Gays want names expunged from Austrian criminal registry

News 2005-08-04 Gays want names expunged from Austrian criminal registry An Austrian lobby group said Wednesday that it would launch an effort to have the names of almost 1

An Austrian lobby group said Wednesday that it would launch an effort to have the names of almost 1,500 people convicted under now-repealed laws banning gay sex acts expunged from a registry of criminals. In Austria the names of all those ever convicted of committing a crime are listed in a registry. The names are removed after five years for lighter crimes, while the names of those committing more serious crimes could remain indefinitely.

The interior ministry said in a response to a question from a parliamentarian that 1,434 people were listed in the registry for having violated now-repealed laws relating to homosexual activity. Almost 600 of them were listed for convictions under a law banning all homosexual activity—a law that was abolished more than 30 years ago. More than 400 were listed for violating a law that set the age of consent for gays at 18, while the heterosexual age of consent was 14. That law, listed in the penal code as paragraph 209, was found unconstitutional in 2002 and abolished.

Helmut Graupner, a spokesman for the lobby group Platform Against Paragraph 209, said the group would ask police to expunge the listings and planned to take its fight to the European Court of Human Rights if needed. "To keep the listings in the registry even when the offenses no longer are considered crimes violates human rights," Graupner said Wednesday.

Christoph Poechinger, a spokesman for the interior ministry, said all people still listed in the registry as having been convicted under the two laws remained listed only because they also had been convicted of more serious crimes. In such cases, the listings for offenses of the repealed laws cannot be removed because of "technical reasons," he said. Courts, police, and prosecutors have access to the registry, and employers often require that job applicants provide a document showing their listing in the registry. (AP)

Click here to follow The Advocate on Twitter. Page 1 of 1

READ COMMENTS (0) MORE \ EMAIL PRINT

RECOMMEND

More Online Only

Film Awards Shows Gone Gay

From Rob Lowe singing with Snow White to Madonna and Britney swapping spit, Adam Lambert's racy AMA performance reminded us of some of the great gay moments in awards-show history.

DVDs Hot Sheet: Rihanna, New Moon

Whether you spend your time jamming to Rihanna's Chris Brown kiss-off "Russian Roulette," in theaters with those lusty male vampires- or curled up on the couch with Scarlett O'Hara, it's a packed week in entertainment.

Washington D C View From Washington: The DADT Shuffle

A gay White House employee offered his very first interviews to the LGBT press while Congress took one step forward and one step back on "don't ask, don't tell" repeal in 2010.

Art The Kids Are All Right
Photographer Jeffrey Kilmer has dedicated the last seven years to capturing the awkwardness, rebellion, and personal style of young men across the country and around the world. His book, 23% PURE, is a collection of hot guys, far and wide.

Film Teen Spirit

While Native American cultures have long honored people of integrated genders, a new documentary looks at a shocking hate crime against a two-gendered Colorado teenager.

Politicians L.A. Confidential

What's it like to be 33, gay, and one of the most powerful people in America's second-largest city? Stressful, says Matt Szabo, the new deputy chief of staff to Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

Commentary Love Bites for Twilight's Gay Fans

Gay fanpires are sure to flock to New Moon, but with questions lingering about author Stephanie Meyer and the cash she gives to the Mormon Church, Mike Albo wonders if we'd be better off tying a clove of garlic around our necks.

Youth Church Opens Doors for Homeless Gay Teens

A church-turned-shelter for homeless youth in Queens, New York is a far cry from sleeping on the streets after a $200,000 renovation and a partnership with the Ali Forney Center for LGBT youth.

Music France's Latest Export

He's opened for Britney and Katy Perry, kept Dita Von Teese company in the front row at Paris Fashion Week, and gets name-checked on Twitter by Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, and Sarah Silverman. So who the hell is Sliimy, anyway?

Prevention New Breast Health Rules Leave Out Lesbians

Now that new government guidelines are out on how to best care for your breasts, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender women are left with a lot of questions.

Marriage Equality Triumph in the Tar Heel State

The loss of marriage equality in Maine was a major blow on Election Night, but down the coast in North Carolina there was an LGBT victory. Pam Spaulding talks to Chapel Hill's mayor-elect, Mark Kleinschmidt.

Theater Puppet Masters

When performance-art drag diva Joey Arias combines forces with master puppeteer Basil Twist, anything — no, seriously, anything — can happen.

News Softball With Oprah and Palin

Dave White recaps as Oprah plays nice with Palin in her exclusive, personality-rehabbing interview. Topics include Katie Couric ("badgering"), Levi Johnston ("Ricky Hollywood"), and step class ("gee, it's fun").

News View From Washington: Frank Tells

This week Congressman Barney Frank laid out a plan and a timetable for repealing "don't ask, don't tell..." and a reminder that he's been saying it would happen in 2010 from the beginning.