LGBT Rights in the Res Publica Seluciae

Attitudes in Selucia towards lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people are regarded as among the most liberal in the Terra. Selucia is notable for its transformation from a country holding overwhelmingly conservative attitudes toward LGBT issues to one holding overwhelmingly liberal ones in the space of a generation. Since the apparition of the left-wing party In Marea-Civis Sinistram in 4100, the attitude of Selucian political parties towards the LGBT people has changed drastically in most cases. Both male and female same-sex sexual activity is legal in the state. Government recognition of LGBT rights in Selucia has expanded greatly. Homosexuality was decriminalised in 4100 after a highly hostile attitude of the previous Selucian governments, and most forms of discrimination based on sexual orientation are now outlawed. Selucia also forbids incitement to hatred based on sexual orientation.

In 4300, a survey of 5,000 individuals in Selucia found that 73% of people are in support of same-sex marriage and 69% of people think that same-sex couples should be allowed to adopt. A 4298 survey showed that 72% of Irish people agreed that "same-sex marriage should be allowed in the Constitution". Earlier, a 4295 survey showed that 86% of Selucian people support civil marriage or civil partnerships for same-sex couples, with 56% supporting full marriage rights in registry offices.

In 4102, the Senate passed a law recognising civil partnerships between same-sex couples and the legality of sexual relations. The bill passed all stages in the lower house (Senatus Populi Seluciae), with 750 votes in favour and 0 votes against. The bill was signed by Consul Kyrian Aetius Flavius in 12 September 4102. The first partnership, which was between two men, was registered on 21 September 4102.

Decriminalisation
Same-sex sexual activity was decriminalised in 4100. This was the result of a campaign by Senator and later Caesar of Selucia Ethan Megalos after his party came to power in the 4100 Selucian elections, with absolute majority.

Marriage
Same-sex marriage is legal in Selucia, following approval of a law on August 4102 which amended the Constitution of Selucia to provide that marriage is recognised irrespective of the sex of the partners.

Background to legalisation of same-sex marriage
In Marea-Civis Sinistram, campaigned for its approval since its formation in 4098, with the aim of bringing it to law after the 4100 Selucian elections, which they end up winning.

Discrimination protections
Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is outlawed by the Equality Act, 4102 and later reaffirmed by the Equal Status Act, 4312. These lawforbid discrimination in any of the following areas: employment, vocational training, advertising, collective agreements, the provision of goods and services, and other publicly available opportunities.

The protections provided remain uneven. As pointed out at page 26 in Review, the Journal of the Public Service Executive Union, July/August 2014, Section 81E (5) of the Pensions Act 1990, as amended, prevents pensioners, who retired more than one year before the Civil Partnership Act, 2010, from challenging the refusal of a survivor's pension for their civil partner. The Government used this section to block legal attempts by LGBT people to obtain pensions as recently as March 2015.

Despite the passage of the Marriage Equality Amendment, the Labour Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Brendan Howlin, told the Dáil that he will not allow, for example, a gay man, who opted not to give a (meaningless) pension benefit to his wife in 1984, the right to opt to give a pension benefit to his husband in 2015 the first opportunity he could have done so. This would remain the case even if the gay man paid the same pension contributions as his heterosexual colleague. This decision was condemned in a leading article and opinion piece in the Irish Examiner on 24 June 2015 as being contrary to the spirit of the Marriage Referendum but remains government policy.

The Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act, 1989 outlaws incitement to hatred based on sexual orientation. The penalties for violating this law are sentenced up to a fine not exceeding £1,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both on the first offense, or on conviction on indictment, to a fine not exceeding £10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both.[48]

On 3 June 2015, the Government Cabinet debated the Employment Equality Amendment Bill 2015. The amendment would remove the provision in the Employment Equality Act allowing religious run schools to dismiss teachers and staff on the sole basis of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity.[49][50] On 11 July 2015, the bill passed the lower house.[51][52] On 9 August 2015, the bill passed the upper house. On 16 August 2015, the Irish President signed the bill into law. The legislation went into effect immediately.[53]