Swiss voters had the final say on Sunday on a proposed law to make homophobia a criminal offence in the country. Opponents who forced the ballot look set to lose their challenge. Opinion polls published last week found that a two-thirds majority of respondents were in favour of the legal amendment, which will improve protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation. The reform, which will expand existing anti-racism regulations to include homophobia, was approved by parliament in 2018. But a small ultra-conservative religious group, the Federal Democratic Union, supported by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party, then collected enough signatures to force a nationwide ballot. Opponents argue that the law undermines the right to free speech, and that the LGBT community doesn’t need special legal protection. Current legislation is enough to prevent insults, slander and other forms of violence or ill-treatment, they say. ‘Political signal’ However, supporters – a …