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Other – LGBTI Macedonia http://lgbti.mk/old/?lang=en Sun, 12 Sep 2021 15:25:00 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.6.28 Personal feedback on the “Rights and Justice for all” videos
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http://lgbti.mk/old/?p=2148&lang=en http://lgbti.mk/old/?p=2148&lang=en#respond Wed, 12 Jul 2017 08:09:58 +0000 http://lgbti.mk//?p=2148&lang=en I come from a country where LGBT+ rights are discussed frequently and openly. Everyone is appreciative of how far our country has come in reaching for equality and non-discrimination for all, but we are still not all the way there. LGBT+ people are still ridiculed by some, out cast by social groups and experience the attack of hate crimes. This can be extreme at times, but we are fortunate as a nation that these times are now rare. Many people feel scared at the idea of coming out to their friends and family, especially to those in particularly traditional or religious families whose conservatism does not make space for these differences.

One way in which groups working to promote LGBT+ rights have destigmatized different sexual orientations and gender identities has been through public faces. As people in the public sphere, notably politicians or celebrities, came out, people could see that those that they most respected and idolised often had different sexual orientations than expected.

The video by the MP, Pavle Bogoevski, feels particularly effective to me. He condemns discrimination against the LGBTI community and the taboo presented when discussing their rights. He actively suggests social and institutional debate, presenting the attitude of the state as the main objective for change. His status in government gives weight to this goal.

Suggestions for change are something that I feel could be built on in the videos. The speakers could suggest specific actions that could be taken by either individuals, groups, or those with links to the government to combat discrimination. Bogoevski, for example, could call upon his colleagues in government who are also allies to the LGBTI community to join him in speaking out, or alternatively to those partial to discrimination to join him in open debate. By calling on specific people to help, or even to engage them in discussion, one could open further dialogue and encourage action.

The slogan that ends these videos, “Rights and Justice for all”, gives a clearly serious yet positive message. It promotes the idea that the issues faced by the LGBTI community are everyone’s issues, and that the changes needed should be considered by all.

The best part of the videos released by the LGBTI Support Centre, however, is the variety in both people and message. Although every individual speaks for a freer society for the LGBTI community, each has a different stance towards it. The members of the LGBTI community videoed are able to give another perspective.

There are two videos that appear to be aimed at the LGBTI community- one from Borjana Mojsovksa, a human rights activist, who calls for people to say the words they’re afraid to use and come out, and live a “more honest life”. The other, Bekim Asani from LGBT United Tetovo, sends a message to those of the LGBT community to be more firm and stable, and for their supporters to be there for them. I found both of these to feel very honest and encouraging. What could strengthen them would be an example of the support that’s available in the local community- groups and initiatives, or even online forums/support that can be sought for encouragement.

In order to add to the intensity of the videos (if so wished), to make the messages more hard-hitting, examples of acts of discrimination or stories of those who have struggled unnecessarily could be described by all of those filmed. This would not be to encourage pity but to open the eyes of the viewers to the prejudice around them.

The videos of the LGBTI Support Centre do very well to promote the need for the country to keep moving forward towards better LGBTI rights, and raising the awareness of attitudes, both locally and institutionally, towards the LGBTI community.

Author:
Honey Thomas

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Petition: make 22 July the European Day for Victims of Hate Crime!
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http://lgbti.mk/old/?p=1604&lang=en http://lgbti.mk/old/?p=1604&lang=en#respond Fri, 30 Dec 2016 07:34:12 +0000 http://localhost:8080/lgbtimk/index.php/2016/12/30/petition-make-22-july-the-european-day-for-victims-of-hate-crime/ The campaigners and activists of No Hate Speech Movement, the youth campaign initiated and coordinated by the Council of Europe, invite European institutions and the member states of the Council of Europe to establish a European Day for Victims of Hate Crime on 22 of July. This is to remember victims of hate crime and those who have fallen victim to such attacks. It’s also to show solidarity to those targeted, raise awareness and educate the general public about hate crime and its consequences on society.
We invite concentrated action and mobilization from all key actors to combat it and prevent it.

You can sign the online petition on the No Hate Speech Movement web page.

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Hate Crimes on LGBTI People in Macedonia Spark ‘Body Bag’ Protests
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http://lgbti.mk/old/?p=1594&lang=en http://lgbti.mk/old/?p=1594&lang=en#respond Fri, 30 Dec 2016 07:34:06 +0000 http://localhost:8080/lgbtimk/index.php/2016/12/30/hate-crimes-on-lgbti-people-in-macedonia-spark-body-bag-protests/ Human rights activists have held three demonstrations this month in Skopje, the capital of Macedonia, protesting the authorities’ failure to respond to several hate crimes in recent years. Macedonia has witnessed six violent attacks on human rights defenders and members of the LGBTI community in the last two years. Police have prosecuted no one for these crimes. 

Despite some international support for the victims of these assaults, Macedonian officials and the local mainstream media have yet to take the matter seriously.

While these attacks cause consternation at home, the wave of violence alsocomplicates Macedonia’s road to integration in the European Union, where member states are expected to combat hate speech.

The European Commission’s 2014 Progress Report for Macedonia, published onOctober 8, criticized the impunity with which people commit hate crimes in Macedonia, particularly against the LGBTI community. The report also cited a lack of public information about the laws Macedonian state institutions are supposed to enforce.

“As regards the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) persons, the violent incidents against the LGBTI Support Centre have not been repeated. Nevertheless, the perpetrators of these incidents are yet to be prosecuted. Considerable efforts are needed to increase awareness of and respect for diversity within society, and to counteract the intolerance perpetuated through the media and social networks. Data on the reporting, investigation and prosecution of hate speech and hate crime is not collected systematically and training of law enforcement, prosecutors and judges needs to be stepped up. The Law on Prevention and Protection against Discrimination still needs to be aligned with the EU acquis as it does not prohibit discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation.”

On October 23, two weeks after the publication of the EC Report, a group of masked hooligans assaulted a celebration organized by the LGBTI Support Center in Skopje’s Old Town, wrecking a cafe and beating up the people gathered to celebrate. The LGBTI Support Center later demanded that the government publicly condemn the violence and punish those responsible, and representatives from the United States and several European nations are calling on Macedonian officials to pursue the case. The human rights groups Frontline Defenders and Amnesty International have also expressed support for the LGBTI Support Center.

On October 26, after Macedonia’s biggest opposition party condemned the assault, the country’s ruling party also publicly called on the state (which it currently controls) to bring the attackers to justice. The EU Delegation to Macedonia condemned the violence and even visited LGBTI Support Center’s office in Skopje as a show of support.

It’s been almost two months since the last violent attack on LGBTI community, but the authorities keep numb about the results of the investigation. On November 6, human rights activists held a protest in front of the public prosecutor’s offices, demanding greater accountability. Several dozen protesters blocked the entrance to the office building, with banners in Macedonian and Albanian, asking “The investigation is pending… until when?!”

The authorities inside the building did not respond to protesters. After the demonstration, Nova TV journalists tracked down Marko Zvrlevski, Macedonia’s chief public prosecutor. Zvrlevski told reporters that he was “not informed about how many attacks there were against LGBTI and when did they take place.”

The interview with Zvrlevski stands out as one of the few times that public officials went on the record about the LGBTI Support Center case. Most media outlets have ignored the story almost entirely.

To compensate for a lack of coverage in the traditional media, activists have tried to raise awareness about the case by demonstrating every week, each time escalating their acts of civil disobedience. On November 13, some demonstrators began lying down in front of prosecutors’ offices, wrapped in black sacks made to look like body bags. Attempts by unidentified persons to push the body-bag protesters out of the way have been unsuccessful. 

On November 16, roughly 100 people marched through downtown Skopje seeking “tolerance, justice, liberty, and equality” as part of the annual March for Tolerance, also showing support to the LGBTI Support Center case.

On November 20, protesters gathered against in front of the prosecutors’ office. In an effort to shame officials into making some progress on the case, organizers played an audio recording from one of the attacks on the LGBTI activists. Another such protest took place on November 27.

On December 12, the Macedonian Helsinki Committee and the LGBTI Support Centre filed criminal charges for hate speech against two talk show hosts, whose shows often feature top Macedonian political figures as guests. Several media personalities and members of the government have responded with a homophobic smear campaign against their accusers, publishing articles like, “How the LGBT Minority Terrorizes the Majority.” 

Source: globalvoicesonline.org

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Albanian right-wing PM fully supports LGBT. Berisha, first PM officially to meet representatives
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http://lgbti.mk/old/?p=1576&lang=en http://lgbti.mk/old/?p=1576&lang=en#respond Fri, 30 Dec 2016 07:33:56 +0000 http://localhost:8080/lgbtimk/index.php/2016/12/30/albanian-right-wing-pm-fully-supports-lgbt-berisha-first-pm-officially-to-meet-representatives/ The Prime Minister of Albania, Dr. Sali Berisha, from the right-wing Democratic Party, welcomed today two LGBT activists, Xheni Karaj and Kristi Pinderi. He is the first Albanian PM to do so, after being the first Albanian politician to have declared himself in favor of same sex marriage, almost 4 years ago, after the elections of 2009.
He also condemned a previous declaration of his Vice-Minister of Defense Ekrem Spahiu, namely that “What remains to be done is to beat them up with a stick. If you don’t understand this, I can explain it: to beat them with a rubber stick.” Berisha said in response: “This kind of declaration is unacceptable not only for a vice minister but for everyone.” He also added that every politician in this country should have a public stance on LGBT issues and should face them without fear or complexes.

The two activists asked the Prime Minister about the recently proposed amendments of the penal code, amendments that are still in the process of approval in parliament . The amendments would include the criminalization of offending and intentional harassment towards LGBT people through digital technology. Berisha stated that he is carefully following the procedures and discussions for these amendments and he added that he is fully supporting them.

Karaj and Pinderi stressed the need to include civil society in proposing and discussing the staff members and heads of the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner institution. They emphasized that Aleanca LGBT and Pro LGBT are unsatisfied with the unsatisfactory job done up to now by this institution. It was Berisha’s conviction that the anti-discrimination law of Albania, a very progressive one, should be considered as a chance. He said that the government is willing to enforce it without conditions. “We should look forward in the future.”

Kristi Pinderi and Xheni Karaj also explained to the Prime Minister that four years ago when he had made the statement in favor of same sex marriage they didn’t yet know each other but met on the occasion of the press release. They asked Berisha if he still stands in favor of same sex marriages, or at least in favor of civil unions for same sex couples. He responded that he had recently seen on television a gay couple sharing their love story and he added: “I don’t see any wrongdoing if they want to live with each other. […] But don’t forget”, added Berisha, “that the job to be done for breaking the ice in society is a job that will for sure need its own time. But what is important is that you are on the right way.”

He suggested not to have a confrontational attitude whenever homophobic statements are made. The activists replied by stating that it’s time for the LGBT movement to raise its activism to a more political level. “We want now to communicate with the main political actors in the country in order to solve our problems,” Karaj and Pinderi confirmed.

The Prime Minister guaranteed them that the government will fully support the rights of assembly of the LGBT community, having in mind the Tirana Pride 2013 announced by the three LGBT organizations to be held during September this year and the public events in the framework of IDAHO, on May 17.

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2 week LGBT sensitivity training programme for St. Lucian police officers
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http://lgbti.mk/old/?p=1500&lang=en http://lgbti.mk/old/?p=1500&lang=en#respond Fri, 30 Dec 2016 07:33:09 +0000 http://localhost:8080/lgbtimk/index.php/2016/12/30/2-week-lgbt-sensitivity-training-programme-for-st-lucian-police-officers/ United and Strong of St. Lucia, along with AIDS-Free World and other partners are putting on a 2 week LGBT sensitivity training programme for St. Lucian police officers. From August 27-Sept. 7, 115 members of the Royal St. Lucia Police Force, along with training officers from police forces in the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) sub-region will be exposed to topics such as “LGBT 101,” Hate/Bias motivated victimization, bullying, and responding to LGBT domestic violence.

 The Caribbean has the second highest HIV prevalence after sub-Saharan Africa and homophobia has been identified as a major contributor to the regional epidemic. Through this police training we hope to improve the level of safety for LGBT, thus increasing their likelihood of accessing prevention, treatment, care and support interventions. It is hoped that funding can be secured to take this excellent programme across the Caribbean.

Source: ILGA

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Germany to become first European state to allow ‘third gender’ birth certificates
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http://lgbti.mk/old/?p=1470&lang=en http://lgbti.mk/old/?p=1470&lang=en#respond Fri, 30 Dec 2016 07:32:52 +0000 http://localhost:8080/lgbtimk/index.php/2016/12/30/germany-to-become-first-european-state-to-allow-third-gender-birth-certificates/ German parents will no longer be legally obliged to register their newborn child as male or female, and will instead be officially allowed to assign the baby a “third gender” if the sex cannot be clearly identified at birth.

The new law will come into force on November 1, on the back of a constitutional court decision which states that as long as a person“deeply feels”that they belong to a certain gender, they have a personal right to choose how they legally identify themselves.

Parents of newborn infants will be allowed to leave the gender form on the child’s birth certificate completely blank if it is born with unusual physical characteristics making it impossible to determine the gender.

The new law will apply to intersexuals, also known as hermaphrodites, rather than transsexuals. Hermaphrodites are people in possession of both female and male physical characteristics.

Justice Minister Sabine Leuthheusser-Schnarrenberger said the decision will have deep repercussions and will require“comprehensive reform”of all documents issued by the state. Adult passports currently require people to state their gender, partly to avoid potential problems when traveling abroad.

The ‘third gender’ designation will also have an effect on marriage laws. As of now, only men and women are allowed to legally marry in the country. Homosexual couples can enter into a civil partnership, and no provisions are made for unions between other genders.

Germany is the first European country to implement such legislation, although Australians have allowed citizens to mark their gender on a passport as X since 2011. New Zealand followed suit last year. Activists in both countries say the legislation has helped curb discrimination against transsexuals and those of indeterminate gender, whether they have had gender reassignment surgery or not.

Silvan Agius, policy director at human rights organisation ILGA Europe – the European branch of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association – told Spiegel newspaper that the decision will push the rest of the EU to do the same.

“Germany’s move will put more pressure on Brussels,”Agius said.”That can only be a good thing.”

 

Source: rt.com

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Supreme Court concludes arguments on marriage law
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http://lgbti.mk/old/?p=1420&lang=en http://lgbti.mk/old/?p=1420&lang=en#respond Fri, 30 Dec 2016 07:32:23 +0000 http://localhost:8080/lgbtimk/index.php/2016/12/30/supreme-court-concludes-arguments-on-marriage-law/ The U.S. Supreme Court seemed to be leaning on Wednesday toward striking down a law that denies federal benefits to legally married same-sex couples in a move that would reflect a shift in Americans’ attitudes about gay marriage. 

In a second day of oral arguments on same-sex marriage, a majority of the court raised serious concerns with the Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA, enacted in 1996 under President Bill Clinton.

Arguments over the last two days on the DOMA case and a separate one challenging California’s ban on gay marriage marked the high court’s first foray into a delicate and divisive political, religious and social issue in the United States as polls indicate growing public support for same-sex marriage.

In theory, the cases have the potential for the court to take a significant step toward endorsing gay marriage as it gains support in some parts of the country. Based on the arguments, however, a partial victory for gay rights activists seems more likely than the sweeping declaration of same-sex marriage rights they had hoped for.

In contrast to the ambivalent approach they displayed on Tuesday in arguments about California’s Proposition 8 gay marriage ban, the nine justices seemed willing to address the substantive issue in the DOMA case, while also eyeing procedural questions.

The court is not expected to rule on the two cases until the end of June. If the justices were to strike down DOMA, legally married gay couples would be winners because they would have improved access to federal benefits, such as tax deductions.

Justices gave a strong indication they might resolve the Proposition 8 case on procedural grounds, but even that would be viewed as a win for gay rights activists as same-sex marriages in California would likely resume.

What appears highly unlikely is a sweeping declaration of a right for gay people to marry, a possible option only in the California case.

Overall, a majority of the justices made it clear that, while they might not impede the recent movement among some states toward gay marriage, they were not willing to pave the way either.

Nine states now recognize gay marriage, while 30 states have constitutional amendments banning it and others are in-between.

On several occasions over the two days, the justices’ own remarks illustrated how quickly attitudes have changed in favor of gay marriage.

If the court rules on the states’ rights issue, the justices could strike down the law without deciding the bigger question of whether DOMA violates the U.S. Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection under the law.

Various groups are calling for DOMA to be struck down, such as the Business Coalition for DOMA Repeal, whose members include Marriott International Inc, Aetna Inc, eBay Inc , and Thomson Reuters Corp, the corporate parent of the Reuters news agency.

Separately, several conservative justices criticized Obama and his Justice Department for not defending the marriage law in court.

Chief Justice John Roberts questioned whether Obama had “the courage of his convictions” for continuing to enforce DOMA while calling it invalid.

Source: http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-03-27/news/chi-supreme-court-gay-marriage-20130327_1_doma-case-gay-marriage-marriage-rights

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Dispatches – Hunted (Documentary about homophobia in Russia)
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http://lgbti.mk/old/?p=1414&lang=en http://lgbti.mk/old/?p=1414&lang=en#respond Fri, 30 Dec 2016 07:32:20 +0000 http://localhost:8080/lgbtimk/index.php/2016/12/30/dispatches-hunted-documentary-about-homophobia-in-russia/ Russia is officially welcoming gay athletes and spectators to the Sochi Winter Olympics. But in a country where it’s thought only 1% of gay people dare to live completely openly, it appears to be a hollow gesture.

This extraordinary Dispatches documentary has gained unique access to the vigilante gangs that target gay men and women. The film depicts a country troubled by disturbing violence and distressing intimidation.

Six months after the Russian parliament unanimously passed a law to protect children from ‘non-traditional’ relationships, this film explores the terror that gay people in Russia are calling ‘hunting season’.

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Exclusion is not part of the youth campaign No Hate Speech Movement!
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http://lgbti.mk/old/?p=1408&lang=en http://lgbti.mk/old/?p=1408&lang=en#respond Fri, 30 Dec 2016 07:32:16 +0000 http://localhost:8080/lgbtimk/index.php/2016/12/30/exclusion-is-not-part-of-the-youth-campaign-no-hate-speech-movement/ The No Hate Speech Forum held in Gabala was accompanied by the debate about the openness of the event to a specific group of potential participants, with the questions being sent directly to the organizers of the conference in Azerbaijan.

The answers by the National Assembly of Youth Organizations of the Republic of Azerbaijan –NAYORA, represented by S.S., were that those participants who took part at national level had been selected following announcement of an ‘open call for participation’ created by the Council of Europe (CE)– the sponsor of the Forum.

After the arrival of some of the participants in Gabala, NAYORA also received e-mails regarding the manner of selection of participants to represent the civil society in all its different segments. In that sense, the e-mail sent by one of the participants in the conference read: ‘In what manner are the civil society organizations and the minorities/vulnerable groups subject to hate speech represented at the Forum and how is their representation ensured?’

In the course of the conference, which lasted several days, these questions were intensified and restated (Albania and Poland) and it was finally concluded that approval for participation had only been granted to  members of NAYORA – as an umbrella organization of registered youth organizations.

This tendentiousness displayed in the selection of participants was bluntly exposed in the tweets of those who had registered for participation but were either rejected or disregarded. Such is the case of G.A., whose tweet read: ‘I was not selected at the #nohateforum in Gabala. NAYORA blocked the LGBTQ from public speech. I am curious who the representatives of Azerbaijan were. #whatashame.’

Although the official reaction rejected these claims, it was affirmed that G.A. was not part of any nationally-registered youth organization. G.A. responded that the open call failed to mention those criteria, adding that registration of an LGBT organization with the Ministry of Justice of Azerbaijan was impossible.

Taking into account the allegations of G.A. and the absence of the possibility for institutional presence of the LGBT community in Azerbaijan or the antagonism of the Ministry of Justice towards LGBT organizations, the Azerbaijan Government clearly displays a noticeable tendentiousness in the exclusion and its selective approach. At the moment, the Government of Azerbaijan presides over the Council of Europe, which is why the No Hate Speech Forum was completely covered by the Government of Azerbaijan and was held in Gabala. Despite the fact that the organizers in Azerbaijan emphasized their efforts to improve the social position of the LGBT community against the religious influences, the capacity of NAYORA and the experience in the organization of this type of events must be taken into account. In fact, the organization of this forum is an attempt to open the Azerbaijan society to differences and understanding of otherness.

 

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“LGBT Forum Progress” organized training in Podgorica about transgender issues.
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http://lgbti.mk/old/?p=1384&lang=en http://lgbti.mk/old/?p=1384&lang=en#respond Fri, 30 Dec 2016 07:32:03 +0000 http://localhost:8080/lgbtimk/index.php/2016/12/30/lgbt-forum-progress-organized-training-in-podgorica-about-transgender-issues/ “LGBT Forum Progress” in the collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Public Health Institute of Montenegro and with the support of the British Embassy in Podgorica organized the training for the healthcare workers about transsexualism and gender confirmation process.

The training was led by Dr. Markovic Dusica Zigic, sex psychiatrist, a specialist in psychiatry Clinical Hospital Center “Dragisa Misovic” from Belgrade, a member of the Belgrade team for gender identity.

The training was attended by members of the Expert Working Group of the Ministry of Health for the development of criteria for gender confirmation process, as well as doctors and professionals in the Clinical Center of Montenegro, psychiatry hospital of Kotor and local health centers.

Dr. Markovic Zigic spoke of transsexuality and its etiology, as well as medical diagnostics and treatment of the transsexualism.

Member of the Management Board of the leading European association “TG Europe” Christian Randjelovic spoke of self-support groups and their role in treatment, legal regulations and international cooperation.

During year Montenegro has made significant progress in regard to the treatment of transgender people in the mental health system.

After a months-long campaign of the NGO “LGBT Forum Progress,” The Government of Montenegro has initiated and the Montenegrin Parliament has adopted amendments to the Law on Health Insurance which now enables the change of sex .

In the past year the direct contact of the health authorities has been made with transgender persons who are interested in the adjustment  of their sex to their gender.

For more information visit the web-site of “LGBT Forum Progress”.

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