(ANSA-AFP) - VIENNA, NOV 13 - Austria has set aside millions
of euros to compensate thousands of gay people who until two
decades ago faced prosecution, its justice minister said Monday.
Austria decriminalised homosexuality in 1971 but certain
discriminatory provisions remained in force until the early
2000s. A ban on male homosexual prostitution remained in place
until 1989 although heterosexual prostitution was legal. The age
of consent for sexual contact between men was 18 -- instead of
14 for heterosexuals -- until 2002. Some 11,000 people are
estimated to be eligible for compensation with a total of 33
million euros ($35 million) alloted for payout, Justice Minister
Alma Zadic said. "This financial compensation can never, never
make up for the suffering and injustice that happened... but it
is of immense importance that we... finally take responsibility
for this part of our history," Zadic told reporters, flanked by
two LGBTQ flags. Gay people who were investigated under the
now-repealed laws will get 500 euros, while convictions will be
quashed, she said. Those who were convicted will get 3,000 euros
and more if they were jailed or suffered in terms of health,
economically or in their professional lives. (ANSA-AFP).
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