bs

Sexual and gender minorities

VIOLENCE AGAINST LGTB

Homophobia is the hatred or fear of homosexuals sometimes leading to acts of violence and expressions of hostility.

Gay bashing and gay bullying is a type of hate crime or hate speech. It can be a verbal or physical abuse against a person who is perceived to be gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT). Such abuse is used also to bully heterosexual persons and persons of non-specific or unknown sexual orientation. It is where a homosexual person is insulted, hurt, or killed because of their sexual orientation. A verbal gay bashing might use sexual slurs, expletives, intimidation, or threats of violence. It also might take place in a political forum and include one or more common anti-gay slogans.

Gay bullying involves intentional and unprovoked actions toward the victim, repeated negative actions by one or more people against another person, and an imbalance of physical or psychological power.

The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual/gender (LGBT) community is one of the most weak and least visible minorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). LGBT community in Bosnia and Herzegovina has ‘disappeared’ from the public discourse since the violent attacks on the organizers of the Queer Sarajevo Festival in 2008. The combination of lack of information and fear created an atmosphere that feeds antagonism towards everything that is different from the mainstream. Since those attacks, there was no strong and visible LGBT activism. The targets of the assaults were campaigners for the rights of LGBT persons and activists, nevertheless investigations into these attacks have not resulted in any prosecutions. Extreme stereotyping, discrimination and homophobia in the media continue to be of serious concern.

Although Bosnia and Herzegovina’s legal framework addresses the discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression, nothing has been done so far to make sure that this legal framework is being implemented. So, individuals are not protected from hate speech or hate crimes motivated by homophobia.

A clear example of this situation is the absence of reporting on violence (either physical or verbal), to the police authorities during 2011.

Sarajevo Open Centre/Sarajevski Otvoreni Centar

 “The LGBTIQ (Lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, transsexual, inter-sex and queer) community in Bosnia and Herzegovina is stigmatized, closed in and inert in many respects. The society itself does not offer any support to those individuals who differ from the traditional idea of gender and sexuality, sexual orientation or gender identity and/or expression, making it much more difficult for LGBT individuals to accept themselves and to secure their lifestyle, and even the rights and freedoms they, as human beings, are entitled to” (Rights and Freedoms of Sexual and Gender Minorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina: An Analysis of the Relevant Legislation, Organization Q (Sarajevo, 2005) at 3)
 

Myths about Homosexuality

Myth  1.

You can always tell homosexuals by the way they look or act. Men who act in a feminine manner must be gay. Masculine women with short haircuts and deeper voices must be lesbians. Truth. These stereotypes confuse the concept of sexual orientation (whether you prefer the same or other sex as sexual partners) with gender roles (exhibiting masculine or feminine behavior). Just as the vast majority of gays and lesbians do not fit these stereotypes, a portion of heterosexuals match them. Except for their actual sexual activity or admitting their sexual preferences, there is no accurate way to judge someone’s sexual orientation.

Myth 2.

Homosexuals never marry. Therefore, people who never marry are homosexual. Likewise, people who marry and have children can be presumed to be heterosexual.  Truth. Many homosexual people do marry and have children. Likewise, many people who never marry are strictly heterosexual.

Myth 3

Recently the number of homosexuals has increased tremendously. Truth. Incidence of homosexuality has remained fairly constant; however, homosexuals are more visible now. With the gay liberation movement, more homosexuals stopped keeping their preferences secret. Many more have “come out of the closet.”

Myth 4

Homosexuals are constantly trying to convert straight people to homosexuality.  Truth . Just as a few heterosexuals try to seduce homosexuals, a few homosexuals may try to seduce straights. However, the great majority of homosexuals do not attempt such seduction. Homosexuals are not likely to “make a play” for someone who does not seem attracted to them. As with most of us, at times homosexuals may confuse friendship with sexual attraction. They may act on their erroneous assumption.

Myth 5

There are not homosexuals in Bosnia and Herzegovina, that is just a western illness. Truth: Homosexuals, as heterosexuals, bisexuals and transsexuals are part of every single society in this world. It is not an illness and is not included in any Medical Diagnosis Code throughout Europe.

In June 2011 the UN Human Rights Council passed the first “Human rights, sexual orientation and gender identity” resolution aimed at combating worldwide discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The resolution is the first to call for an end to sexuality discrimination worldwide and to recognize it as a “priority” for the UN.
Photo: Ida Serdarević
Text: UN WOMEN

Meet the author

Ida Serdarević
Student at IUS Sarajevo
Ida Serdarević was born on August 1, 1991 in Sarajevo. She finished the 1st Bosniak Grammar School, and presently studies at the International University of Sarajevo, second year at the Visual Arts & Communication Design. She is doing photography and wants to be a graphic designer.