled for deliberation during the winter or the spring session.
For interview requests:
Martina Scheibling von Känel, Rainbow Families Umbrella Organisation board member
mail: info@regenbogenfamilien.ch
With its petition, the Familienchancen Association and 19,380 fellow signatories ask Parliament and the Federal Council to concern themselves with the issues of rainbow families. Its goal is legislation that eliminates the legal discrimination of rainbow families – discrimination which is primarily borne by the children. The main issues are second-parent adoption and the adoption of children in a close personal relationship. The current peremptory ban on adoption for registered partners prevents adoptions even in those cases where an adoption would be in the best interest of the child.
The Rainbow Families Umbrella Organisation champions the concerns and interests of rainbow families at the federal level. It is the primary contact for all questions related to the topic. Societal recognition of alternative family structures, an end to discrimination and equality in terms of parental rights are the organisation’s principal demands.
