Austria has taken a significant step towards rectifying historical injustices against the LGBTQ+ community by setting aside millions of euros for compensation. Justice Minister Alma Zadić announced that approximately €33m (£29m) has been allocated to compensate an estimated 11,000 individuals who faced prosecution due to discriminatory laws against homosexuality.
Background of Legal Discrimination
Although homosexuality was decriminalized in Austria in 1971, several discriminatory provisions lingered for decades. Notably, a ban on male homosexual prostitution remained until 1989, while heterosexual prostitution was legal. Additionally, the age of consent for sexual contact between men was set at 18, compared to 14 for heterosexuals, until 2002.
Details of the Compensation Plan
Under the new initiative, individuals who were investigated under these repealed laws will receive €500, and those who were convicted are eligible for €3,000, with additional compensation if they faced jail time or suffered health, economic, or professional repercussions. The government plans to quash these convictions, with the law expected to pass parliament this year and compensation applications opening from February next year.
Minister Zadić’s Commitment to Justice
Flanked by LGBTQ+ flags during her announcement, Zadić expressed that while financial compensation cannot fully rectify the suffering and injustice experienced, it is crucial that Austria takes responsibility for this part of its history. She has previously apologized for the prosecutions gay men and women faced and called for standing against the rising hatred and violence against the LGBTQ+ community.
Austria’s Progress in LGBTQ+ Rights
This move follows similar actions in other countries, such as Germany, which in 2017 voted to quash the convictions of gay men sentenced under a Nazi-era law. Austria’s annexation by Nazi Germany in 1938 had led to the persecution of not only Jews but also gay individuals. Since then, Austria has made significant strides in LGBTQ+ rights, legalizing same-sex marriage in 2019 and witnessing a positive shift in public opinion towards equal treatment for same-sex couples.
Austria’s decision to compensate those prosecuted under past anti-gay laws marks an important acknowledgment of past wrongs and a commitment to justice and equality. This initiative reflects a growing recognition of the need for reparative actions to address historical injustices against marginalized communities, particularly within the LGBTQ+ community.