Switzerland Makes all Forms of Transphobia and Homophobia Hate Crimes

The Swiss National Council recently voted to criminalize all forms of transphobia and homophobia as hate crimes and or hate speech against the country’s LGBTQIA+ community. The legal changes to its national penal code will now require lawmakers to seek approval from the Council of States, the confederation’s upper legislative chamber.

Under this law, anyone charged and convicted of hate speech or hate crimes against people on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity would be sentenced to three years or more in prison depending on the crime’s severity. National Council member Mathias Reynard of the center-left Social Democratic Party introduced the law and is now planning to fight for same-sex marriage to be legal in Switzerland either through the government or a nationwide referendum.

While civil unions remain legal in Switzerland, employment and housing discrimination against LGBTQIA+ people is illegal and conversion therapy for LGBTQIA+ youth is prohibited.

However, adoption for LGBTQIA+ couples or individuals remains illegal in Switzerland.