Latvian president
vetoes labor bill for lack of protection for gays

Latvian president Vaira Vike-Freiberga vetoed a bill on Wednesday that amended the country's labor laws but excluded any guaranteed equal treatment of gays in the workplace, reports the Associated Press. Vike-Freiberga said in a statement that she saw a "logical reason" to list discrimination of gays alongside discrimination based on race, gender, age, disability, religious, and political beliefs, as well as ethnic origin or social status.

The bill, which was strongly endorsed by Parliament last week and is meant to bring Latvian laws further in line with those of the European Union, was the latest in a number of actions geared towards the gay community in the former Soviet state. Parliament plans on reworking the bill for a second vote. If Vike-Freiberga vetoes the bill once more, Parliament could override her with a simple majority. (The Advocate)