Bespectacled Greek diva Nana Mouskouri, just finishing her New Zealand tour, is at first glance liberal and gay-friendly. Nana Mouskouri In an interview Mouskouri gave to the French gay and lesbian magazine Têtu, she responded to a question regarding gay marriage saying "There is no shame for society at all to allow its citizens to obtain legal recognition for their love. When I was in the European Parliament, I always pursued the same idea: liberty must not be subject to any legal constraint as long as respect is there." However, a little research on Mouskouri's voting record during her term in the European Parliament convinced European glbt researchers that her actions were at variance with her claim in Têtu. According to an emailed report received by GayNZ.com Mouskouri, who is also a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF, voted against five motions and resolutions relating to glbt rights in the European Parliament over her five years as a Member of the European Parliament from 1994-99. 1. The annual report on respect for human rights in the European Union for 1995 (Document A4-0112/97), drafted by German Green MEP Claudia Roth, was put to a vote on 8 April 1997. Mouskouri voted against part of the draft resolution which welcomed Sweden and Denmark's provision for the legal recognition of same-sex couples and urging all other member states to follow that example. She also voted against the full resolution that contained pro-LGBT wording (in items 121, 135, 136 and 137). Although non-binding, these annual reports and resolutions on human rights in the EU have been very important as texts adopted by the European Parliament since they also address respect for the human rights of glbt people. 2. On 15 July 1998 Mouskouri voted against putting on the agenda of the European Parliament an emergency resolution condemning the violation of the human rights of homosexuals in Romania. The motion was defeated. 3. On 16 September 1998, Mouskouri again voted against putting on the agenda of the European Parliament a resolution in favour of the human rights of homosexuals. However, this time, the motion was passed and the resolution was put to a vote the next day, 17 September. Mouskouri missed that vote, her name does not appear on the roll-call record. This resolution (Document #B4-0824 and 0852) is considered by European glbt rights proponents to be one of the most important pro-glbt resolutions ever passed in the European Parliament. It urged, among other things, that Austria repeal its discriminatory age of consent legislation, and it stated the EP's commitment not to "give its consent to the accession of any country that, through its legislation or policies, violates the human rights of lesbians and gay men". It was a historic statement and led to the repeal by 2002 of anti-gay criminal code provisions in five EU accession countries. 4. On 10 February 1999, the European Parliament voted on the "second report on the proposal for a Council Act establishing the Convention on rules for the admission of third-country nationals to the Member States" (Lehne report, Document #A4-0045/99). An amendment tabled for the report sought to include in this proposal non-married partners regardless of sex for the purpose of family reunion. Nana Mouskouri voted against this amendment, apparently happy to leave same-sex partners out in the cold. 5. On the same day, the EP voted on the Lindeperg report (Document #A4-0450/98) "on the harmonisation of forms of protection complementing refugee status in the European Union". An amendment 1 sought to add to the "Considerations" of the draft report that several member states already granted refugee status to people persecuted on the grounds of their sexual orientation. A second amendment sought to ensure that countries with a total ban on homosexuality should not be considered as safe countries of origin or transit for gays and lesbians, and to urge member states not already doing so to grant asylum to persons persecuted on the grounds of their sexual orientation. Mouskouri voted not only against both amendments but also against the full report/resolution. Mouskouri's voting record was first brought to light in Europe by a member of the International Lesbian and Gay Association who liaised with the European Parliament throughout the period of Mouskouri's career as a politician. Nana Mouskouri's 2005 Tour of New Zealand: 30 Aug - Auckland, Aotea Centre 01 Sep - Wellington, Michael Fowler Centre 02 Sep - Christchurch, Town Hall Full text of Tetu interview: www.tetu.com European Parliament documents and voting records: http://www.europarl.eu.int/opengov/default_en.htm GayNZ.com; various - 27th August 2005