Pro-family Estonians held a massive rally against a proposed civil union law, which they say is a precursor to legalized same-sex “marriage,” outside the Parliament building in the capital city of Tallinn on Sunday.
Several thousand people came out for the rally to voice their opposition to the draft “Cohabitation Act” that would allow cohabiting couples, regardless of sexual orientation or gender, the same legal protection as married couples.
“The adoption of this law would be a part of a much wider effort to pervert our society's moral foundations and this thing would not stop with approving the law. We have gathered here to send politicians a very clear message – the Estonian people will not accept humiliation, ignoring our cultural traditions, whether it is done under the perverse slogan of tolerance, or under the pressure of foreign masters,” said Varro Vooglaid, head of the Foundation for the Defense of Tradition and Family, which organized the protest.
Vooglaid told ETV that the Estonian people are against implicitly redefining the institution of the family, saying that it is “undemocratic” for Parliament to be “forcing” through the Cohabitation Act, which polls have shown most people do not support.
A poll in August commissioned by Estonian Public Broadcasting (ERR) revealed that 58 percent of people in Estonia oppose the draft law, with 34 percent in favor and 8 percent undecided.
Moreover, last May, when a group of forty parliamentarians again tried to bring forward their Civil Partnership Act, which proposed to confer legal recognition on homosexual relationships, a petition and letter writing campaign resulted in over 44,000 signatures and over 200,000 letters “categorically” rejecting the proposed bill being sent to all 101 members of Parliament.
Estonian communications specialist Ott Lumi, although in favor of the legislation, said the campaign mounted by supporters of traditional family and true marriage was highly successful in bringing the public's attention to the issue.
“They have successfully managed to mobilize their supporters and bring the issue to a stronger public focus than anyone could have expected in the beginning of this debate,” Lumi told ERR.
Despite the widespread opposition to the legislation, the bill passed first reading in the Parliament in June.
Prime Minister Taavi Roivas told a governmental press conference last week that he favored a quick passage of the bill, according to the Russian news service Interfax.
While second reading was originally scheduled for December, the Interfax report said that Parliament decided to fast-track the bill, with second reading to be held on October 7 and third reading scheduled for October 9.
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Vooglaid said that in light of this tactic by Parliament, Sunday's demonstration was possibly the last chance for Estonians to stand up for their rights before the bill becomes law.
The Foundation for the Defense of Tradition and Family has demanded that, should the Parliament decide to proceed with the Cohabitation Act, it must be put on a referendum, “because adopting this law would mean the redefinition of the foundation of the society – something that only the people are entitled to do.”
“The question comes down to ideals,” Vooglaid said. “We know that every culture, every society is structured on such ideals. Will we retain respect toward ideals or cast them aside, say that life has gone on and become different?”