/* Written 8:27 pm Jun 11, 1992 by jbinder in cdp:queerplanet */ /* ---------- "Homosexual Rights In Yugoslavia" ---------- */ THE POLITICAL, MASS-MEDIA, and PHYSICAL OPPRESION of HOMOSEXUALS in YUGOSLAVIA The new Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia, having begun with the union of Serbia and Montenegro, is heading down the track of complete international isolation on the diplomatic, political, and economic levels because of its regressive policies (instigating armed conflict and military intervention in internal matters of the other republics of former Yugoslavia). To make its citizens "understand" the boycott by international agencies and to "justify" the total defeat of its current politics, the regime is launching its "Theory of International Conspiracy". The ruling regime, with the support of nationalistic opposition parties, through the mass media channels it controls (most magazines, radio, and television stations), is launching its already well known theory of conspiracy against an Orthodox, united, and "heavenly" Serbia in which the conspirators involved are: Trade Unions, Croations, The Vatican, The Fourth Reich under the guise of a United Germany, Albanians, Austrians, The European Community, Muslims, Lesbians, Washington D.C., Arab Nations, and especially "powerful international homosexual organizations." All of these hostile enemies of Serbia, of course, have their internal agents in the highest positions of the moderate democratic opposition parties. In this type of situation, when a ruling party seeks "culprits" and "traitors", particularly "sacrificial male goats" for slaughter, homosexuals are the ideal conspirators because in the everyday world already reigns hatred and scorn towards homosexuals. This all works so much the more because of the fact that Serbia falls under the list of the last nations in Europe in which homosexuality is criminalized. Namely, the existence of Article 110 of the Penal Code that calls for the punishment of up to one year in jail for consensual sexual relations between adult males. This article of the law is rarely enforced, but always hangs as a Damoclean Sword in the hands of the authorities over politically intolerable homosexuals, and its urgent abolishment is one of the first steps in the emancipation of homosexuals. Of higher concern at this moment is the drastic rise in the degree and intensity of political, media, and physical violence against homosexuals, and it is the same from the side of the authorities as it is from the side of the right-wing political parties, groups, and individuals. Presently in the political sphere there are reciprocal charges of alleged or real homosexuality of politicians, the purpose being to compromise opposition. That is how, for example, a delegate of Djindjic's Democratic Party accused the leader of the nationalistic Serbian Radical Party, Duke Seselj, of really being the "duchess", alluding with this to allegations of Seselj's homosexual adventures in communist prisons. Seselj in the meantime, replicated, bringing into doubt Djindjic's masculinity, reminding his colleagues that at one time he wore an earring in his ear. When the word is used by the ruling parties and the intellectuals who support them, most often appears the tendency to put homosexuals in the context of the much-hyped theory of "international conspiracy" where among the "enemies", homosexuals are obliged to be the figureheads. Thus, for example, one of the ideological hard-liners in the Socialist Party, Rados Smiljkovic, declared: "Our opposition is under the direct influence of international organizations comprised of masons and homosexuals. Over here we know very little about the exceptionally large power, vigour, and influence of these organizations." The nationalistically oriented writer Momo Kapor, criticizes individual Serbian intellectuals in unusual enough ways: "If the models of today's intellectuals and writers are Selin and Ezra Pound, the poet as traitor, as well as those fags from the western shores Ginsberg and Ferlingetti, then this shows very much their insatiable provincial cravings to have been a part of the greater world in which they personally never got to smell." The same writer with the same disregard for the peace demonstrations in Belgrade: "Those small, insignificant parties in Belgrade always will find so many lesbians, homosexuals, fatalists, whatever you will, an association of possessed dobermans, writers who will support them on everything." The Anti-homosexual hysteria very often enflames the controversial painter and writer Dragos Kalajic (an ideologue in the right-wing party SNO). He one time called the independent student radio station B-92 (which led a campaign under the name of "Struggle for Peace") to state: "The National Defitists are propagating homosexuality and American whining." The leader of the mentioned nationalistic party SNO, Borislav Jovic, in his speech oppossed "the occupation of Europe by alien Indo-Arab-Black hordes who will only bring us the narcotics trade and homosexuality". Individual journalists in the daily and weekly magazines, particularly those under the direct control of the authorities and allied right-wing opposition parties, likewise include in the anti-homosexual campaign half-truths as well as pure fiction. That's how, for example, the most circulated daily paper "Politika" writes that "Belgrade's public toilets are managed by homosexuals and until "gorillas" are put there they will be the main purchasing grounds for drugs and homosexuals". The article also laments the fate of "the helpless young women who work in the restrooms for the pay of 16,000 din (around $15) a month, and unsuccessfully try to chase away homosexuals" ( among whom are known intellectuals, physicians, university professors as well as academicians, about which the article certainly does not write). Finally, the article sums up with the notorious lie, "that homosexuals throw themselves at normal men and sometimes attack them, resulting up to fights and one man who was almost stabbed with a knifeS. The truth among this is completely opposite from what is described, namely the so-called "normal" men, who themselves attack the women who work in the restrooms, throw insults at homosexuals and increasingly physically attack them. Nowhere does it mention the truth that homosexuals are an illegal and persecuted minority forced to meet in public toilets and parks, because for them in this society it is not possible even to have their own legal ghetto where they could openly meet (cafes, night-clubs, bars, associations, et.al.). Homosexuals are exposed to increasing, brutal physical attacks practically in every place they meet. Not only are the parks ("Karadjordjev" and the one at "Uscu") and public restrooms (in the underground passage by "Albanije," at "Zelenom Vencu", and elsewhere) dangerous but also the rare cafes and discotheques in which homosexuals also frequent ("Moskva", "Buha", etc.). Individuals, but more often groups of insolent young adults and teenagers, increasingly attack homosexuals, threaten them, hurl insults, mistreat them, and humiliate, rob, beat, wound, and sometimes also kill. Rare are the homosexuals who would dare report these assaults to the police, because that means new humiliation and mistreatment, with little likelihood that the culprits will be found and punished. The general social climate, civil war, moral degredation, growing criminal influence and drastically growing physical assault turns against homosexuals. The police, whose primary function is to defend citizens against tyrants, in the case of homosexuals very rarely accomplish their obligation. On the contrary, they increasingly are found themselves to be the persecutors of homosexuals. Ever more frequent are the raids on public toilets, where "suspected" homosexuals are humiliated and beaten with fists and nightsticks on the spot, or are hauled into the station for "questioning" and "treatment" which also often includes physical violence (this practice is most common in the restrooms at the train and bus stations). What happens to those homosexuals who are seized often depends on the mood and caprice of the officers on duty, who have very broad authority, and whose use of abuse practically no one controls. Homosexuals are for cruel and unscrupulous policemen the ideal victims for verbal and physical mistreatment, humiliation, and the crushing of human dignity. Periodically it occurs, as in other countries, that homosexuals are murdered (most often in parks or the apartments of victims). In these instances the police summon and call in homosexuals en masse who are registered in their index cards. Those who are seized, but have not yet been registered, get their photograph taken and are fingerprinted, as though they were being booked as criminals and not as citizens helping in an investigation. The questioning most often is executed rudely and arrogantly by inspectors in a way which humiliates people. In the case of Zeljko Radovanovic, police inspectors went directly to his house and brought him to the police station without any explanation of why he was being taken. The police interrogated him for 45 minutes, demanding names and telephone numbers of other homosexuals. They also required information on where gay prostitutes worked. They asked about his sexual habits, whether he was promiscuous or not, and whether he was currently in a relationship. Then he was taken to another room and fingerprinted. During this procedure Zeljko noticed his name was placed in a file of other homosexuals interrogated during this police crackdown, and that his file number was something over 7000. Homosexuals are recorded in the instance of threats and blackmail from the side of the police, as well as the searching of homes of individuals. Witnesses are summoned without appropriate order and held for 24 hours. Most often for homosexuals, laws that protect citizens do not apply, and the attitude towards them is arbitrary and self-willed. The possibility of complaining practically doesn't exist, because the voice of homosexuals in practice has neither importance nor weight. Having drawn up to this view, the conclusion is that the situation for homosexuals today in the Republic of Yugoslavia, and separately Serbia, is one of the most difficult in Europe. Not only because the penal code provides punishment in jail for homosexuals, but more so because they are the victims of a political and media campaign which is being headed by prominent members of the ruling Socialist Party, leaders of the right-wing parties, individual intellectuals, writers, and journalists. Likewise, the mode of speeches and the physical violence against homosexuals, as it is from the side of different criminals and gangs, is the same from the side of the police, who not only benevolently look upon attacks against homosexuals and make no attempt to take any measures, but who themselves do a certain form of violence on homosexuals. Because of everything stated, we publicly direct our appeal internationally, to humanitarian organizations, homosexual organizations, and the authorities in democratic lands, to raise their voices in the defense of human rights, dignity, and basic life of one more minority in danger on the territory of the Socialist Rebublic of Yugoslavia. Note: Russ Gage of the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) travelled throughout Southeastern Europe during May, 1992 working with gay and lesbian activists in Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and Serbia. This article was written for IGLHRC by Boris Liler, an activist with the Gay and Lesbian Lobby of Belgrade on May 26, 1992. If reproduced, please credit the author, and if published please forward a copy to the IGLHRC attn: Russ Gage. The gay and lesbian activists in Serbia are a visible and active presence in the peace movement, as well as maintaining a strong collaboration with the feminist movement in Belgrade. Anyone wishing to assist the organization in whatever means possible (financial, AIDS information, or especially material like a fax machine) please contact Russ Gage at the IGLHRC.