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By Rex Wockner International News Report
The new Constituent Assembly of East Timor voted to
remove gay protections from the new nation's draft
constitution December 13, PortugalGay.PT reported.
Fifty-two of the legislature's 88 members specifically voted to exclude "sexual orientation" from an antidiscrimination clause. Discrimination will be banned based on "color, race, gender, marital status, ethnic origin, economic or social status, beliefs or ideology, politics, religion, education, and mental or physical condition." One member of the assembly, João Carrascalão, called homosexuality "an illness" and "an anomaly" and said protecting gays would create "social chaos." Another member said the only homosexuals in East Timor are foreigners.
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