Public announcement – STOP hate speech and violence against LGBTI people!

After the homophobic campaign of the government and pro-government media, we are witnessing hate speech on the grounds of sexual orientation and multiple acts of violence against activists and organizations working with LGBTI rights.

On October 24th 2012, the glass at the entrance of the LGBTI Centre in the Old Bazaar was broken only several hours after the opening event.

On November 17th 2012, two LGBT activists were physically assaulted during the preparations for the March of Tolerance.

The premises of the LGBTI Support Centre were once again attacked and there was an unsuccessful attempt to set the Centre on fire.

In the recent months, particularly in the social media, LGBTI people are subject to hate speech and open calls for violence. One of the key generators of hate speech and violence are the pro-government journalists which are getting their legitimacy from the Prime Minister and the party in government. The social networks are flooded with the following messages: “Faggots should be eradicated…”, “Wait till I get to you, you’ll get some kicks and punches”. So far, none of the institutions have reacted in the direction of protecting LGBTI people from hate speech and calls for violence, as well as violence.

The last attack on the LGBTI Support Centre in the Old Bazaar happened on 02.03.2012, Saturday, with significant damage. In the report of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, it is stated that “Citizens, police officers, firefighters have been injured during yesterday’s protests and significant material damage has been inflicted”, while there is no mention of the attack on the LGBTI Support Centre of the Helsinki Committee, but there is a mention of attacks on the “Museum of the Holocaust, Museum of VMRO and the new Theatre”.

The LGBTI Support Centre, the Helsinki Committee and the Coalition “Sexual and health rights of the marginalized communities” – Skopje, once again call upon the authorities to take all measures for protection of LGBTI people from violence, hate speech and calls for violence, as well as to find and bring before justice all perpetrators of crimes against members, supporters and organizations working with LGBTI people in the Republic of Macedonia.

The LGBTI Support Centre, the Helsinki Committee and the Coalition “Sexual and health rights of the marginalized communities” – Skopje call upon all candidates for the local elections, as well as political parties to refrain themselves from hate speech and intolerance on the grounds of sexual orientation, gender identity or any other status.