SVP ad in gay magazine leads to scandal

In February 2020, the electorate will decide whether the anti-racism law should be expanded to make calls for hatred and discrimination against homosexuals punishable.

The "Special Rights No" committee, which is made up of homosexual SVP and other, mostly right-wing bourgeois politicians, is against it. Reason: They do not want to be perceived as a weak minority worthy of protection, but as equals. Sonderrechte Nein" wanted to get this message across to the gay community and placed an ad with the title "We want equality, not special rights" in Displaythe "Swiss lifestyle magazine for gays and friends.

"Just plain stupid"

How the SonntagsZeitung reported in the current issue, the advertisement led to a scandal. It made Andreas Lehner, director of the Swiss AIDS Federation (AHS), "infinitely angry. Display had "violated all our values" with the "SVP ad," according to the termination mail to the publisher and editor-in-chief. And further: "It is simply stupid to publish such an advertisement. Any cooperation would be terminated with immediate effect.

Display editor-in-chief Beat Stephan describes the measure as "very regrettable" and "threatening to the company's existence. The reason: AHS has been one of the most important advertisers in the magazine for years. Stephan regrets the publication of the advertisement, this was done "contre coeur", one will continue to be for the extension of the penal norm.

"Example of Leftist Terror of Sentiments".

For the committee "Sonderrechte Nein", on the other hand, the AHS reaction is causing bewilderment. The measure is an "indictment of the AHS and a typical example of left-wing ideological terror," says co-president Michael Frauchiger, a board member of the SVP Dielsdorf ZH. Former National Councilor Thomas Fuchs, also a member of the committee, thinks it is not the task of the AHS to look at which advertisements Display publish.

AHS disagrees. Chief Lehner thinks the ad directly torpedoes the nonprofit's work. "These circles want to fight something that is relevant to us in HIV prevention." In a discriminatory society, more homosexuals would become infected with HIV or commit suicide. It is not, Lehner said, a restriction on freedom of expression.

The Aids-Hilfe is to have its financial aid cancelled

Nevertheless, the boycott measure is not well received everywhere. The AHS is financed in part by federal funds, receiving 1.5 million Swiss francs per year. "You can't use public money to impose censorship," says SVP National Council member Erich Hess to the SonntagsZeitung. And calls for drastic measures. Hess will submit a motion in the coming session that the AHS be cut off.

The Aids-Hilfe receives support from the FOPH: It is up to the AHS to decide in which press products it places advertisements - it is not up to the FOPH to comment on this. And: recipients of financial aid are not bound to political neutrality.

Not everything is set in stone yet: According to Andreas Lehner, the Aids-Hilfe wants to meet in the spring with Display sit down at the round table, writes the SonntagsZeitung.