Subject: ANTI-GAY POLICE ACTION IN BULGARIA From: nvoiskov@sf.cit.bg (Nikolai Voiskov) Date: Sun, 14 Jul 96 16:04:18 +0200 POLICE CRUSHES THE BULGARIAN GAY ORGANIZATION "FLAMINGO" With fabricated accusations of breaking some laws an attempt is made to put an end to the only one detached and self-dependent gay and lesbian structure in the country. The marauding attitude of the police and its repressive methods will lead up to a new, marked confrontation between the two social components. The economic ruin, the financial liquidation of the small and medium business, the ethnic tension, the bread shortage result in crude conflicts. The spurring on sexism and discrimination of the otherminded is taken as a good advantage by the state in its effort to get the public attention off its basic problems. In the summer of 1990, at the invitation of the general secretary of the International gay and lesbian association (ILGA), Bulgaria was admitted officially to membership in the international gay and lesbian community. The contacts proceeded with the International Jew congress, the Christian- democratic groupings (EUROFORUM), the International gay and lesbian human rights commission (IGLHRC) and other organizations. The forming of structures in the country started, "Flamingo" - the first gay and lesbian magazine in Bulgaria - was published. Economic mechanisms for self-financing were created. In 1994 erotic center "Flamingo" (Sofia, 208 Tzar Simeon street) was founded with businesslike participation in the erotic publications in order to inform the Bulgarian gay community. Competitions ("Mr. Eros", "Sliven Hero"), carnivals, international days in the memory of the victims of AIDS had been held. The medias participated in the organized by us health prophylaxes and anti-AIDS activities periodically. Movies were had been shown on the private channels. Every one of the activities resulted in greater acceptance of "the people with double feeling" by the rest of the society. That was also associated with reinforced interest of the political organizations and public formations in us. On the other hand, the strengthened impact of the Bulgarian gay and lesbian community was followed by systematic repressions by the governmental structures and their satellites, undercovered as racket groups, police spying, phone tapping, "lost" of international and home correspondence, threats, regular breaking of police officers in the places of gay gathering, documental robberies, informations in the medias for the existence of groupings, acting for the elimination of homosexuals. That motivated some murders. The start of the last police action for total liquidation of "Flamingo" agency and its members is the brutal rush in the organization's office on July 10, 1996. The police confiscated the cardfiles, the correspondence, the computer for the information processing and other auxiliary technic, advertising materials, merchandise, and sealed the center after a rude and demonstrative arrest of the employees. The latters are forced, under threat, to change their evidence. On the next day a police crushing of the gay groups in the country started, with the respective unjustified cover. The breaking of human rights and the sexual discrimination are a state policy, carried on by certain people and groupings. Feature films with homosexual element have been banished from the screen of the national television by order of the state attorney Tatarchev and with the active participation of the ex-director Granitski. The ex-chairman of the International labour organization and president of the National trade union "Podkrepa" ("Support") - Konstantin Trenchev - publicly stigmatized the tolerant attitude of the opposition ex-prime minister Filip Dimitrov and his team of ministers as "psychopats, for whom there is no place in the government". I call all the tolerant people in the world, public organizations and governments for moral, material and political help. Because of the constant police pressure on me and the crudely fabricated accusations I beg for political shelter abroad both for me and my family, as well as for the members of the organization. I ask for financial support for the future restoration of the "Flamingo" agency's structure and any other support for its members. Angel Bliznachki Address for correspondence: Republic of Bulgaria, City of Sofia, postal code 1680, post box 63 Address for interview: Erotic center "Flamingo", Republic of Bulgaria, City of Sofia, postal code 1303, 208 Tzar Simeon street ****************************************************************************** * To subscribe to QUEERPLANET, send mail to: majordomo@abacus.oxy.edu * * In the mail message, enter ONLY the words: subscribe queerplanet * * To unsubscribe to QUEERPLANET, send mail to: majordomo@abacus.oxy.edu * * In the mail message, enter ONLY the words: unsubscribe queerplanet * * Words in the Subject: line are NOT processed! * ******************************************************************************