Current Affairs

This right-wing politician just said that gay sex makes men kill themselves

Dec 27 2017
Written by Josh Jackman

(Facebook/Daniel Regli)

A Swiss politician has been condemned for saying that gay sex is to blame for gay people killing themselves.

Zurich city council member Daniel Regli made the claim in the midst of a bizarre rant during a debate on government funding for sex education.

He criticised the education department for ‘promoting homosexuality’ through its website Lust und Frust (“Pleasure and Pain”), which teaches youngsters about sexuality and gender.

Two participants of the 2009 edition of the "Europride" pose on June 6, 2009, in Zurich. Around 50,000 people turned up today at the European gay and lesbian parade Europride's annual festival in the Swiss city of Zurich. The festival, which was held for the first time in London in 1993, takes place in a different European city every year and traditionally attracts participants from all over the continent. AFP PHOTO/ FABRICE COFFRINI (Photo credit should read FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images)

Europride in Zurich (Getty)

Regli, who has posted anti-abortion, anti-porn and anti-European Union articles on his Facebook page, then shocked other representatives.

He said that “homosexuals with multiple partners take their lives between the ages of 30 and 40…because their anal muscle is not holding up as it should.”

In case there was any confusion, he clarified: “It’s because they do not want to walk in a diaper that there are suicides!”

(Facebook/Daniel Regli)

Regli belongs to the Swiss People’s Party (SVP), a right-wing populist party with strong Christian leanings which has consistently opposed same-sex marriage.

The party is the largest in Switzerland’s parliament, taking up 65 seats in the National Council, the upper house of the Federal Assembly.

Speaking to news show 20 Minuten after the meeting, he said he had told officials “what nobody wants to hear,” claiming that he had heard the ‘fact’ from a doctor who he knew.

He has faced calls to resign after his inflammatory statement.

A participant of the 2009 edition of the "Europride" dances with a rainbow flag during the parade on June 6, 2009 in Zurich. Around 50,000 people turned up at the European gay and lesbian parade Europride's annual festival in the Swiss city of Zurich on Saturday, organisers said. The festival, which was held for the first time in London in 1993, takes place in a different European city every year and traditionally attracts participants from all over the continent. AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI (Photo credit should read FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images)

Europride in Zurich (Getty)

In a statement, the progressive Young Socialists said that if the country’s hate crime law included homophobic statements, Regli would be up on charges, according to NewNowNext.

Regli, who is not running for reelection in March’s national election, even received criticism from his own party.

Co-president Marco Denoth said: “I do not want to see him anymore.”

Two men kiss during the 2009 edition of the "Europride" parade on June 6, 2009 in Zurich. Around 50,000 people turned up at the European gay and lesbian parade Europride's annual festival in the Swiss city of Zurich on Saturday, organisers said. The festival, which was held for the first time in London in 1993, takes place in a different European city every year and traditionally attracts participants from all over the continent. AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI (Photo credit should read FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images)

Europride in Zurich (Getty)

But SVP councillor Martin Götzl said that though Regli’s “speech could have been more sensitive,” he agreed with the council member’s statement.

René Schegg, the director of Swiss LGBT group Pink Cross, slammed Regli’s remarks.

“Someone who is able, in a homophobic tirade, to make the link between the anal muscle of homosexuals and suicide is beyond any conception that I can have of a politician,” he said.

Participants of the "Europride" wearing Swiss traditionnal costums walk to participite in the parade on June 6, 2009 in Zurich. Around 50,000 people turned up at the European gay and lesbian parade Europride's annual festival in the Swiss city of Zurich on Saturday, organisers said. The festival, which was held for the first time in London in 1993, takes place in a different European city every year and traditionally attracts participants from all over the continent. AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI (Photo credit should read FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images)

Europride in Zurich (Getty)

This was especially relevant, he added, because LGBT people “are still not sufficiently accepted in society.”

Same-sex marriage is still not legal in Switzerland, despite the country being nearly surrounded by nations which have marriage equality.

Earlier this year, Switzerland lifted its lifetime ban on gay men donating blood – as long as they are celibate for 12 months.

Two men kiss in a float adorned with roses during the 2009 edition of the "Europride" on June 6, 2009, in Zurich. Around 50,000 people turned up today at the European gay and lesbian parade Europride's annual festival in the Swiss city of Zurich. The festival, which was held for the first time in London in 1993, takes place in a different European city every year and traditionally attracts participants from all over the continent. AFP PHOTO/ FABRICE COFFRINI (Photo credit should read FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images)

Europride in Zurich (Getty)

Speaking to Le Matin, Swiss Transfusion, part of the country’s Red Cross, issued a statement saying that while the move was welcome, it was “far from perfect”.

Director Rudolf Schwabe added: “Secondly, it should be based on actual personal behaviour and not on sexual orientation.”

And earlier this month, top Swiss football referee Pascal Erlachner became the first man in professional football in the country to come out publicly.