Ο ΠΡΩΤΟΣ ΑΝΟΙΚΤΆ ΓΚΕΪ ΒΟΥΛΕΥΤΗΣ ΣΤΗΝ ΜΑΛΤΑ.

Αντιγράφω από εδώ.

Gouder – ‘wait and see’ stance on cohabitation, gay rights
Gerald Fenech
The Nationalist Party’s executive committee yesterday elected the first openly gay MP to Parliament to replace Michael Frendo, who was appointed Speaker to replace Louis Galea, who in turn took up a post with the European Court of Auditors.
Karl Gouder, 31, from St Julian’s, told MaltaToday he was looking forward to the challenge of being the youngest MP on the government side, whilst also thanking his family and friends who assisted him in his campaign for the 2008 general election.
Asked what would his stance be with regards to gay rights and co-habitation, Gouder said he would adopt a ‘wait and see’ stance for the time being.
“However my position on these issues is clear and when the time comes I will make my voice heard in the appropriate fora,” Gouder said.
The coordinator of the Malta Gay Rights Movement, Gabi Calleja, welcomed news of an MP who was honest about his sexual orientation.
“We have to wait and see if he will be effective in changing the government’s stance on gay rights although I am sceptical that the official policy will change. However we hope to meet him shortly and discuss how our agenda can be put forward and also hope that if there are other MPs who are silent about their sexual orientation, this move will encourage them to go public too,” Calleja said.
Gouder, co-opted from the 10th district, easily fought off the challenge of Pippo Psaila, the other candidate who was seen as his major challenger, garnering 31 votes to Psaila’s 19.
Gouder was until recently the PN’s assistant information officer, working closely with chief information officer Frank Psaila. Well-positioned inside the party, Gouder was seen as a natural choice to take up the seat vacated by Frendo on his appointment as Speaker.
Whether or not Gouder’s co-option to parliament will mark a turning point in the PN’s approach to gay rights is yet to be seen: Gouder forms part of a new generation of Nationalist politicians which have been keen to see the party take a more progressive stance on gay issues.
PN Sliema councillor and gay rights activist Cyrus Engerer recently criticised the government for not doing anything about cohabiting rights for heterosexual and homosexual partners.
A law regulating cohabitation is in the works after being first included in the Nationalist Party’s electoral programme of 1998. The party has often been criticised for dragging its feet on it.
Speaking at a debate on homosexuality in Malta, organised by student group Move on the University campus, Engerer criticised his own party for not having clear policies on the issue.
“We can’t keep on speaking about discrimination, marriage and adoption as if gays were any different,” the Malta Gay Rights Movement activist said after commending Alternattiva Demokratika for being the only party that was clear in its policies on homosexuals.
Engerer said the party had members who were homosexual and he had no problem contesting the local council elections, even though he was openly gay. “The Prime Minister had said he had no problem with his candidates being gay as long as they had no problem with it,” Engerer said.

ΑΠΑΓΟΡΕΥΟΝΤΑΙ ΟΙ ΓΚΕΙ ΣΚΥΛΟΙ!

Συνέβη και αυτό. Το προσωπικό ενός ρεστωράν στην Αδελῒδα της Αυστραλίας, ζήτησε από έναν τυφλό άντρα να φύγει από το ρεστωράν, γιατί πίστευε ότι ο σκύλος που είχε οδηγό του, ήταν γκέι. Αντιγράφω:

A tribunal last week heard that Ian Jolly, 57, was told to leave the Adelaide restaurant Thai Spice in May last year after a staff member mistook his guide dog Nudge for a "gay dog". Restaurant owners Hong Hoa Thi To and Anh Hoang Le told the hearing that the waiter had misheard Mr Jolly's partner Chris Lawrence when she asked to bring a guide dog on to the premises. The waiter reportedly heard Ms Lawrence to say she "wanted to bring a gay dog into the restaurant". A statement from the owners said: "The staff genuinely believed that Nudge was an ordinary pet dog which had been desexed to become a gay dog. Despite the restaurant having a sign welcoming guide dogs and Mr Jolly producing a guide dogs fact card, they were still barred from eating. The Equal Opportunity Tribunal conciliation hearing ordered Thai Spice to pay the couple AUS$1,500 in compensation and the restaurant also agreed to make a written apology to Mr Jolly and attend a diversity training course."

(μέσω του gay persons of color)

ΕΡΩΤΗΣΕΙΣ ΣΤΟ ΕΥΡΟΚΟΙΝΟΒΟΥΛΙΟ: ΤΑ ΔΙΚΑΙΩΜΑΤΑ ΤΩΝ ΟΜΟΦΥΛΟΦΙΛΩΝ ΣΤΗΝ ΑΦΡΙΚΗ.

Αντιγράφω από την ιστοσελίδα του Ευρωκοινοβουλίου.

Κοινοβουλευτικές ερωτήσεις, 8 Μαρτίου 2010, P-1054/10.
ΓΡΑΠΤΗ ΕΡΩΤΗΣΗ υποβολή: Claude Moraes (S&D) προς την Επιτροπή.
Θέμα: Τα δικαιώματα των ομοφυλοφίλων στην Αφρική.
Τις τελευταίες εβδομάδες τα παγκόσμια μέσα ενημέρωσης παρουσίασαν την φριχτή κατάσταση που επικρατεί στην Ουγκάντα σε ότι αφορά τα δικαιώματα των ομοφυλοφίλων. Γνωρίζει η Επιτροπή για τα παρόμοια ομοφοβικά αισθήματα- και τα μέτρα καταστολής της κυβέρνησης - στο Μαλάουι; Και. εάν ναι, ποια μέτρα έχουν ληφθεί ώστε να διασφαλιστεί ότι οι ευρωπαϊκές αξίες και ο σεβασμός στα ανθρώπινα δικαιώματα λαμβάνονται υπόψη στην σχέση της ΕΕ με το Μαλάουι;
Γενικότερα, ποιά είναι η στρατηγική της Επιτροπής όσον αφορά τα αυξανόμενα νομοθετικά μέτρα εις βάρος των ομοφυλοφίλων στην αφρικανική ήπειρο;

Ακολουθεί η απάντηση.

Answer given by Mr Piebalgs on behalf of the Commission
The Commission is well aware of the charges brought against Mr Monjeza and Mr Chimbalanga in Malawi. The couple has been charged with ‘unnatural practices’ and ‘indecent practices’ under the Penal Code. The case is currently being tried before the magistrate court, with a verdict expected in April 2010. Malawi is Party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). According to Article 26 of the ICCPR: ‘All persons are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to the equal protection of the law’. In this respect, the law shall prohibit any discrimination and guarantee to all persons equal and effective protection against discrimination on any ground such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.
The EU will continue to follow closely the situation and raise the EU's concern within the framework of the political dialogue with the government of Malawi. In this context the EU will urge the government also to forestall police harassment against HIV educators and human rights defenders. Furthermore, the EU will seek clarification from the government regarding coherence between the national penal code and the country's international obligations.
On the Commission’s strategy with regard to the growing body of homophobic legislation throughout the African continent, the Commission is deeply concerned about the persistence and new signs of discriminatory legislation and attitudes towards sexual minorities in partner countries, such as Burundi, Malawi and Uganda. While the immediate priority is bringing an end to the imposition of criminal penalties for homosexual relations, the Commission is also continuing longer-term efforts to encourage partner countries to end discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in line with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Cotonou Partnership Agreement, the EU supported UN declaration on sexual orientation and gender identity of 18 December 2008 on the decriminalisation of homosexuality and the ICCPR. The Commission pursues a determined policy of opposing homophobic actions and campaigns for the decriminalisation of homosexual relations. The Commission together with the Member States is actively engaged in efforts within the United Nations (UN) to tackle racism and discrimination, including discrimination based on sexual orientation. For example, the EU fully and successfully supported UN consultative status for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered (LGBT) people rights' groups in the non-governmental organisation (NGO) Committee of the UN ECOSOC.
On 19 March revision negotiations of Cotonou agreement where concluded. After long and tough negotiations, the Commission eventually managed to amend Article 8.4, introducing the concept of ‘discrimination of any kind’, based on several grounds among others ‘sex or other status’, allowing therefore to include sexual orientation as a possible subject in the political dialogue with its partner countries. This formulation is literally based on the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. The Commission did not have such a basis in the Cotonou agreement before. Therefore, once the revised Agreement will enter into force, the Commission will make use of those provisions through entire spectrum of political means at its disposal.
As soon as the revised Cotonou agreement enters into force, the Commission will also request EU Delegations to systematically address the issue of non‑discrimination, including based on sexual orientation, to be put on the agenda of our political dialogue with ACP countries. Of course, the EU in its entirety conducts such political dialogue, and therefore, EU Member States will also have to abide by this commitment of the Cotonou agreement.
The Commission and the EU will continue to maintain pressure on partner countries to have legislation compatible with the international principles on non‑discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and it will continue its support to human rights organisations working for changes in law and attitudes in their countries. More generally, the Commission and the EU will continue to strive through its relations and its cooperation programmes to support democracy and fundamental freedoms in partner countries.

PRIVATE LIFE / @ OUTVIEW 2010.

Σ'αυτό το μπλογκ, αγαπάμε ιδιαίτερα τις ταινίες μικρού μήκους, και στην ετικέτα ταινίες μικρού μήκους έχουμε παρουσιάσει αρκετές.

Έτσι λοιπόν με την ευκαιρία του Outview 2010, του 40ου Φεστιβάλ λοαδ κινηματογράφου, ας ξεκινήσουμε με μία ταινία μικρού μήκους που μπορείτε να δείτε σήμερα το απόγευμα.

20.10 - Αίθουσα 1 - Private Life (Abbe Robinson, UK, 2006, 15')
Στο Yorkshire της Αγγλίας το 1952 η Ruth Ackroyd αφήνει την μονοτονία της δουλειάς της πίσω ένα βράδυ της Παρασκευής και παίρνει το τραίνο για το Μάντσεστερ. Εκεί συναντά έναν άντρα στην πλατφόρμα αλλά δεν είναι όλα όπως φαίνονται.
Βραβείο Κοινού καλύτερης ταινίας μικρού μήκους 2007 στο Dublin Gay & Lesbian Film Festival

Και το τρέιλερ της ταινίας.


From: LezTrailer

Το Φεστιβάλ γίνεται στην Ταινιοθήκη της Ελλάδας, Ιερά Οδός 48 & Μεγάλου Αλεξάνδρου και διαρκεί από τις 23/4 έως και τις 29/4/2010. Είναι μία από τις πιο σημαντικές εκδηλώσεις της λοαδ κοινότητας - αξίζει να το στηρίξουμε.

Η ΦΙΛΑΝΔΙΚΗ ΚΥΒΕΡΝΗΣΗ ΣΤΗΝ ΚΑΤΕΥΘΥΝΣΗ ΤΗΣ ΣΤΗΡΙΞΗΣ ΤΟΥ ΓΑΜΟΥ ΟΜΟΦΥΛΩΝ ΚΑΙ ΤΩΝ ΔΙΚΑΙΩΜΑΤΩΝ ΥΙΟΘΕΣΙΑΣ.

Αντιγράφω από εδώ.

Finnish parliamentary support for gay marriage and adoption rights
Ice News, 23 April 2010.
Regardless of the outcome of next year’s Finnish parliamentary elections, the governing majority is expected to implement a motion in support of gender-neutral marriage and adoption.
A new survey by Helsingin Sanomat revealed that there is little political opposition to the notion of allowing same-sex couples to adopt.
The newspaper study found that the larger political parties held few objections to gay couples adopting, with only the True Finns and Christian League opposing a change in the law. All candidates for the leadership of the governing Centre Party, except for Paavo Vayrynen, were in favour of the idea, and the Social Democrats and the conservative National Coalition were also positive about the concept.
Taru Tujunen, the National Coalition Party secretary, said an initiative would be put forward at the next party congress which would call for gender-neutral marriage. The SDP will also make similar calls for adoption rights for same-sex couples during their May party congress.
The idea of gender-neutral marriage was first touted by the Green League’s Oras Tynkkynen last year, while party secretay Panu Laturi said, “The present law on marriage is discriminatory. Couples of the same gender still do not have the right to marry the person that they love.”

JUWELIA SORAYA.

“If I had come to the world as a woman, I would be dressing
as a man. I play with the genders.” --Juwelia Soraya

Selbstporträt
Juwelia Soraya

Selbstporträt: Juwelia mit Pudel
Juwelia Soraya

“I don't orientate myself in regards to other transvestites. My art has nothing to do with this. If I had come to the world as a woman, I would be dressing as a man. I play with the genders and for me it’s exciting to be another sex. I consider the week-end [cabaret] shows as art. I don't need drugs, I am my own drug. The world of homosexuals and transvestites sometimes is a little too stressful for me...too artificial, unpleasant, inflamed and excessive. I prefer to be more lounging, calm, and in a relaxed mood. Also, I don't take sexuality that seriously. I have been married for 20 years. What does this mean? I am who I am, I don't think about it.”
“In my youth, I have always been impressed by Andy Warhol and Quentin Crisp. And in my childhood, I always visited the Kassler Kunstaustellung in Wilhelmshöhe on Sundays. I was fascinated by Rembrandt. What I found really great was the darkness in his old paintings. Even if I avoid darkness in my paintings, they are still dark. Even if they have no shadows at all, in my eyes they have a lot. Recently someone told me that my paintings seem to be coming out of a Fellini movie.”

COVERED (2008).

Covered.
There are 56 definitions offered for the word "cover" in the Random House Unabridged Dictionary (2nd edition, 1993), with the 13th definition applied to journalism (where a journalist is assigned to "cover" a story) and the 51st definition applied to music (where a musician is said to "cover" another's song). Immediately following the musical definition, is one for mathematics wherein a "cover" refers to "a collection of sets having the property that a given set is contained in the union of the sets in the collection." That 52nd definition--along with its journalistic and musical variants--could equally apply to John Greyson's experimental short Covered, which is at once intricately journalistic, musical and mathematic.
Originally slated in TIFF's Short Cuts Canada program and billed as "an inspired experimental documentary on the violent closing of the first Queer Sarajevo Festival", Greyson has pulled Covered from the official selection at TIFF in protest against their inaugural City-to-City Spotlight on Tel Aviv and in solidarity with the Palestinian call for a boycott against the Israeli government. Greyson has, instead, made Covered available online at Vimeo for the duration of the festival (until September 19th, 2009). Greyson likewise pulled his film Fig Trees from this year's Tel Aviv GLBT Festival.
Greyson's principled protest has been laid out in his letter to festival heads Piers Handling, Noah Cowan and Cameron Bailey. His concern that TIFF's cooperation with the Brand Israel campaign (launched in Toronto) ignores such socio-political realities as "the devastating Gaza massacre of eight months ago, resulting in over 1000 civilian deaths; the election of a Prime Minister accused of war crimes; the aggressive extension of illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian lands; the accelerated destruction of Palestinian homes and orchards; the viral growth of the totalitarian security wall, and the further enshrining of the check-point system" leads to his criticism that "this isn't the right year to celebrate Brand Israel, or to demonstrate an ostrich-like indifference to the realities (cinematic and otherwise) of the region, or to pointedly ignore the international economic boycott campaign against Israel." Greyson questions whether "such an uncritical celebration of Tel Aviv right now [isn't] akin to celebrating Montgomery buses in 1963, California grapes in 1969, Chilean wines in 1973, Nestles infant formula in 1984, or South African fruit in 1991?"; boycott campaigns that "were specific and strategic to their historic moments, and certainly complex."
Covered itself is a complex intertext that combines split screen imagery and multiple visual and aural registers to examine the brutal homophobic violence levied against the first Queer Sarajevo Festival. Greyson situates his examination through avian folklore, covers of popular songs that feature bird imagery, and his own "cover" of Susan Sontag's cultural criticism. This last element--excerpts from an essay by Susan Sontag about cultural responses to war, entitled "Covered: the Sound of Solidarity"--is perhaps the film's most intriguing critique and edges the film towards an alterity that nears sheer poetry. Greyson's self-reflexive and appropriative homage to Sontag is encapsulated perfectly in his poised quote by Sontag: "Covers must walk a line between tribute and treachery, paying heartfelt homage even as they betray the author with a musical kiss."
Though it's unfortunate that I'm not able to see Covered on a large screen, and though I appreciate being able to view the film on Vimeo, I respect Greyson's commitment to use a cultural boycott to address his protest against cultural propaganda. If--as has been suggested in Raphaël Nadjari's A History of Israeli Cinema--cinema anticipates (or should anticipate) awareness of the need for socio-political change, then current controversies such as Greyson's withdrawl of Covered from TIFF09, and the recent uproar over Rachel at this year's San Francisco Jewish Film Festival, belie changes anxious to unfold.

Cross-published on The Evening Class.
-------
2008, the opening of the first QUEER SARAJEVO FESTIVAL was closed down by a violent mob, that accused the organizers of blasphemy. Eight people were hospitalized, and the festival was cancelled. COVERED profiles the courage of the four women who organized the festival, and explores the complex politics that inform contemporary Bosnian society, still struggling with the demons of the war. Greyson is a two time TEDDY AWARD winner (1989 and 2009).
This short film was pulled from official selection at TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) in protest against their Spotlight on Tel Aviv program and in solidarity with the Palestinian call for a boycott against the Israeli government.

Covered from John Greyson on Vimeo.

ΖΗΤΕΙΤΑΙ Η ΣΥΛΛΗΨΗ ΤΟΥ ΠΑΠΑ ΣΤΗΝ ΒΡΕΤΑΝΙΑ.

Αντιγράφω από τα Νέα.

Τη σύλληψη του Πάπα ζητούν άθεοι διανοούμενοι και δικηγόροι στη Βρετανία
Ο διάσημος εξελικτικός βιολόγος Ρίτσαρντ Ντόκινς και ο συγγραφέας Κρίστοφερ Χίτσενς τέθηκαν επικεφαλής μιας ομάδας Βρετανών που ζητούν την σύλληψη του Πάπα για «εγκλήματα κατά της ανθρωπότητας», όταν ο ποντίφικας επισκεφθεί τη Βρετανία το Σεπτέμβριο.
Στο πλευρό των δύο γνωστών Βρετανών τάσσονται και ορισμένοι δικηγόροι σε θέματα ανθρώπινων δικαιωμάτων, οι οποίοι ζητούν να απαγγελθούν κατηγορίες στον πάπα Βενέδικτο ΙΣΤ' για συγκάλυψη του σκανδάλου με τα κρούσματα παιδεραστίας μεταξύ κληρικών.
Ο καθηγητής Ρ.Ντόκινς, περισσότερο γνωστός από το βιβλίο Το Εγωιστικό Γονίδιο, γράφει τώρα στο ιστολόγιό του ότι υποστηρίζει «ολόψυχα» το αίτημα του Κ.Χίτσενς για έκδοση εντάλματος.
«Αισιοδοξώ ότι θα μπορέσουμε να ευαισθητοποιήσουμε τον κόσμο μέχρι το σημείο που η βρετανική κυβέρνηση θα αισθανθεί αμηχανία να προχωρήσει στην επίσκεψη του Πάπα» εκτιμά ο Ντόκινς.
Τις απόψεις των άθεων επικριτών του ποντίφικα φαίνεται να συμμερίζεται και ο αρθογράφος Τζορτζ Μονμπιό της εφημερίδας The Guardian: «Φανταστείτε τον Πάπα να περιμένει τη δίκη του στη Βρετανία, και θα αρχίσετε να αντιλαμβάνεστε τις συνέπειες της ριζοσπαστικής ιδέας που ουδέποτε εφαρμόστηκε: την ισότητα απέναντι στο νόμο» γράφει.
Ο Κρίστοφερ Χίτσενς υποστηρίζει μάλιστα ότι το Βατικανό δεν είναι νόμιμο κράτος και επομένως ο Πάπας δεν μπορεί να καλύπτεται από διπλωματική ασυλία. «Τα Ηνωμένα Έθνη από το ξεκίνημά τους αρνήθηκαν να αναγνωρίσουν ως μέλος τους το Βατικανό, του παραχώρησαν όμως μια μοναδική 'θέση παρατηρητή', η οποία του επιτρέπει να μιλά και να ψηφίζει σε διασκέψεις του ΟΗΕ, όπου προωθεί τα αμφιλεγόμενα δόγματά του για τις αμβλώσεις, την αντισύλληψη και την ομοφυλοφιλία».
Όπως αναφέρει το BBC, οι νομικοί της ομάδας του Χίτσενς και του Ντόκινς εξετάζουν τώρα αν θα ζητήσουν την απαγγελία κατηγοριών από τις βρετανικές αρχές, αν θα καταθέσουν τη δική τους μήνυση, ή αν θα παραπέμψουν το θέμα στο Διεθνές Ποινικό Δικαστήριο.
Επικαλούνται μάλιστα το νομικό προηγούμενο της Τζίπι Λίβνι, πρώην υπουργού Εξωτερικών του Ισραήλ, η οποία αναγκάστηκε να ακυρώσει επίσκεψη στο Λονδίνο λόγω του εντάλματος που εκδόθηκε σε βάρος της λόγω των συγκρούσεων στη Γάζα.
Το Βατικανό αρνείται πάντως ότι ο πάπας Βενέδικτος ΙΣΤ' συγκάλυψε περιπτώσεις παιδεραστίας.

SOLDIER'S GIRL (2003).

Soldier's Girl
Not just a movie. Soldier's Girl is a true story of a heinous murder, hideous in its motivations. An infantry soldier of the United States Army (Barry Winchell) is beaten to death for falling in love with a transgender woman (Calpernia Addams). The shocking chain of events, including the neglect of all, leads to unimaginable conclusion. The film is a masterpiece, with the three main players (Troy Garity as private Barry Winchell, Lee Pace as transgendered showgirl Calpernia Addams, and Shawn Hatosy as fellow soldier Justin Fisher) that border on perfection. The story is inconsolably happened and nothing can remedy.

From: sophistik000

ΙΤΑΛΙΑ: STOP ΣΤΟΝ ΓΑΜΟ ΟΜΟΦΥΛΩΝ.

Αντιγράφω από την ιστοσελίδα της Καθημερινής.

Δεν αναγνωρίζεται ο γάμος ομοφυλοφίλων στην Ιταλία
Το Συνταγματικό Δικαστήριο της χώρας αρνείται να αναγνωρίσει τον γάμο των ομοφυλόφιλων.
Το Συνταγματικό Δικαστήριο της Ιταλίας ανακοίνωσε σήμερα ότι απέρριψε ως «αβάσιμες και μη αποδεκτές» αρκετές προσφυγές με τις οποίες ζητείτο η αναγνώριση των γάμων μεταξύ ομοφυλόφιλων και που είχαν κατατεθεί με το σκεπτικό της αρχής της ισότητας των πολιτών.
Τα δικαστήρια της Βενετίας και του Τρέντο είχαν προσφύγει στο Συνταγματικό Δικαστήριο της Ιταλίας για να εξετάσει την πιθανή παραβίαση άρθρων του Συντάγματος σχετικά με τα ανθρώπινα δικαιώματα, των ευρωπαϊκών και διεθνών κανόνων και της ισότητας των πολιτών.
Τα δύο δικαστήρια κατέφυγαν στο Συνταγματικό Δικαστήριο με αφορμή τρία ζευγάρια ομοφυλόφιλων τις αναγγελίες γάμου των οποίων οι αξιωματούχοι του ληξιαρχείου αρνήθηκαν να δημοσιεύσουν. Επί της ουσίας τα τρία ζευγάρια ισχυρίζονταν ότι το Σύνταγμα της Ιταλίας δεν απαγορεύει το γάμο μεταξύ ανθρώπων του ίδιου φύλου.
Το Συνταγματικό Δικαστήριο όμως έκρινε μερικές από τις προσφυγές ως «μη αποδεκτές» και τις υπόλοιπες ανεπαρκώς θεμελιωμένες. Οι λόγοι της απόφασής του θα γίνουν γνωστοί τις επόμενες ημέρες.
- www.kathimerini.gr με πληροφορίες από ΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ

ΕΝΑ ΛΕΣΒΙΑΚΟ ΔΙΗΓΗΜΑ ΤΟΥ 1913: "ΟΤΑΝ ΣΚΑΝΕ ΤΑ ΛΟΥΛΟΥΔΙΑ", του ΔΗΜΟΣΘΕΝΗ ΒΟΥΤΥΡΑ.

ΟΤΑΝ ΣΚΑΝΕ ΤΑ ΛΟΥΛΟΥΔΙΑ...
Δημοσθένης Βουτυράς.

Πρόλογος: Χριστίνα Ντουνιά.
Επίλογος: Βάσιας Τοσκόπουλος.

Εκδόσεις Πολύχρωμος Πλανήτης.

Αντιγράφω την παρουσίαση του βιβλίου από την ιστοσελίδα της Αυγής.

Μια φρέσκια ματιά... σχεδόν εκατό χρόνων
Κρημνιώτη Π.
Ημερομηνία δημοσίευσης: 13/04/2010
Όταν το 1921 δημοσιεύεται το μικρό διήγημα "Όταν σκάνε τα λουλούδια..." στη συλλογή "Τριανταδυό διηγήματα" (εκδ. Χ. Γανιάρη) αφού είχε προηγηθεί η δημοσίευσή του στο περιοδικό "Γράμματα" της Αλεξάνδρειας (1913), ο Δημοσθένης Βουτυράς είναι ήδη γνωστός τόσο στο αναγνωστικό κοινό όσο και στους κύκλους των διανοουμένων της εποχής. Ο ήρωας του, ο κακάσχημος Λούμας, ενταγμένος κι αυτός στον γνώριμο καμβά των περιθωριακών χαρακτήρων του Βουτυρά, ακολουθώντας το ηδονοβλεπτικό του πάθος, οδηγείται σ' έναν κήπο να παρακολουθεί την ερωτική περίπτυξη δυο νεαρών γυναικών. Η αφοπλιστική λιτότητα και η δύναμη του ρεαλισμού του Βουτυρά αναδεικνύουν το μεγαλείο της περιγραφικής του δεινότητας η οποία έχει ήδη επαινεθεί από την κριτική της εποχής. Ωστόσο η ερωτική σκηνή ανάμεσα στις δύο γυναίκες κάθε άλλο παρά εναρμονίζεται με τα ειωθότα της εποχής. Σύμφωνα τόσο με τη Χριστίνα Ντουνιά που υπογράφει την εισαγωγή της έκδοσης, όσο και με τον Βάσια Τσοκόπουλο, επιμελητή των Απάντων του διηγηματογράφου, που υπογράφει τον επίλογο, με το συγκεκριμένο διήγημα ο συγγραφέας δίνει "την πρώτη άμεση, γυμνή, όσο και αφοπλιστική σκηνή λεσβιακού ερωτισμού στη νεοελληνική λογοτεχνία".

Η συγκεκριμένη έκδοση αναδεικνύει αυτή την παράμετρο, ιδίως μέσα από την εισαγωγή της Χριστίνας Ντουνιά η οποία πληροφορεί επαρκώς για τα νεωτερικά στοιχεία που υιοθετούν τα Αλεξανδρινά "Γράμματα" με κυριότερο "την υποστήριξη της ελεύθερης έκφρασης της ερωτικής επιθυμίας". Πέραν όμως αυτής της παραμέτρου και της φιλολογικής της αξίας, για τον αναγνώστη και τούτο το διήγημα αποκαλύπτει το μέγεθος ενός δημιουργού που η παρατεταμένη, και από αρκετούς μελετητές του επαρκώς τεκμηριωμένη, απομάκρυνσή του από το λογοτεχνικό προσκήνιο δεν στάθηκε ικανή να μειώσει τη διηγηματογραφική του αξία και σημασία της στη λογοτεχνία μας. Αρκεί να σταθεί κανείς στον τρόπο με τον οποίο στο συγκεκριμένο διήγημα ο Βουτυράς αντιπαραβάλει τα δεδομένα του. Την ανοιξιάτικη ομορφιά της φύσης με την ανείπωτη ασκήμια του Λούμα, τη δροσιά και την υγεία που αποπνέουν τα δυο νεαρά κορίτσια, παρότι η πράξη τους αντίκειται στην καθεστηκυία της εποχής, απέναντι στη νοσηρότητα του ήρωά του. Έτσι λοιπόν το "Όταν σκάνε τα λουλούδια..." πέραν όλων των άλλων παραμένει ένα ακόμα επαρκές τεκμήριο της τέχνης του Βουτυρά που αν και έγραψε μέχρι τα μέσα του 20ού αιώνα φανερώνεται με απαράμιλλη φρεσκάδα στον 21ό αιώνα.
(Εκδ. Πολύχρωμος Πλανήτης, σελ. 40, τιμή: 6 ευρώ).

- Δείτε επίσης την παρουσίαση του βιβλίου στην ιστοσελίδα του Πολύχρωμου Πλανήτη.

- Επίσης μπορείτε να διαβάσετε σχετικό άρθρο του Βάσια Τσοκόπουλου με τίτλο:
Γιατί μας ενδιαφέρει το έργο του Βουτυρά σήμερα;

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Σαπφώ, Κέλομαί σε Γογγύλα.
Μελοποίηση του Μάνου Χατζιδάκι,
τραγουδά η Φλέρυ Νταντωνάκη - από τον "Μεγάλο Ερωτικό".



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Απόσπασμα του βιβλίου, από την Gay Βιβλιογραφία στα Ελληνικά:

-Μα τι έχεις; Έκανε η μία ξανθούλα άσπρη σαν κρίνος, με μαύρα μάτια, στην άλλη, μια ρωμαλαία κόρη με κόκκινα μάγουλα και καστανά θερμά μάτια.
Αυτή, χωρίς ν’ απαντήσει, τίποτε να πει, την έσφιξε περισσότερο στο στήθος της και με μανία, με δίψα ζήτησε τα χείλια της.
-Δεν μπορώ!... εστέναξε στη φίλη της, που έκανε να φύγει. Άφησέ με!...
Εκείνη παραιτήθηκε, ή οι πνοές των λουλουδιών όλο πάθος την έσφιξαν, την παρέλυσαν, την έκαναν κάτι να επιθυμεί, κι αυτό το κάτι ξέσπασε σ’ ένα φίλημα, φίλημα μακρύ, ηδονικό, ένα ρούφηγμα μανιακό της ηδονής που σαλεύει, θαμπώνει το νου, τα μάτια και κάνει τον άνθρωπο να ζει σβηστά, σβηστά κι όμοιος με τις μεθυσμένες των δέντρων πνοές.

LOOKING FOR LANGSTON (1988).

Looking for Langston
Directed by Isaac Julien
Produced by Nadine March-Edwards
Written by Isaac Julien (screenplay)
Starring Ben Ellison, Matthew Baidoo, Akim Mogaji, John Wilson, Dencil Williams, Guy Burgess, James Dublin, Harry Donaldson, Jimmy Somerville, Langston Hughes as himself
Music by Wayson Jones, Trevor Mathison, Peter Spencer
Cinematography Nina Kellgren
Distributed by British Film Institute
Release date(s) February 1989
(Berlin International Film Festival)
Running time 42 min.
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Looking for Langston is a 1989 British black and white film directed by Isaac Julien. It combines authentic archival newsreel footage of Harlem in the 1920s with scripted scenes to produce a non-linear impressionistic story line celebrating black gay identity and desire during the artistic and cultural period known as the Harlem Renaissance in New York. The film is a short, running about 42 minutes.
Opening the film is a voice over of the original radio broadcast made in tribute to Langston Hughes upon his death in 1967 as the funeral scene of Hughes is recreated and reinterpreted. Interspersed among such images as shifting time periods that seamlessly flow from past to present, black men dancing together within a revisionist version of the Cotton Club, or, a speakeasy, and dream sequences are brief narrative extracts from the poetic works of Hughes alongside those of Richard Bruce Nugent, James Baldwin, and Essex Hemphill. Also shown are the controversial images of black men by the photographer Robert Mapplethorpe.
The film is not a biography of Langston Hughes. It is a memoriam to Langston Hughes and the Harlem Renaissance as reconstructed from a black gay perspective. Moreover, it reports to be a meditation on the black gay experience within a historical context built around the homophobia, oppression, and denial faced by men of African descent within black communities alongside “allusions and political commentary on white racism.” Hughes is presented as an icon and cultural metaphor for black gay men who were confronted with being ostracized if they did not conform to black bourgeoisie standards whose overriding goal concerned fuller social integration. Contested are the ways the black male and his sexuality have been represented in the modern Western world and how existing notions of race and gender figure within American and African American culture. Throughout this process, the identity of Hughes as a black gay man is reclaimed and no longer denied, a process paralleled in the ever growing academic studies of Langston Hughes today. Moreover, adding to the historic and cinematic importance of the film in gay cinema, Looking for Langston was and continues to be one of very few films showing intra-racial affection between black gay men as revealed in the love story between the two leading black protagonists, Ben Ellison as Langston Hughes and Matthew Baidoo as Beauty.
Today it falls under the auspices of the British Film Institute as part of its national 'Black World' initiative celebrating black creativity in film.
Teddy Award for Best Short Film at the 1989 Berlin International Film Festival.
Upon the initial first release of Looking for Langston in the United States in 1990, the estate of Langston Hughes attempted to have the film censored because of copyright violations. That is, permission allegedly had not been obtained by the filmmakers permitting them to use the poetry of Hughes in the film. During subsequent screenings of Looking for Langston, the sound was repeatedly turned down when the work of Hughes was read. Despite allegations of censorship from critics at the time of the U.S. premier of the film, the estate had allowed many of Hughes’ poems to appear in gay anthologies in the print media and continues to do so till this day.

From: mySCOUTcom

SHABARI.

Shabari is a short film directed by Caeser Pink. It is part of his Meditations series of black and white films. The film features a Shibari rope tying artist demonstrating her skills.

From: aretelivingarts

HOLLY WOODLAWN by SADIE LEE.

“Holly came from Miami F.L.A.
hitch-hiked her way across the USA
Plucked her eyebrows on the way,
shaved her legs, and then he was a she
She says, hey babe
take a walk on the wild side.”

-- Walk on the Wild Side, Lou Reed (1972)

posing II
oil on canvas

posing I
oil on canvas

posing III
oil on canvas

Three works from a series of ten.
Holly Woodlawn is one of the last surviving members of Andy Warhol’s ‘Factory’ inner circle, the star of cult films Trash and Women in Revolt. Born Harold Ajzenberg in Puerto Rico, 1946, she took the name ‘Holly’ from the gamine heroine of Truman Capote’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
In October 2006, artist Sadie Lee spent every day for a week in Holly’s Los Angeles apartment, making studies of Holly as the basis for a series of oil paintings. The paintings, made on Lee’s return to her London studio, show Holly in all her incarnations, with and without make-up, wig and frock. This is the first time that Holly has allowed herself to be presented publicly out of drag. These are not just pictures of a man dressing as a woman; Holly is both male and female and neither.
Sadie Lee lives and works in London, and is best known for her controversial series of portraits of former Burlesque stars, now elderly and retired, painted in costumes from their glory days. She has been selected for The Hunting Prize twice and for the BP Portrait Award a total of 5 times, resulting in a commendation in 1998 and the BP Travel Award in 1996.

(Hey sugar,) take a walk on the wild side...


From: d1sintegration

POSI + IVE.

Posi + ive (Lutter contre le SIDA)

[μέσω του Luc LeBelge.]

ΓΙΑ ΤΑ ΓΚΕΙ ΔΙΚΑΙΩΜΑΤΑ ΣΤΗΝ ΚΥΠΡΟ.

Αντιγράφω από την Cyprus Mail.

‘Gay partners need rights’
By Stefanos Evripidou
Published on April 10, 2010
THE LEGAL recognition of same-sex partnerships in Cyprus is imperative in today’s society, said human rights watchdog, Iliana Nicolaou in her latest report on the rights of unmarried people who cohabit.
The ombudswoman, who also heads the Authority against Racism and Discrimination sent a report to the Interior Minister and House President arguing that the legal vacuum in Cyprus on same-sex partnerships constitutes a direct discrimination against EU citizens based on sexual orientation.
She proposes that the authorities plug this gap in the law through legal reform, in turn eliminating current inequalities in the rights of same-sex partners while helping to eradicate negative stereotypes and prejudices against people of the same sex who cohabit.
The report came about following two complaints by Cypriot citizens sent to Nicolaou’s office in the last five months. One involved a 24-year-old man from Paphos who reported that the state would not allow him to enter into a civil marriage with his same-sex partner of six years. Even if they got married in one of the European countries where same-sex marriages are legal (the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Sweden or Norway), Cyprus would still not recognise their partnership as legal.
The second complaint was made by another man who complained that his long-term same-sex partner would be forced to leave the island once his residence permit expired because of the absence of laws on same-sex partnerships.
In her conclusions, Nicolaou noted that the last century saw the basic components of the traditional definition of marriage change due to enshrined fundamental rights like the free development of personality, human dignity, the principle of equality between sexes. the ability to divorce and the introduction of civil marriages which took religion out of the equation.
“Finally, as noted, in several countries, the gender difference is no longer considered a component of a valid marriage,” she said.
The ombudswoman highlighted the legal vacuum that exists regarding the legal recognition of cohabitation between persons of the same or opposite sex. She noted that the constitution provides no reason to hinder the prospect of legal recognition of such relationships as it leaves it to the state to decide.
“In practice, the introduction of regulation for the legal recognition of cohabitation between individuals of the same and opposite sex would be a pragmatic response to a real social need,” said Nicolaou.
The need to legally enshrine cohabitation becomes more urgent, she noted, “considering that in Cyprus today, out of wedlock cohabitation, even if lengthy and steady, does not give rights or regulate property or other relations between partners”.
The anti-discrimination head highlighted that legal regulation of cohabitation would not undermine the institution of marriage, which continues to be the predominant basis of a family but would be a response to a changing social reality and the real needs of people who are equal members of society. This is confirmed by the relevant legislative provisions in many European countries and the requirements of European and international law to eliminate all forms of discrimination, she argued.
The right to marriage, as the legal protection of every other relationship in the privacy of individuals, addresses the implicit principle of respect for human dignity and the free development of personality.
“The state must ensure the same respect and protection to all citizens regardless of their sexual orientation. The complete disregard for social forms such as cohabitation without marriage and the consequences it produces (insurance, pension, tax, property) on the basis only of a different sexual orientation clearly violates the principle of non-discrimination. It deprives, ultimately, a portion of people from the practice of claiming their rights,” she said.
The ombudswoman recognised that authorities would probably find it easier to get a broader consensus on rights for heterosexual partners who live together rather than for same-sex partnerships. At the same time, Nicolaou said she could not ignore the obligation to respect the rights of a segment of society, arising from a series of binding legal regulations, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
“In particular, the legal recognition of partnerships of the same sex, is considered, under present conditions imperative, under the principle of equal treatment, since the current legal vacuum creates inevitable inequalities against those persons without any convincing justification. “Moreover, the continuation of this situation and especially the legal denial of this social reality, reproduces negative stereotypes and prejudices against those persons,” she said.
By regulating same-sex partnership, this will eliminate discrimination against Cypriot citizens, as well as constitute an alignment with the fundamental principle of the free movement of persons within the European Union.
“Because, as noted in successive reports, this legal vacuum is not allowing the practical application of this principle for EU citizens residing in Cyprus with homosexual or heterosexual partners.
“Specifically, the exclusion of same-sex couples from the scope of the European directive 2004/38/EC, which was already part of the Cypriot legal system is direct discrimination against European citizens based on sexual orientation,” she said.
Nicolaou welcomed the prompt response of the Interior Minister to her report. “The Minister assured that the report will receive the necessary attention and efforts will be made to identify points where there could be a change in ministry policy in order to move towards the equal treatment and elimination of ‘any racial or other discrimination’,” she said.
Finally, she noted that if the authorities chose to recognise same-sex partnerships and rights of cohabiters, “this step would not endanger either the traditional concept of marriage or the traditional form of family, nor will it alter their fundamental characteristics”.
One cannot ignore the fact that there are people in society who cohabit and are not married, or even allow the practical degradation of such people.
“The gradual recognition of minority rights, including sexual, is an established feature of many modern democratic states in which the concepts of morality adjust continuously and are formed on the basis of social processes, while the relationship between law and society is characterized by a dynamic interaction,” she said.

MALCOLM McLAREN (RIP, 22 January 1946 – 8 April 2010).

From: ABCDJLG


From: Ratnoya

REBECCA SWAN: ASSUME NOTHING.

Dred (boy)
Dred (girl)

This work by New Zealand photographer Rebecca Swan (1968 - ) is part of her larger project, and self published book, entitled Assume Nothing.
Members of the transgendered community, long relegated to the fringes of public consciousness, exist in a realm that confounds easy categorization. Since the mid 90's Swan has been photographing members of this community. In her beautiful black and white photographs of people who stretch the boundaries of gender, Swan uses various photographic processes to explore the way her models present themselves to the world

.

UNDER MY SKIN.

Under My Skin.
Trailer of a work in progress documentary about Italian transgender and genderqueer kids. By Margherita Ferri, Ester Luppi, Elisa Vignando.

From: magnetmeg

ΟΧΙ ΔΕΝ ΕΙΝΑΙ ΠΡΩΤΑΠΡΙΛΙΑΤΙΚΟ - SAME OLD STORY.

Στα σίγουρα δεν είναι πρωταπριλιάτικο, αφού πέρασε πια η πρωταπριλιά. Ποιά όμως είναι η εντύπωση που μπορεί να πάρει κανείς όταν διαβάζει αυτό το δημοσίευμα της Ελευθεροτυπίας;

Συμφωνία Ιερώνυμου και Λ. Κατσέλη για τα κονδύλια του ΕΣΠΑ
Η απορρόφηση από την Εκκλησία των κονδυλίων του ΕΣΠΑ ήταν το αντικείμενο συζήτησης στην Αρχιεπισκοπή του προκαθήμενου της Εκκλησίας κ. Ιερώνυμου και της υπουργού Οικονομίας, Λούκας Κατσέλη.
Στη συνάντηση, όπου ήταν παρών και ο Διευθυντής της Οικονομικής Υπηρεσίας της Εκκλησίας, διαπιστώθηκε σύμπτωση απόψεων και σύντομα θα υπάρξουν σχετικές ανακοινώσεις.

Α, ναί θα φορολογηθεί λέει η εκκλησία.
Και συζητείται μετ' επιτάσσεως αν είναι πολύ το 20% που προτείνεται (και που όπως φαίνεται πιθανά θα καταλήξει στο 10%), όταν όλα τα νομικά πρόσωπα φορολογούνται με ποσοστό άνω του 35%.
Παράλληλα: ο φόρος δωρεάς ακινήτων στην Εκκλησία εξαγγέλθηκε 5% και κατέληξε 0,5% - ο φόρος δωρεάς χρημάτων στην Εκκλησία εξαγγέλθηκε 10% και κατέληξε 0,5%.
Κάποιο άλλο ανέκδοτο;

Την Κυριακή 11/4 στις 12.00 στις Μητροπόλεις Αθηνών και Θεσσαλονίκης.

Παρακαλώ σας πολύ, όσες και όσοι πιστεύετε ότι σε μια δημοκρατική κοινωνία κανένας θρησκευτικός ή άλλος οργανισμός δεν δικαιούται να έχει προνόμια και να ζεί παρασιτικά σε βάρος των ελλήνων πολιτών, και να μας λέει από πάνω ό,τι κάνει "ελεημοσύνη" και "φιλανθρωπικό" έργο, ας είναι εκεί αύριο την Κυριακή 11 Απριλίου.


Και νά 'ταν μόνο η φορολόγηση καλά θά 'ταν.
Αλλά ας γίνει μία αρχή!

THE BOY WHO WAS BORN A GIRL (2009).

The Boy Who Was Born a Girl
Jon is a typical teenage boy in all respects except one: he was born a girl.
Brought up as Natasha for 15 years, Jon can remember feeling male since he was only five years old. Having grown up always feeling different to the girls in school, it was impossible to identify as female.
Jon eventually confided in his mother Luisa, who supported him in seeking help from his GP and subsequently a gender specialist. He has been diagnosed with gender dysphoria, a condition that affects over 100 British children every year, and is embarking on an extraordinary journey of transition.
Director Julia Moon follows mother and son through the first three months of Jon's life-changing treatment as the testosterone pushes his female body into male puberty.
For Jon the changes that follow are things he's always wanted. But for Luisa, this means coming to terms with the enormous loss of her daughter.

From: AllSortsOfStuff81

Η ΙΣΛΑΝΔΙΑ ΠΙΘΑΝΟΝ Η ΕΠΟΜΕΝΗ ΧΩΡΑ ΠΟΥ ΘΑ ΝΟΜΙΜΟΠΟΙΗΣΕΙ ΤΟΝ ΠΟΛΙΤΙΚΟ ΓΑΜΟ ΟΜΟΦΥΛΩΝ.

Οι εξελίξεις στην μικρή αυτή χώρα του Βόρειου Ατλαντικού δείχνουν ότι πιθανότατα μέχρι το καλοκαίρι θα έχει ψηφιστεί η αναθεώρηση του νόμου για τον πολιτικό γάμο, που θα επιτρέπει τον πολιτικό γάμο ομοφύλων.

Πράγματι, η ανοικτά λεσβία πρωθυπουργός της χώρας, Johanna Sigurdardóttir, κατέθεσε στο κοινοβούλιο της χώρας, στις 23 Μαρτίου, πρόταση νόμου για την αναθεώρηση της νομοθεσίας και είναι πλέον πιθανόν, ο νόμος αυτός να έχει ψηφιστεί έως την 27η Ιουνίου που θα γίνει το Φεστιβάλ Υπερηφάνειας της χώρας.

Σημαντικό επίσης το γεγονός, ότι παράλληλα με αυτό, προωθείται και επέκταση του νόμου για την ιατρικά υποβοηθούμενη αναπαραγωγή. Αντιγράφω από εδώ.

Iceland Likely to Permit Gay Marriage by June
Iceland, the tiny island country of 320,000 people in the North Atlantlc, will likely be the next nation to legalize same-sex marriage. Openly lesbian prime minister Johanna Sigurdardóttir presented a revision to current marriage law to the Icelandic parliament on March 23. The revision is widely expected to become law, and if (or when) it does, the first same-sex marriages could happen as early as June 27, 2010, the date of Gay Pride in the capital city of Reykjavík.
Since 1996, Iceland has had a legal domestic partnership registry for heterosexual and homosexual couples. Gay and lesbian equality was further stengthened in 2006 with laws guaranteeing the same social rights as heterosexuals to lesbian and gay men in the spheres of social security, taxation, labor, and other social services. Currently, registered same-sex couples also have the same access to adoption as heterosexuals who are married or in registered domestic partnerships.
In addition to the change in marriage law, parliamentarians are also considering expanding the rules on assisted reproduction to allow single women access to the various techniques for artificial insemination. Current Icelandic law allows only couples, including lesbian couples, to participate in assisted reproduction programs.
Despite its size, Iceland is a dynamic nation, and this includes its landscape. The recent eruption of a volcano in the remote area of Fimmvörðuháls has created a new mountain. Minister of Education and Cultural Affairs Katrín Jakobsdóttir has convened a committee to assist in naming the new landmark, but they are also seeking suggestions from the public. We at CarnalNation think that the name of the new mountain should in some way commemorate the Icelandic commitment to equality for gays and lesbians.

Η GLAAD ΓΙΑ ΤΟ ΚΑΜΙΝΓΚ ΑΟΥΤ ΤΟΥ ΡΙΚΥ ΜΑΡΤΙΝ.

Αντιγράφω από το περιοδικό Advocate.

GLAAD President: Ricky Martin Can Bridge Gays and Latinos
By Advocate.com Editors
Posted on Advocate.com April 07, 2010
Jarrett Barrios, president of the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, toasts singer Ricky Martin, the latest major celebrity to come out, in a column for The Huffington Post.
Despite some who have been dismissive or cynical about Martin's announcement, Barrios said that for many fans, especially Latinos, this provides a more tangible meaning of what it means to be gay. Barrios also points out that the reverberations of Martin's coming-out will be significant at the ballot box.
"In California, Latinos were 20% of the vote on election day in 2008 — the day a majority of California voters took the right to marry away from gay and lesbian people," he wrote. "By 2012, Latinos will make up a hugely significant percentage of the voting public. For all the advocates looking to build support among those Latinos who voted for Proposition 8 in 2008, Ricky Martin puts a face on the gay community in a whole new way and will spark the types of conversations that build common ground."

CUL DE SAC (2010).

Η ταινία “Cul De Sac,” των Ιρανών σκηνοθετών Ramin Goudarzi-Nejad και Mahshad Torkan, είναι βασισμένη στην ζωή της Kiana Firouz, Ιρανής λεσβίας η οποία εγκατέλειψε τη χώρα της και ζήτησε άσυλο στο Ηνωμένο Βασίλειο. Πρωταγωνιστεί η ίδια. Ακολουθεί συνέντευξή της στο Radio Free Europe και στη συνέχεια το τρέιλερ της ταινίας.

Cul De Sac (2010) www.culdesacmovie.com
Directed by: Ramin Goudarzi Nejad & Mahshad Torkan
Written by: Mahshad Torkan & Ramin Goudarzi Nejad
Produced by: Nirva Film Productions
Genre: Drama | Documentary | Romance »
Release Date: May 2010 (UK)
Tagline: The pursuit begins Spring 2010
With Special thanks to all friends and supporters
Farhang Afsarpour | Soussan Farrokhnia | SAAM Theatre Company | Roy Todd | Sayeh Sk
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On Film, The Trials Of An Iranian Lesbian Activist.
Radio Free Europe
In a new feature film, “Cul De Sac,” London-based Iranian directors Ramin Goudarzi-Nejad and Mahshad Torkan tell the story of a lesbian woman who flees Iran’s repressive Islamic regime. The script draws on the real-life experiences of Kiana Firouz, who plays herself in the film. Hossein Ghavimi, a correspondent for RFE/RL’s Radio Farda, asked Goudarzi-Nejad and Firouz about their motivation in making the film.
Ramin Goudarzi-Nejad: The story is in fact based on the life of an Iranian homosexual woman who attempts to draw the world’s attention to the voices of Iranian lesbians. She consequently finds her return to Iran impossible. She claims asylum in the United Kingdom, but the Home Office incredibly turns the case down.
She had been making a documentary film about Iranian homosexuals back when she lived in Iran, but the Iranian Intelligence Service found the footage and started following her. She managed to leave the country because she realized that the security service had become suspicious about her activities and the existence of her film. They started to investigate regarding the identity of the filmmaker and interviewees and the content of the documentary, but she was already here in the U.K. to study and work for human rights.
The evidence clearly shows that she is a lesbian [facing persecution in Iran.] But the Home Office did not consider the facts and refused her asylum application.
RFE/RL: What motivated you to make this movie?
Goudarzi-Nejad: I made a short film in 2007 called “Have I Ever Happened?” which at the time was reviewed by Radio Farda. It was about an Iranian poet who was also a lesbian. The film was screened at two international film festivals together with other events. I received lots of messages from Iranian homosexuals, especially lesbians, and they gave me the impression that they were quite impressed and admired the work. They kept asking me to make more movies about homosexuals’ lives.
Once Kiana called me while she was in Iran and briefed me on her filmmaking experiences in Iran. She was considering making a documentary film about Iranian homosexuals. She was concerned with finding out whether there would be a chance to screen the film after completion. I gave her my best knowledge about the dangers and risks that she has to take into account, but she seemed determined to do it. So I agreed to support the distribution of her film and to help publicize the voice of this innocent, vulnerable minority internationally.
RFE/RL: Did Kiana write the script of “Cul de Sac” herself?
Goudarzi-Nejad: No, she wasn’t involved with writing the script, but it was written based on her life story.
RFE/RL (to Kiana Firouz): I’m interested in what inspired you to act in “Cul de Sac.” Can you tell us some details about your role in the film?
Firouz: Sure -- I played the role of an Iranian lesbian in this film. The story is mainly based on my life.
In my opinion, the film potentially falls into the genre of docudrama. It was important to me as an Iranian lesbian to play a role like this. I believe the best way to enlighten people is to raise public awareness through free media, and film is the most powerful medium that can share the difficulties that all Iranian lesbians are experiencing. I strongly believe this film will touch everyone.
RFE/RL: What stage of completion is the film at now? Will it be screened soon?
Firouz: The movie is scheduled to be screened next month. The trailer has been on YouTube since December 2009, and it was watched by more than a thousand viewers just in the first four days.
RFE/RL: Will it appear at film festivals?
Firouz: Yes, it will definitely be shown at film festivals. So far, two film festivals in San Francisco and Canada have invited us.
RFE/RL: Can you tell us about the difficulties you’ve faced in applying for asylum in the United Kingdom?
Firouz: As an Iranian lesbian activist, I sought asylum in the U.K. My application was turned down and ignored by the Home Office, despite the serious threats to my life that I’ll face if they deport me to Iran.
I’m shattered and emotionally devastated that they have dealt with my application so irresponsibly. A serious campaign has been already launched to support me and save my life.
The Iranian Queer Organization and the U.K. Gay and Lesbian Immigration Group are also supporting me. I am ready to take any further risks to fight for our rights.
The situation for homosexuals is not only terrifying and horrible in Iran, but also for those who have escaped to seek asylum in other free countries, mostly signatories of the Geneva Convention, and especially Turkey. It seems to me that fate still does not wish us a peaceful life. We are going to resist and we will take every possible action until the day the whole world hears our voices.

From: ramin12345g.

ΕΡΩΤΗΣΕΙΣ ΣΤΟ ΕΥΡΩΚΟΙΝΟΒΟΥΛΙΟ: ΕΛΛΕΙΨΗ ΤΗΣ ΑΝΑΓΝΩΡΙΣΗΣ ΣΧΕΣΕΩΝ ΑΤΟΜΩΝ ΤΟΥ ΙΔΙΟΥ ΦΥΛΟΥ ΣΕ ΚΡΑΤΗ ΜΕΛΗ ΤΗΣ Ε.Ε.

Αντιγράφω από την σελίδα του Ευρωκοινοβουλίου.

Κοινοβουλευτικές ερωτήσεις, 16 Φεβρουαρίου 2010, E-0352/10.
ΓΡΑΠΤΗ ΕΡΩΤΗΣΗ υποβολή: Niccolò Rinaldi (ALDE) , Sonia Alfano (ALDE) , Gianni Vattimo (ALDE) και Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert (ALDE) προς την Επιτροπή.
Θέμα: Αρχή της ισότητας και έλλειψη αναγνώρισης των σχέσεων μεταξύ ατόμων του ίδιου φύλου σε ορισμένα κράτη μέλη της ΕΕ.
Η Ευρωπαϊκή Ένωση προάγει την ισότητα και την απαγόρευση των διακρίσεων σε όλους τους τομείς, ιδίως βάσει του άρθρου 21 του Χάρτη των Θεμελιωδών Δικαιωμάτων της ΕΕ, ο οποίος κατέστη δεσμευτικός μετά την έναρξη ισχύος της Συνθήκης της Λισαβόνας. Αντίθετα με αυτήν την αρχή, ορισμένα κράτη μέλη της ΕΕ δεν διαθέτουν ακόμα κανέναν νόμο ή κανονιστική ρύθμιση για τα de facto ζευγάρια, τις σχέσεις καταχωρισμένης συμβίωσης, τα αστικά σύμφωνα συμβίωσης ή τον γάμο μεταξύ ατόμων του ίδιου φύλου. Η έλλειψη αναγνώρισης των ζευγαριών του ίδιου φύλου συνεπάγεται και ένα προφανές εμπόδιο στην ελεύθερη κυκλοφορία των ζευγαριών του ίδιου φύλου εντός της ΕΕ, καθώς δεν διασφαλίζεται η αμοιβαία αναγνώριση, κατά παράβαση των δικαιωμάτων των ευρωπαίων πολιτών και των θεμελιωδών αρχών. Μία από αυτές τις χώρες είναι η Ιταλία, όπου μια σειρά προσφυγών από ζευγάρια του ίδιου φύλου παραπέμφθηκε από κατώτερου βαθμού δικαστήρια στο Συνταγματικό Δικαστήριο, το οποίο θα πρέπει να κρίνει το κατά πόσον είναι συμβατό με το ιταλικό Σύνταγμα το γεγονός ότι οι αρχές αρνούνται στα ζευγάρια του ίδιου φύλου το δικαίωμα σύναψης γάμου. Στο πλαίσιο αυτό, ο Francesco Zanardi και ο Manuel Incorvaia, δύο ιταλοί πολίτες, προέβησαν σε απεργία πείνας –ο κ. Incorvaia αναγκάστηκε να σταματήσει για λόγους υγείας, ενώ ο κ. Zanardi βρίσκεται στη 16η ημέρα απεργίας πείνας– προκειμένου να ασκήσουν πίεση στο ιταλικό κοινοβούλιο και στις σχετικές επιτροπές του προκειμένου να αποτελέσει θέμα της ημερήσιας τους διάταξης η εξέταση και η συζήτηση προτεινόμενης νομοθεσίας σχετικά με την ισότητα και την αναγνώριση των σχέσεων και γάμων ατόμων του ίδιου φύλου. Στη δράση τους συμμετείχαν και έδειξαν στήριξη διάφορες ΜΚΟ, πολιτικοί και πολίτες. Όλοι ζητούν να βρεθεί μια πολιτική λύση από δημοκρατικά εκλεγμένα θεσμικά όργανα αντί να ληφθεί μια απόφαση από δικαστήρια.
Δεν θεωρεί η Επιτροπή ότι οι διακρίσεις λόγω γενετήσιου προσανατολισμού θα πρέπει να καταργηθούν σε όλα τα κράτη μέλη σε όλους τους τομείς, ιδίως μετά την έναρξη ισχύος της Συνθήκης της Λισαβόνας και του Χάρτη Θεμελιωδών Δικαιωμάτων; Τι θα πράξει προκειμένου να διασφαλίσει ότι είναι εγγυημένη η ελεύθερη κυκλοφορία και η αμοιβαία αναγνώριση των ζευγαριών ίδιου φύλου εντός της ΕΕ; Θα εκφράσει την ανησυχία της σχετικά με την τύχη του κ. Zanardi προκειμένου να διασφαλιστεί η συζήτηση και η ρύθμιση των νόμων για τις σχέσεις μεταξύ ατόμων του ίδιου φύλου στην Ιταλία;

Η ερώτηση απαντήθηκε στις 29.3.2010, από την επίτροπο κυρία Reding, από μέρους της Επιτροπής.

E-0352/10EN, Answer given by Ms Reding, on behalf of the Commission(29.3.2010)
Member States are obliged to comply with fundamental rights defined in the context of the EU, among which Article 21 of the Charter of Fundamental rights, only when they act in the scope of EU law. The Commission is committed to ensure such compliance by Member States. However, the provisions of the Charter do not extend in any way the competences of the Union as defined in the Treaties. In this respect, the EU has no competence to adopt substantive legislation on marriage, partnerships, or divorce which pertain to the exclusive competence of Member States.
The Commission is however committed to ensure that EU legislation in the area of free movement and civil justice complies with article 21 of the Charter, and that Member States, when implementing such legislation, also comply with that provision. For instance, in the 2009 Guidelines on the application of Directive 2004/38/EC , the Commission recalled that the Directive must be implemented in compliance with Article 21 of the Charter. The Commission also recalled the same in the recitals of its proposal for a Regulation on wills and successions.
The Commission will also pay particular attention to the provisions of Article 21 of the Charter within the framework of the preparation of the future instruments foreseen by the Stockholm programme on matrimonial property regimes and the patrimonial consequences of the separation of couples.

BABY DEE.

Γεννήθηκε και μεγάλωσε στο Κλήβελαντ του Οχάϊο και τα πρώτα της βήματα ως μουσικός τα έκανε στους δρόμους της Νέας Υόρκης, όσο σπούδαζε Γρηγοριανή μουσική - οι δάσκαλοί της την συμβούλευαν να συνεχίσει τις σπουδές της στο εκκλησιαστικό όργανο και να εργαστεί σε εκκλησία.

Όμως η Μπέϊμπι Ντι, είχε να ακολουθήσει τον δικό της δρόμο - έννοιωθε ότι δεν την χωρούσε η ανδρική της εμφάνιση. Έτσι εγκατέλειψε την δουλειά της στην εκκλησία και ασχολήθηκε με την μουσική που αγαπούσε. Έγινε ιδρυτικό μέλος των Anthony and the Johnsons, μουσικού σχήματος που έδωσε έμφαση σε θέματα διεμφυλικότητας. Υπήρξε επίσης μέλος των Current 93, ενώ εκτός από την σόλο καριέρα της συνεργάστηκε με τους Mark Almond, Andre WK και τους Dresden Dolls.

Εδώ μαζί με τους Current 93: Sleep has his house.


From: Teatreolico

Εδώ η ίδια στα φωνητικά, πιάνο και άρπα: The Dance of Diminishing Possibilities.


From: DragCity

Το παρακάτω βίντεο είναι από συναυλία της μαζί με τον Μαρκ Άλμοντ στην Βαρκελώνη το 2007: My Hearts Come Home to me.


From: Xythantiops

Η ιστοσελίδα της: http://www.babydee.org

THE BEAR SONG.

Αφιερωμένο στους φίλους αρκούδους - "The bear song". Στο παρακάτω πρόμο-βίντεο, έχουμε δυστυχώς μόνο ένα λεπτό από το κομμάτι που θα κυκλοφορήσει από τις 5 Απριλίου, όπως διαβάζω. Συμμετέχει η Margaret Cho.

Pixie Herculon - The bear song.


* Ιστοσελίδα: http://pixieherculon.com/

STRAIGHTLACED - HOW GENDER'S GOT US ALL TIED UP (2009).

Straightlaced - How Gender’s Got Us All Tied Up
This film - made up of 50 interviews with US teens - sounds like an interesting project:
There is no disputing the fact that gender-based stereotypes and anti-gay attitudes affect the lives of all students today. The pressure to conform to conventional expectations about gender is strongly tied to anti-gay attitudes-the girls who won’t play sports because they don’t want to be called “lezzies”; the boys who make crude comments about girls’ bodies just to prove to their peers that they aren’t gay; the students who won’t raise their hands in class because it’s gay to be smart. Straightlaced provides a way into a much-needed dialogue about gender roles and homophobia among teenagers. With refreshing honesty, the diverse youth in the film open up about the pressure to conform to rigid gender role expectations. Boys who have to act tough even though they may feel vulnerable, or girls who have to dress provocatively just to fit in, reveal the toll it takes on them to live up to gender role expectations and how that limits who they really want to be.
There are very few media resources for teens that address anti-gay prejudice, and those that do, focus solely on the lives of young people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. Straightlaced not only includes the perspectives of teens who self-identify as LGBT it focuses on straight teenagers and those who identify themselves on all points of the gender spectrum.
Any student who watches the film will find someone whose experience with these issues mirrors their own. This is not a film for students about “those other people” — it is a film about them. Audiences will walk away from the film inspired to challenge anti-gay assumptions and actions among others, and for themselves.

From: GroundSpark

ΤΟ ΣΥΜΒΟΥΛΙΟ ΤΗΣ ΕΥΡΩΠΗΣ ΓΙΑ ΤΗΝ ΠΡΟΣΤΑΣΙΑ ΑΠΟ ΤΙΣ ΔΙΑΚΡΙΣΕΙΣ ΛΟΓΩ ΣΕΞΟΥΑΛΙΚΟΥ ΠΡΟΣΑΝΑΤΟΛΙΣΜΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΤΑΥΤΟΤΗΤΑΣ ΦΥΛΟΥ.

Το Συμβούλιο της Ευρώπης σε συνεδρίασή του στις 31 Μαρτίου 2010, υιοθέτησε το παρακάτω κείμενο αρχών για την προστασία από τις διακρίσεις για λόγους σεξουαλικού προσανατολισμού και ταυτότητας φύλου και προτρέπει τα 47 κράτη μέλη του, να εναρμονίσουν την νομοθεσία τους.

Αναφέρεται συγκεκριμένα στις κατευθύνσεις που θα πρέπει να υιοθετηθούν από τα κράτη μέλη ως προς: τα εγκλήματα και τις επιθέσεις μίσους, την ρητορική μίσους, την ελευθερία στο συνεταιρίζεσθαι, στην ελευθερία της έκφρασης και της ειρηνικής συνάρθροισης, στο δικαίωμα του σεβασμού της ιδιωτικής και της οικογενειακής ζωής, στο δικαίωμα στην εργασία, στην εκπαίδευση, στην υγεία, στην ενοικίαση, στα σπορ, στο δικαίωμα αίτησης ασύλου, στις εθνικές δομές ανθρωπίνων δικαιωμάτων και στις πολλαπλές διακρίσεις.

Εξαιρετικό κείμενο, σε πλήρη αντιστοιχία με τις Αρχές της Γιογκιακάρτα. Αντιγράφω από την ιστοσελίδα του Συμβουλίου της Ευρώπης.

Recommendation CM/Rec(2010)5
of the Committee of Ministers to member states
on measures to combat discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity
(Adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 31 March 2010
at the 1081st meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies)

The Committee of Ministers, under the terms of Article 15.b of the Statute of the Council of Europe,
Considering that the aim of the Council of Europe is to achieve a greater unity between its members, and that this aim may be pursued, in particular, through common action in the field of human rights;
Recalling that human rights are universal and shall apply to all individuals, and stressing therefore its commitment to guarantee the equal dignity of all human beings and the enjoyment of rights and freedoms of all individuals without discrimination on any ground such as sex, race, colour, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, association with a national minority, property, birth or other status, in accordance with the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms(ETS No. 5) (hereinafter referred to as “the Convention”) and its protocols;
Recognising that non-discriminatory treatment by state actors, as well as, where appropriate, positive state measures for protection against discriminatory treatment, including by non-state actors, are fundamental components of the international system protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms;
Recognising that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons have been for centuries and are still subjected to homophobia, transphobia and other forms of intolerance and discrimination even within their family – including criminalisation, marginalisation, social exclusion and violence – on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity, and that specific action is required in order to ensure the full enjoyment of the human rights of these persons;
Considering the case law of the European Court of Human Rights (“hereinafter referred to as “the Court”) and of other international jurisdictions, which consider sexual orientation a prohibited ground for discrimination and have contributed to the advancement of the protection of the rights of transgender persons;
Recalling that, in accordance with the case law of the Court, any difference in treatment, in order not to be discriminatory, must have an objective and reasonable justification, that is, pursue a legitimate aim and employ means which are reasonably proportionate to the aim pursued;
Bearing in mind the principle that neither cultural, traditional nor religious values, nor the rules of a “dominant culture” can be invoked to justify hate speech or any other form of discrimination, including on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity;
Having regard to the message from the Committee of Ministers to steering committees and other committees involved in intergovernmental co-operation at the Council of Europe on equal rights and dignity of all human beings, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons, adopted on 2 July 2008, and its relevant recommendations;
Bearing in mind the recommendations adopted since 1981 by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe regarding discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity, as well as Recommendation 211 (2007) of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe on “Freedom of assembly and expression for lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgendered persons”;
Appreciating the role of the Commissioner for Human Rights in monitoring the situation of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons in the member states with respect to discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity;
Taking note of the joint statement, made on 18 December 2008 by 66 states at the United Nations General Assembly, which condemned human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity, such as killings, torture, arbitrary arrests and “deprivation of economic, social and cultural rights, including the right to health”;
Stressing that discrimination and social exclusion on account of sexual orientation or gender identity may best be overcome by measures targeted both at those who experience such discrimination or exclusion, and the population at large,

Recommends that member states:
1. examine existing legislative and other measures, keep them under review, and collect and analyse relevant data, in order to monitor and redress any direct or indirect discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity;
2. ensure that legislative and other measures are adopted and effectively implemented to combat discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity, to ensure respect for the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons and to promote tolerance towards them;
3. ensure that victims of discrimination are aware of and have access to effective legal remedies before a national authority, and that measures to combat discrimination include, where appropriate, sanctions for infringements and the provision of adequate reparation for victims of discrimination;
4. be guided in their legislation, policies and practices by the principles and measures contained in the appendix to this recommendation;
5. ensure by appropriate means and action that this recommendation, including its appendix, is translated and disseminated as widely as possible.

Appendix to Recommendation CM/Rec(2010)5
I. Right to life, security and protection from violence

A. “Hate crimes” and other hate-motivated incidents
1. Member states should ensure effective, prompt and impartial investigations into alleged cases of crimes and other incidents, where the sexual orientation or gender identity of the victim is reasonably suspected to have constituted a motive for the perpetrator; they should further ensure that particular attention is paid to the investigation of such crimes and incidents when allegedly committed by law-enforcement officials or by other persons acting in an official capacity, and that those responsible for such acts are effectively brought to justice and, where appropriate, punished in order to avoid impunity.
2. Member states should ensure that when determining sanctions, a bias motive related to sexual orientation or gender identity may be taken into account as an aggravating circumstance.
3. Member states should take appropriate measures to ensure that victims and witnesses of sexual orientation or gender identity related “hate crimes” and other hate-motivated incidents are encouraged to report these crimes and incidents; for this purpose, member states should take all necessary steps to ensure that law-enforcement structures, including the judiciary, have the necessary knowledge and skills to identify such crimes and incidents and provide adequate assistance and support to victims and witnesses.
4. Member states should take appropriate measures to ensure the safety and dignity of all persons in prison or in other ways deprived of their liberty, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons, and in particular take protective measures against physical assault, rape and other forms of sexual abuse, whether committed by other inmates or staff; measures should be taken so as to adequately protect and respect the gender identity of transgender persons.
5. Member states should ensure that relevant data are gathered and analysed on the prevalence and nature of discrimination and intolerance on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity, and in particular on “hate crimes” and hate-motivated incidents related to sexual orientation or gender identity.
B. “Hate speech”
6. Member states should take appropriate measures to combat all forms of expression, including in the media and on the Internet, which may be reasonably understood as likely to produce the effect of inciting, spreading or promoting hatred or other forms of discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons. Such “hate speech” should be prohibited and publicly disavowed whenever it occurs. All measures should respect the fundamental right to freedom of expression in accordance with Article 10 of the Convention and the case law of the Court.
7. Member states should raise awareness among public authorities and public institutions at all levels of their responsibility to refrain from statements, in particular to the media, which may reasonably be understood as legitimising such hatred or discrimination.
8. Public officials and other state representatives should be encouraged to promote tolerance and respect for the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons whenever they engage in a dialogue with key representatives of the civil society, including media and sports organisations, political organisations and religious communities.
II. Freedom of association
9. Member states should take appropriate measures to ensure, in accordance with Article 11 of the Convention, that the right to freedom of association can be effectively enjoyed without discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity; in particular, discriminatory administrative procedures, including excessive formalities for the registration and practical functioning of associations, should be prevented and removed; measures should also be taken to prevent the abuse of legal and administrative provisions, such as those related to restrictions based on public health, public morality and public order.
10. Access to public funding available for non-governmental organisations should be secured without discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity.
11. Member states should take appropriate measures to effectively protect defenders of human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons against hostility and aggression to which they may be exposed, including when allegedly committed by state agents, in order to enable them to freely carry out their activities in accordance with the Declaration of the Committee of Ministers on Council of Europe action to improve the protection of human rights defenders and promote their activities.
12. Member states should ensure that non-governmental organisations defending the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons are appropriately consulted on the adoption and implementation of measures that may have an impact on the human rights of these persons.
III. Freedom of expression and peaceful assembly
13. Member states should take appropriate measures to ensure, in accordance with Article 10 of the Convention, that the right to freedom of expression can be effectively enjoyed, without discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity, including with respect to the freedom to receive and impart information on subjects dealing with sexual orientation or gender identity.
14. Member states should take appropriate measures at national, regional and local levels to ensure that the right to freedom of peaceful assembly, as enshrined in Article 11 of the Convention, can be effectively enjoyed, without discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity.
15. Member states should ensure that law-enforcement authorities take appropriate measures to protect participants in peaceful demonstrations in favour of the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons from any attempts to unlawfully disrupt or inhibit the effective enjoyment of their right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
16. Member states should take appropriate measures to prevent restrictions on the effective enjoyment of the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly resulting from the abuse of legal or administrative provisions, for example on grounds of public health, public morality and public order.
17. Public authorities at all levels should be encouraged to publicly condemn, notably in the media, any unlawful interferences with the right of individuals and groups of individuals to exercise their freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, notably when related to the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons.
IV. Right to respect for private and family life
18. Member states should ensure that any discriminatory legislation criminalising same-sex sexual acts between consenting adults, including any differences with respect to the age of consent for same-sex sexual acts and heterosexual acts, are repealed; they should also take appropriate measures to ensure that criminal law provisions which, because of their wording, may lead to a discriminatory application are either repealed, amended or applied in a manner which is compatible with the principle of non-discrimination.
19. Member states should ensure that personal data referring to a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity are not collected, stored or otherwise used by public institutions including in particular within law-enforcement structures, except where this is necessary for the performance of specific, lawful and legitimate purposes; existing records which do not comply with these principles should be destroyed.
20. Prior requirements, including changes of a physical nature, for legal recognition of a gender reassignment, should be regularly reviewed in order to remove abusive requirements.
21. Member states should take appropriate measures to guarantee the full legal recognition of a person’s gender reassignment in all areas of life, in particular by making possible the change of name and gender in official documents in a quick, transparent and accessible way; member states should also ensure, where appropriate, the corresponding recognition and changes by non-state actors with respect to key documents, such as educational or work certificates.
22. Member states should take all necessary measures to ensure that, once gender reassignment has been completed and legally recognised in accordance with paragraphs 20 and 21 above, the right of transgender persons to marry a person of the sex opposite to their reassigned sex is effectively guaranteed.
23. Where national legislation confers rights and obligations on unmarried couples, member states should ensure that it applies in a non-discriminatory way to both same-sex and different-sex couples, including with respect to survivor’s pension benefits and tenancy rights.
24. Where national legislation recognises registered same-sex partnerships, member states should seek to ensure that their legal status and their rights and obligations are equivalent to those of heterosexual couples in a comparable situation.
25. Where national legislation does not recognise nor confer rights or obligations on registered same-sex partnerships and unmarried couples, member states are invited to consider the possibility of providing, without discrimination of any kind, including against different sex couples, same-sex couples with legal or other means to address the practical problems related to the social reality in which they live.
26. Taking into account that the child’s best interests should be the primary consideration in decisions regarding the parental responsibility for, or guardianship of a child, member states should ensure that such decisions are taken without discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
27. Taking into account that the child’s best interests should be the primary consideration in decisions regarding adoption of a child, member states whose national legislation permits single individuals to adopt children should ensure that the law is applied without discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
28. Where national law permits assisted reproductive treatment for single women, member states should seek to ensure access to such treatment without discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation.
V. Employment
29. Member states should ensure the establishment and implementation of appropriate measures which provide effective protection against discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity in employment and occupation in the public as well as in the private sector. These measures should cover conditions for access to employment and promotion, dismissals, pay and other working conditions, including the prevention, combating and punishment of harassment and other forms of victimisation.
30. Particular attention should be paid to providing effective protection of the right to privacy of transgender individuals in the context of employment, in particular regarding employment applications, to avoid any irrelevant disclosure of their gender history or their former name to the employer and other employees.
VI. Education
31. Taking into due account the over-riding interests of the child, member states should take appropriate legislative and other measures, addressed to educational staff and pupils, to ensure that the right to education can be effectively enjoyed without discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity; this includes, in particular, safeguarding the right of children and youth to education in a safe environment, free from violence, bullying, social exclusion or other forms of discriminatory and degrading treatment related to sexual orientation or gender identity.
32. Taking into due account the over-riding interests of the child, appropriate measures should be taken to this effect at all levels to promote mutual tolerance and respect in schools, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. This should include providing objective information with respect to sexual orientation and gender identity, for instance in school curricula and educational materials, and providing pupils and students with the necessary information, protection and support to enable them to live in accordance with their sexual orientation and gender identity. Furthermore, member states may design and implement school equality and safety policies and action plans and may ensure access to adequate anti-discrimination training or support and teaching aids. Such measures should take into account the rights of parents regarding education of their children.
VII. Health
33. Member states should take appropriate legislative and other measures to ensure that the highest attainable standard of health can be effectively enjoyed without discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity; in particular, they should take into account the specific needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons in the development of national health plans including suicide prevention measures, health surveys, medical curricula, training courses and materials, and when monitoring and evaluating the quality of health-care services.
34. Appropriate measures should be taken in order to avoid the classification of homosexuality as an illness, in accordance with the standards of the World Health Organisation.
35. Member states should take appropriate measures to ensure that transgender persons have effective access to appropriate gender reassignment services, including psychological, endocrinological and surgical expertise in the field of transgender health care, without being subject to unreasonable requirements; no person should be subjected to gender reassignment procedures without his or her consent.
36. Member states should take appropriate legislative and other measures to ensure that any decisions limiting the costs covered by health insurance for gender reassignment procedures should be lawful, objective and proportionate.
VIII. Housing
37. Measures should be taken to ensure that access to adequate housing can be effectively and equally enjoyed by all persons, without discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity; such measures should in particular seek to provide protection against discriminatory evictions, and to guarantee equal rights to acquire and retain ownership of land and other property.
38. Appropriate attention should be paid to the risks of homelessness faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons, including young persons and children who may be particularly vulnerable to social exclusion, including from their own families; in this respect, the relevant social services should be provided on the basis of an objective assessment of the needs of every individual, without discrimination.
IX. Sports
39. Homophobia, transphobia and discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity in sports are, like racism and other forms of discrimination, unacceptable and should be combated.
40. Sport activities and facilities should be open to all without discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity; in particular, effective measures should be taken to prevent, counteract and punish the use of discriminatory insults with reference to sexual orientation or gender identity during and in connection with sports events.
41. Member states should encourage dialogue with and support sports associations and fan clubs in developing awareness-raising activities regarding discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons in sport and in condemning manifestations of intolerance towards them.
X. Right to seek asylum
42. In cases where member states have international obligations in this respect, they should recognise that a well-founded fear of persecution based on sexual orientation or gender identity may be a valid ground for the granting of refugee status and asylum under national law.
43. Member states should ensure particularly that asylum seekers are not sent to a country where their life or freedom would be threatened or they face the risk of torture, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity.
44. Asylum seekers should be protected from any discriminatory policies or practices on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity; in particular, appropriate measures should be taken to prevent risks of physical violence, including sexual abuse, verbal aggression or other forms of harassment against asylum seekers deprived of their liberty, and to ensure their access to information relevant to their particular situation.
XI. National human rights structures
45. Member states should ensure that national human rights structures are clearly mandated to address discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity; in particular, they should be able to make recommendations on legislation and policies, raise awareness amongst the general public, as well as – as far as national law so provides – examine individual complaints regarding both the private and public sector and initiate or participate in court proceedings.
XII. Discrimination on multiple grounds
46. Member states are encouraged to take measures to ensure that legal provisions in national law prohibiting or preventing discrimination also protect against discrimination on multiple grounds, including on grounds of sexual orientation