Swiss man to serve jail time for challenging gender ideology
A Swiss man will serve jail time because he wrote a social media post asserting there are only two sexes.
In December 2022, Emanuel Brünisholz replied to a Facebook post by commenting, “If you dig up LGBTQI people after 200 years, you’ll only find men and women based on their skeletons. Everything else is a mental illness promoted through the curriculum.”
Liberal activists reported Brünisholz’s post to law enforcement, saying it violated anti-discrimination laws. According to Article 261 of the Swiss Criminal Code, “anyone who publicly, through word, writing, image, gesture, physical violence or in any other way, degrades or discriminates against a person or a group of persons on the grounds of their race, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation in a manner that violates human dignity” can be subjected to a fine or sentenced to up to three years in prison.
Court: Brünisholz’s comment ‘violates human dignity’
In August 2023, Burgdorf Police launched an investigation against Brünisholz, during which they interrogated him about his “intent” behind the social media post. Reduxx reports that when asked, “What did you mean by this comment?” Brünisholz replied: “Well, that those who think there’s not just man and woman, I want to tell them that there’s only man and woman.” Later, when asked, “What do you think of the LGBTQI community?” he responded: “Nothing, absolutely nothing. It’s an extremist bunch. They want to silence me.”
A court ruled that “through his comment published on Facebook, [Brünisholz] has publicly belittled the group of LGBT(Q)I people based on their sexual orientation and in a way that violates human dignity.” He was fined 500 Swiss francs (approximately $627 USD) and threatened with 10 days in jail if he fails to pay. Brünisholz refused to pay the fine, and on September 19th, posted a copy of the official summons ordering him to serve 10 days’ jail time.
“It’s happening. On December 2, I’m going to prison for 10 days!” he wrote on X.
