This is fun. It proves how far the Progressives are in Europe and Americans are still Cave-Dwellers on the the topic of Same-Sex Marriage and Civil Unions:

A heterosexual couple in Austria is fighting for the right to enter into a registered civil partnership – introduced for homosexual couples in January 2010. Under current law the couple will be denied that right – but they have vowed to take the case to the country’s constitutional court to overturn what they says is a discriminatory legislation.

I’m hoked already: Hetero’s?  Whining about being in the minority?

Austria introduced civil unions for gay couples on January 1, affording them some of the rights enjoyed by their heterosexual counterparts. The new legislation, passed after weeks of wrangling between the ruling Social Democrats and their conservative coalition partner in government, gives same-sex couples a status similar to traditional marriage but different in a number of respects. For instance, there are less strict rules in the event of a divorce.

Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: ‘The issue is equality – nothing but equality,’ the couple argues

The heterosexual couple in question argues that this is a more modern form of union – which simply suits them better than a traditional marriage. And if it’s offered to gay couples, why shouldn’t it be an option for them as well? The issue at stake, they argue, is standing up against discrimination.

“Everyone should have the same rights, and there shouldn’t be different rules for different people,” the couple’s lawyer, Helmut Graupner, told Deutsche Welle.

“Regardless of how many different forms of union a state provides to couples, all of those forms should be available for everyone and must not be restricted on the basis of race, class or sex or gender or other criteria, which are traditionally the very criteria for discrimination,” Graupner said.

I like it!  “Tittie-Chasers are on-the-run!”

A Little Bit “Equal”

“The issue is equality - nothing but equality,” Graupner said. “You can not be ‘a little bit equal.’ Just like you can’t be ‘a little bit pregnant’ or ‘a little bit dead.’ Unless you’re entitled to the same kind of institutions and forms of law you’re not being treated equally and that’s discriminatory. That’s what we are fighting against – we’re fighting for the rights of both heterosexuals and homosexuals.”

Graupner is not only trying to help the heterosexual couple to get a ‘gay’ marriage. He’s also representing gay couples who want a traditional marriage – rather than the registered civil partnership that lawmakers have agreed on. The current legislation provides same-sex couples with equal rights to heterosexuals with regards to pensions and alimony – but the law for instance continues to ban adoption. It also does not allow civil partnership ceremonies at the civil registry office, where heterosexual couples can marry.

Yet Graupner is up against strong resistance. The country’s conservative party – the Austrian Peoples Party – only reluctantly agreed to the civil partnership in the first place. The conservatives insists that significant differences between the two forms of union must remain.

Ah!  Since we’re unequal, we’re worthy of a law-suit because you’re not unequal-enough under federal law?

The entire design is hysterical.

The Catholic Church isn’t amused by the entire epic.  Austria is like 900% Catholic and the entire subject of Church v. Law lays in question on the subject and it appears that the Church is on the Outs.

It sucks to be “Church”!

You were curious about the retarded-baby issue? I have a clue-phone I can sell you.

A Spanish speaking bi-lingual school secretary in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District has been fired for .. ehem .. speaking Spanish to Spanish-speaking parents.  Latina Lista, carried by Think Progress reports:

The lawsuit against Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools is now in federal court because a former employee said the CMS violated her civil rights because she spoke Spanish to parents even though she was hired to be the school’s bilingual secretary…

She claims in September of 2008, when a new principal came to the school, a new rule was given to all staff members to not speak Spanish to parents. The lawsuit claims Mateo, a bilingual secretary, continued to speak Spanish to many parents, after all, the school is more than a third Hispanic, well above the district average…Within a month of the alleged new rule, Mateo was told the school accepted her resignation, even though she says she never offered to resign.

Does anybody find the irony in the hypocracy in an institution of learning prohibiting a fundamental right in the United States?  I didn’t see the footnote in the United States Constitution that the Right to Free Speech mean English only.  It’s a good think my Grandma is dead:  She spoke German!  And sheeshe!   We all know how dangerous those Germans can be!