Croatia holds anti-gay marriage referendum

Croatians are to cast ballots on Sunday in a referendum that could ban same-sex marriage in this conservative and Catholic country, an issue that polarises the European Union's newest member. Discrimination or protection of family values, human rights or gay activists' self-interest, secular state or theocracy -- passions ran high in Croatia during the past few weeks as opponents and supporters of the vote led heated debates over gay marriage. The referendum on whether to amend the country's constitution to define marriage as a "union between a woman and a man" is the result of a Church-backed initiative. Croatia's constitution currently does not define marriage. The centre-left government's announcement of a bill enabling gay couples to register as "life partners" sparked fears of many conservatives in Croatia, which only joined the European Union in July, that same-sex marriage would be allowed. In May, the Church-backed In the Name of the Family group collected almost 700,000 signatures seeking a nationwide vote on marriage definition. "We believe that marriage, children and family are so important issues that the whole society has to decide on them," the leader of the initiative, Zeljka Markic, told AFP. But, the vote has split the country's population of 4.2 million. The government, human rights activists and prominent public figures have all spoken out against the referendum, urging people to cast a 'no' vote. "It would not be good that Croatia appears to be a country of intolerance," President Ivo Josipovic told journalists. On Saturday more than 1,000 people braved the cold and rainy weather to take part in a protest march through central Zagreb arguing the vote was discriminatory. Carrying banners reading "Against fascism" or "Homosexuality is not a choice but hatred is" they also warned that the referendum might lead to other conservative initiatives targeting minorities or sensitive issues such as abortion. "How would you feel if you would have to ask four million people for a permission to get married?" Ljubomir Mateljan said bitterly. "This is exactly how I and my fiance feel now," the 31-year-old gay rights activist from Split, on the central Adriatic coast, told AFP. But in a country where almost 90 percent of the population are Roman Catholics, the still powerful Church has called on followers to vote 'yes'. "Marriage is the only union enabling procreation," said Croatia's Cardinal Josip Bozanic in a letter read out in churches. "This is the key difference between a marriage... and other unions." The latest survey showed that 68 percent of Croatians plan to vote 'yes' on Sunday compared to 27 percent against. "Marriage is a union of a man and a woman, the only union that can bring children in a natural way and it should be in the state's interest to protect it," Mario Lipovac, a conservative activist, told AFP. Attitudes towards gay rights have slowly become more liberal since Croatia's first Gay Pride parade was held in Zagreb in 2002, when dozens of participants were beaten up by extremists. Gay rights marches are now staged regularly if still under strong security, while gay rights are more openly discussed in the media and homosexuals are becoming less fearful of "coming out". In 2003 Croatia adopted a law recognising same-sex couples who have lived together for at least three years. Yet apart from the official acknowledgement, the measure has granted them few rights. Sunday's vote is the first citizens-initiated referendum since Croatia's independence from the former Yugoslavia in 1991. Under Croatian law, a referendum does not require a majority voter turnout to be valid. Polling stations will open at 0600 GMT and close 12 hours later while first partial results are expected late on Sunday.