ZAGREB, Jan 20(Hina) - The human rights of sex and gender minorities in Croatia in 2003 improved in relation to 2002, reads the annual report of the lesbian association "Kontra" and the "Iskorak" association promoting the rights of
sex and gender minorities. The two associations warn that some politicians and church and media representatives support evident social homophobia, which is why lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgendered people (LGBT) are subjected to countless cases of verbal, mental and physical abuse.
ZAGREB, Jan 20(Hina) - The human rights of sex and gender minorities in
Croatia in 2003 improved in relation to 2002, reads the annual report
of the lesbian association "Kontra" and the "Iskorak" association
promoting the rights of sex and gender minorities. The two
associations warn that some politicians and church and media
representatives support evident social homophobia, which is why
lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgendered people (LGBT) are
subjected to countless cases of verbal, mental and physical abuse.#L#
The most progress in the protection of rights of LGBT persons was
made, through good cooperation with the former government and
parliament, in the sphere of legislation, said Sandra Bencic, a member
of the associations' legal team.
The associations' goal - the adoption of a law on registered
partnership enabling sex minorities to enter so-called registered
marriage - was not achieved in 2003.
The associations criticised the Ministry of Education and Sports for
ignoring their proposal that sexual orientation be introduced in
primary and secondary schools, so as to stop the treatment of
homosexuality as a wrong sexual variant, which they said was being
done with the help of religious dogmas and by disregarding scientific
facts.
LGBT persons are still exposed to social homophobia, which is
particularly evident in politicians' statements, Dorino Manzin of
Iskorak said.
Monitoring the political scene in 2003, the associations have
identified as major homophobes Croatian Peasant Party (HSS) leader
Zlatko Tomcic and HSS member Ljubica Lalic, who opposed homosexual
marriages, as well as the Croatian Bishops' Conference, which called
on the electorate not to vote "for those who would allow homosexual
marriages".
Major homophobes are also politicians Ivic Pasalic, Anto Kovacevic and
Ljubo Cesic Rojs, national soccer team selector Oto Baric,
psychiatrist Vladimir Gruden and Zivko Kustic, a columnist for
"Jutarnji List" daily, Manzin said.
The Catholic weekly "Glas koncila" and Croatian Television were also
criticised over homophobia.
The associations believe that the Liberal Party has made a great
contribution to the human rights of sex and gender minorities, along
with the Social Democratic Party, Libra, the Croatian People's Party,
the Istrian Democratic Assembly, and part of the Social Liberal
Party.
The HSS, Croatian Party of Rights, Croatian Christian Democratic
Union, Croatian Bloc and part of the Democratic Centre are closed to
communication with Iskorak and Kontra, while communication with the
Croatian Democratic Union has been established, but without the
party's public support to sex minorities, Manzin said.
(Hina) rml sb