| ACCEPT Site |
| Information and Lobby |
| lgbt@acceptNewsletter, Issue no. 5 |
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Open Society Institute. No. 6, February 2001.
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Open Society Institute. No. 6, February 2001. |
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accept@fx.ro. The
editor
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Photo taken during the press conference at ACCEPT. From left to right: Monica Macovei, Adrian Coman, Adrian Georgescu |
Adrian
Georgescu Accuses NCO of Misconduct, Infringmenet upon Right to Private
Life
For the first time in Romania, a gay man breaks the silence before the press, accusing a non-commissioned police officer (NCO) of infringement of the right to private life and misconduct. The press conference was organised by ACCEPT (Bucharest Acceptance Group) and the Romanian Helsinki Committee APADOR-CH on January 17, 2001 in Bucharest. |
Adrian Georgescu stated that, on December 14, 2000, he had received a phone call from NCO Razvan Ciorchina from Bucharest Police Department. Georgescu was invited to the police station, without being told the reason for which he was called, not even after he specifically asked for it. On December 19, 2000, Georgescu went to the police, where NCO Ciorchina interviewed him without specifying the reason of the inquiry. Ciorchina focused on the Georgescu’s private life. The latter recalled, “I was asked whether I had had relations with women, with how many of them and how often, then the same thing about my relations with men. He asked me if I was gay, who my partners were, how I knew them, how I have sex, namely to specify the positions in bed, whether I was active or passive, and if I masturbate.”TopGeorgescu added, “… The NCO asked to see my personal phone book … he urged me to tell him the sexual orientation of the people whose names appeared in the book … he offended me, calling me a <faggot>…” When Georgescu was called by his boyfriend on his personal mobile phone, NCO Ciorchina threatened him with taking his mobile away, unless he didn’t say who the caller was.
The examination finished with a written statement, which was dictated to Georgescu by the NCO. Afterwards, he was photographed and his fingerprints were taken. Georgescu asked for a written proof of his presence at the police station, in order to help him motivate the absence from work. The NCO signed a form and filled it in, as though he had sent it on December 14, 2000. Upon leaving the Police station, NCO Ciorchina asked Adrian Georgescu not to tell anyone about his being invited to the Police and neither about the investigation, threatening him that “he would be called again”.
Throughout the investigation, the NCO did not inform Adrian Georgescu that the latter had the right to be assisted by a lawyer.
Lawyer Monica Macovei, vice-president of APADOR-CH, said, during the same press conference, that the NCO committed the offences stipulated in article 247 (“Abuse while on duty by infringement of rights”) and article 250, paragraph 1 (“Misconduct”) from the Penal Code, and infringed article 16, letter c), Chapter IV, from Police Law no. 26/1994. According to the lawyer, the NCO also infringed the constitutional provisions on the right to private life, as well as the ones of Government Ordinance no. 137/2000 “on preventing and punishing all forms of discrimination”, in force since November 1, 2000.
Monica Macovei stated that, first and foremost, Adrian Georgescu should have been invited to the police station on the basis of a written summons that should have also mentioned the reasons of the invitation and whether he was charged with anything. The lawyer said that the questions that Georgescu was asked, the fact that the NCO read his phone book and requested Georgescu to identify the gays in a list of names, were illegal. “The facts do not even comply with the provisions in the [anti-gay] article 200 from the Penal Code, he had not been involved in any public scandal”, Monica Macovei added.
After the press conference, NCO Ciorchina denied, before the media, most of Adrian Georgescu’s statements. Also, NCO Ciorchina stated that more gay men, including some members of ACCEPT (Bucharest Acceptance Group), had been interviewed by the Police within the same investigation, which attempts to find out the murderers of Stefan Itoafa, chairman of Constanta City branch of The League for the Defence of Human Rights (LADO). Itoafa was killed in 1998 and he, according to police data, was also gay. Ciorchina says that Georgescu’s name appeared in Itoafa’s phone book.
However, the NCO provided contradictory statements to the media, from one day to another. While on January 17, 2001, he told Antena 1 TV that the “discussion” did not contain “any reference to [Georgescu’s] sexual orientations, nor practices”, on January 18 he admitted, during “Teo – Talkshow with Teo Trandafir” on ProTV, that he had asked Georgescu whether he was homosexual and that Georgescu’s sexual orientation was one of the reasons for which he had been invited to the Police. During the show on ProTV, Razvan Ciorchina was accompanied by colonel Dinca Marin from Bucharest Police Department. The latter said that the suspects in this case (“hundreds of persons”) had not been told the reason for which they were invited to the police station when phonecalled, “because this way we would make [the suspect] aware of why he is invited [to the police station]”. This live show was also attended by Adrian Georgescu, Monica Macovei, and Florin Buhuceanu, the president of ACCEPT.
Adrian Georgescu filed a complaint against NCO Razvan Ciorchina at the General Police Department and to the Military Prosecutor’s Office within the Supreme Court of Justice. If his complaints are not solved, he will file a complaint to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, with the support of ACCEPT ad APADOR-CH. On his turn, NCO Ciorchina announced his intention to file lawsuit against Adrian Georgescu for libel.
According to TV stations TVR 1 and Antena 1 on January 17, 2001, the Military Prosecutor’s Office will start an investigation on this case.
| Adrian
Georgescu's Complaint Filed to the Head Prosecutor of the Military Prosecutor’s
Office within the Supreme Court of Justice
January 15, 2001 To the Head Prosecutor of the Military Prosecutor’s Office within the Supreme Court of Justice Dear Sir, I kindly require you to proceed with a criminal investigation on the non commissioned officer (NCO) Ciorchina – the judicial office – within Bucharest Police, and possibly on others who had instigated him. I claim that the NCO committed the offences “abuse while on duty by infringement of rights” as under Article 247 Penal Code and “misconduct” as under Article 250, par. 1, of the Penal Code. The facts are
as follows:
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Adrian Georgescu |
On December 14, 2000 NCO Ciorchina called me at my residence (I have no knowledge of how he got my personal phone number) and asked me to come to the Bucharest Police headquarters. Upon my repeated inquiries about the reason of this summoning, NCO Ciorchina refused to answer and said that he cannot inform me over the phone.TopOn December 19, 2000, at 08.30 a.m., I went to the Police station, on strada Eforie, nr. 3 –5, not knowing the reason why I had been asked for this appointment and without being accompanied by a lawyer (I did not know if I needed legal counseling since I had not been informed about the reason of my summoning.)
After I was told to leave the room I had previously been taken to and then forced to wait for 30 minutes, NCO Ciorchina started to interrogate me about my sexual orientation, resorting to several offensive words. I still was not informed about the reason of my being summoned to the Police station, neither at the beginning of our discussion, nor at the end. At the same time, I was not told whether I had the right to be assisted by a lawyer during the discussion – which turned out to be an investigation which finalized with a written statement, photos and fingerprints taken.
I hereby state that I find such conduct completely unacceptable. Police officers who do not understand that they are public employees and work for the community, and that they must have a legal and civilized manner and conduct should have no place within the law enforcement force of a state that wishes to be democratic.The discussion with NCO Ciorchina, which actually was an interview, was carried out in his office (I assume it could have been someone else’s office) in the presence of a Police School student who was repeatedly told by the NCO “See, this is how you do this stuff”. The examination was carried out as follows: the NCO started by demanding that I should state my sexual orientation and said “you are known as a homosexual, and there is no use trying to lie about it”.
I am gay, but this is a strictly personal and private matter and not a crime, nor could this be of interest to any authority or individual. In addition, I am a member of the ACCEPT Association and this is a matter of civil and professional decision that is entirely up to me.
The NCO continued by asking me about the type of my current sexual activity and emotional relationship, my partner’s name, his position within the ACCEPT Association. He read out a list of names and asked me to point out the names that were familiar to me He asked for my personal phone book, looked in and asked about the sexual orientation of those whose phone numbers were written in it. He went on to ask how I had spent my holidays the past six years and asked about the places I had been to and the people I had been there with; whether I own a car and how I possessed the money with which I had bought it. He also said that I had bought my car with the money I got from “hooking” (he explained that the phrase meant money obtained in exchange of sexual activities.)
This examination was followed by my writing a statement that was dictated to me by the NCO. When I tried to amend what he was dictating to me, he shouted and threatened me (saying that I will have to deal with him) and other repercussions, but failed to mention what repercussions they will be. He offended me, calling me a “faggot”, “sissy” and other terms that I am too embarrassed to mention. He also offended me by forcing me to walk three steps ahead of him, and not next to him, on our way to the photo shooting, which was a result of my sexual orientation.
I would also like to mention that, upon receiving a phone call from the President of ACCEPT (who wanted to know why I had been summoned to the Police station), NCO Ciorchina shouted at me and wanted me to interrupt the call (his shouting was heard by the person with whom I was on the phone).
I was photographed and my fingerprints were recorded but I was not informed about the purpose of these procedures.
At the end of the examination, I asked the NCO for a proof of my summons at the Police station, which I needed in order to motivate my absence from my work place. Following some hesitation, he produced a form and filled it in, as though he had sent it on December 14, 2000, for the date of December 19, 2000, which is not according to what had really happened, namely that the NCO had called me on the phone. On this topic, there followed an exchange of words I cannot but describe as strange. The NCO made it clear that I was not to reveal to anybody where I had been. I replied that I had already told the President of ACCEPT and other people about my summons to the Police station. He became angry and said “in that case, don’t tell them why you were here”. Following my response that, as a matter of fact, I did not know why I had been summoned, he said “that’s for the better; anyway, don’t tell anybody what we talked about.”
I left the police station at about 11.30 am, after approximately 3 hours. Upon my leaving, the NCO said: “we’ll call you again.”
I have committed no crime or any other deed that comes under the competence of the Police. My summons and the fact that I was subjected to such an examination cannot be justified in any way and are clearly outside the law.
I believe that NCO Ciorchina committed the offences of abuse while on duty by infringement of rights and misconduct and, consequently, I request that he be investigated. At the same time, I request that the identities of the police officers who instigated him (I hereby remind you of the phrase he employed “we will call you again”) or knew about the facts but did not intervene be revealed.
The facts that I described come under the crimes mentioned under Article 247 Criminal Code, since my civil rights were infringed, including the right to private life ensured by Article 26 of the Constitution and by Article 8, Law no 30/1994 on ratifying the European Convention of Human Rights. At the same time, my right to personal freedom and my right to defense (also guaranteed by the two documents mentioned above) were infringed, since I was forced to spend 3 hours at the police station in the absence of any legal grounds for my restraint and I was examined in the absence of defense. The infringement of my rights was evidently motivated – as it results from the investigation – by my sexual orientation. What is more, throughout the questioning, I was placed in a position of inferiority for the same reason.
Through the verbal offences and his offensive conduct described in this complaint, NCO Ciorchina violated the provisions of Article 250, par. 1, which bans misconduct of public employees.
I would like to state that I require to be granted civil compensation from the perpetrator (perpetrators) of these deeds who caused moral sufferings, depression and a feeling of inferiority.
Finally, I would like to mention that the right to private life includes the right to choosing and freely practicing one’s sexual orientation and life. As long as sexual acts (irrespective of partners’ type and their nature) are not conducted in public, there are no grounds for investigating them. I find myself in the position to be harassed and offended by a public employee when I have never broken the law. From the investigation I was subjected to, one concludes that the harassment was targeted at Accept Association too, of which I am a member, and this deems the conduct of the police officers even more dangerous from a social and civil perspective.
Considering the end point of the investigation when I was cautioned not to disclose what had happened, please ensure that NCO Ciorchina or other police officers will not attempt to commit vengeful or intimidating acts against me.
Since the deeds are of an extremely serious nature, and entirely unacceptable in a democratic society, where the principle of equality, diversity and of legality must prevail, please take urgent action to examine the matter and inform me of the results of your examination.
I would like to mention, for your information, that, in the situation that my complaint is not legally solved, I will complain to the European Court of Human Rights with the issue of the infringement of my private life as well as the issue of efficiency of the examination I am requesting.Please find enclosed a copy of the summons and of the entry ticket in the Police station.
I am confident that my complaint will be given due consideration.
Sincerely yours,
Adrian Costin Georgescu
(Translation from Romanian by ACCEPT)
Police Raid in Bucharest's Gay DiscoTopOn Friday, January 19, 2001, around 11:00 pm Police organized a raid at Casablanca Disco Club in Bucharest which is known for its LGBT clientele. Nearly 20 police officers, checked the IDs of the customers, taking more than 30 of them, who could not provide an ID, to the police station. The action was videotaped by a police cameraman.
These customers were taken with two vans to Bucharest Police Station No. 14. There, the Police recorded their names, took their pictures and fingerprints.This raid was organized two days after the press conference of ACCEPT and the Romanian Helsinki Committee (APADOR-CH), which revealed the abuse of a non commissioned police officer against a gay person. The raid is a reason of great concern for ACCEPT and an intimidation for the LGBT community, given that article 200 of the Romanian Penal Code has not been repealed.
Last-hour News On Friday, January 26, 2001, ACCEPT members and beneficiaries gathered at ACCEPT centre for watching the taped show "Teo - Talkshow with Teo Trandafir" on ProTV from January 18 and to discuss about "What can and cannot the Police do to us?" Moderator: Adrian Coman, ACCEPT Executive Director. Special Guests: Ms. Manuela Stefanescu, President of the Romanian Helsinki Committee, and Mr. Adrian Georgescu.
Top
ACCEPT received a 6,000-US dollar grant from the US organisation ASTRAEA for fulfilling the programme “Improving the LGBT Community and Encouraging the Lesbians' Involvement in the Movement”. Within this project, ACCEPT will set the basis of a five LGBT-group network in Romania and the Republic of Moldova. For two of these groups - "Attitude!" in Cluj-Napoca (Transylvania) and "Genderdoc" in Kishinev (Republic of Moldova) - ACCEPT will grant assistance concerning the improvement and consolidation of these groups, and other three LGBT organisations will be set up in three Romanian cities. The project pay a special attention to encouraging the lesbian women and to enhance their role in the LGBT emancipation movement.
The objectives of the project are as follows:
1. To sustain the five groups inasmuch as their specific missions and policies are concerned, in order to allow them to register and get organised locally.
2. Encouraging a better representation of the lesbians and integrating them in th LGBT movement, both within ACCEPT, and within the five groups.
3. To help the lesbians within ACCEPT and from the five groups improve their visibility and the social activism, including contacts with the women's movements in Romania and the Republic of Moldova.
4. To facilitate the social networking among the LGBT people in Romania by means of supporting the group organisation and manifestation, through the activities that will take place with ACCEPT on LGBT community-specific themes.
Two three-day training courses will be organised at ACCEPT, at the expenses of the organisers. Also, on the occasion of their travelling to Bucharest, the participants will benefit from a social programme within the LGBT community, information packs concerning the NGO sector, fundraising, training, an LGBT activity calendar, cooperation opportunities in the field.
The persons who would like to get involved in setting up the local groups and network are kindly asked to contact Elena Mititel from ACCEPT, in view of establishing the composition of the groups, planning the meetings and the activities of the project.
... Perhaps with the risk of inexcusably oversimplifying things, one could say, even from within the homosexual community, that the ultimate goal of ACCEPT is everyone’s right to obtain fulfilment in their sexual life, have their private space, as each thinks appropriate. And broadly, this is almost correct. My opinion is that the barrier to our reconciliation with the intolerant majority and temporary but reckless lawmakers lies not in different sexual habits. I can guarantee that the tiny article on making love to hens by Ion Cristoiu from the former Evenimentul Zilei, or the physical and metaphysical communion of the Romanian shepherd with his sheep, at most stir a hearty laughter, if not generate a slight confusion, among this majority. It is not this fact that is truly scandalous, but the fact that two men or two women love each other, that this can actually happen. Only this “frightening” presumption stirs the real passions, I believe. Only this “scandalous” suspicion is the genuine basis of primitive hatred cast upon homosexuals. And not only, and not necessarily, in Romania. The “unacceptable,” “mysterious” reality that two men or two women can be in love with each other blasts the foundation of hypotheses on which the faltering advance of “mankind” is based. Of course, I could not be presumed guilty of the pride I was attacking before, but I would wish ACCEPT to defend my right of loving, too. Mine, and of those like me. I am not afraid of such resemblance; it does not deepen my singularity, but barely makes it more tolerable. I cannot imagine ACCEPT ever militating explicitly for the right to love…But I can perfectly imagine, and this is enough, that, subversively, this is precisely what it does. Ioan Casu Timisoara |
Foreign AffairsTop
Bogdan Honciuc
Russia: The Health Ministry published the new classification of mental and behaviour disorders, excluding homosexuality from them. Thus, Russia no longer considers homosexuality as being a behaviour disorder, as it had done in the past.
Germany: Throughout August 2-5 this year, the seventh edition of the European Galy And Lesbian Multi-Sports Championships will be hosted in Hanover. Fifteen hundred sportswomen, sportsmern, and viewers from all over Europe are expected to attend this extraordinary event. The sports are football, athletics, swimming, dance, badminton, volleyball, and table tennis. For further details, check www.eurogames.org
United States of America: The Nebraska supreme court will hear arguments in a case brought by Joann Brandon, the mother of Brandon Teena, the subject of the movie Boys Don’t Cry. Teena, a biological female who lived as a man, was killed in retaliation after telling police that two men raped her after learning her biological gender. The men also killed two other witnesses to Teena’s murder. Joann Brandon is seeking more in damages from the county for Teena’s death. She contends that Charles Laux, the sheriff of Richardson County at the time of Teena’s rape and murder, was negligent in protecting Teena and that Laux should have arrested John Lotter and Marvin Nissen for rape once Teena reported the crime. Teena was killed a week after reporting the rape. In 1999 a district court judge ruled that the county should have offered Teena protective custody after the rape but said Laux was not personally liable for the incident. Joann Brandon, who asked for more than $350,000 from the county, was awarded $17,360. The court did admonish Laux and said he should apologize to Teena’s family and friends. Joann Brandon’s attorney, Herbert Friedman, said in court briefs that Laux was more concerned with Teena’s sexuality than his safety. According to court records, Laux’s interrogation of Teena included questions such as “Do you run around…with a sock in your pants to make you look like a boy?” and “The girls that don’t know about you…do you kiss them?” Lotter was sentenced to death for his role in Teena’s death. Nissen testified against Lotter and was sentenced to life in prison.
United Kingdom: Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London, has announced the appointment of Angela Mason OBE as his Cabinet Advisor on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues. Angela Mason is Executive Director of Stonewall, the campaigning organisation for lesbian and gay equality, and has been appointed to help the Mayor's
efforts to support the rights of LGBT Londoners. The Mayor has been a committed supporter of lesbian and gay rights
throughout his political career and considers gay rights to be a key community interest in London, which has the largest LGBT population in the country. Mayor Livingstone said: "I am delighted that Angela has accepted my invitation to join my Advisory Cabinet. The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities still face discrimination, as well as the threat of hate crime, and I hope that Angela's outstanding record in campaigning for lesbian and gay equality will help us to ensure equal rights for all Londoners." Angela Mason has a wealth of experience, going back to her membership of the Gay Liberation Front and her work with Women's Aid, the London law centres and the trade union movement. She said: "I am very pleased to be offered this position. London has the largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community in the country and a Mayor who is fully committed to equality. "I know that much still needs to be done to make sure that all Londoners, whatever their sexuality, are fully represented in the public life of London, but this is a unique opportunity to help create a modern city where every individual is treated equally and with respect. "I am looking forward to working with everyone in the very diverse lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community in London. Together we can go a long way to promote, if I can use that word, the interests and needs of our communities and take our part, as equal citizens, in the life of London."Canada: Two out gay Parliamentarians were reelected on November 28, 2000. Svend Robinson from British Columbia and Real Menard from Quebec are therefore coming back to Ottawa. May we remind you that Svend Robinson is an old friend of ACCEPT who last visited us in July 2000. He was first elected in the Canadian Parliament in 1979.
Finland: The Finnish government will began discussing the issue of gay marriages in parliament in December 2000. But some parties are expected to be split on the matter when the legislation comes to a vote this year. Social Democrat, Left Alliance and Green party officials said their representatives were likely to vote almost unanimously for the law, while the small Christian League is expected to vote against it. Officials of the Centre and Conservative parties said they expected their deputies to be split on the issue, but did not comment on the balance between supporters and critics. A similar bill was narrowly rejected by parliament in 1996 when it ran into conservative resistance. "I'm sure that some people will oppose it tooth and nail, but I would be disappointed and surprised if it did not pass this time," said Rainer Hiltunen, head of the Finnish National Organisation for Sexual Equality (SETA).
Vatican: About 20 American homosexuals demonstrated at the Vatican Jan. 3 to Jan. 7, outside the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica. The members of Soulforce and Dignity/USA said they were protesting Catholic Church teaching on homosexuality. The church considers any sexual act that is not open to the possibility of procreation to be a mortal sin. (A mortal sin, which is more serious than a venial sin, that has not been absolved in confession prior to one's death condemns one's soul to hell.) The procreation stance leads the church to also categorize birth control, masturbation and oral sex as mortal sins. "I don't think they love God's gay children like they love God's straight children," Soulforce Executive Director Mel White told reporters.
The Netherlands: Dutch gays are planning a mass wedding April 1 when The Netherlands becomes the first nation in the world to allow gay couples to marry under the regular marriage laws. Several countries have gay registered-partnership laws that give registered couples nearly all rights of marriage, but The Netherlands is the first nation to grant gays access to plain old marriage itself. So far, 14 couples have confirmed participation in the event, says Henk Krol, publisher of De Gay Krant magazine and chief organizer of the ceremony. Couples from other nations -- gay or straight -- cannot marry in The Netherlands. Countries with marriage-like gay partnership laws include Denmark (and Greenland), France, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and, in the U.S., the state of Vermont. A few other nations, including Canada, grant gays many rights of marriage under common-law marriage statutes.Check http://ruljis.leidenuniv.nl/user/cwaaldij/www/ for details. We shall come back with more info.
MTV. On January 10, the music network showed a 90-minute movie on the murder of Matthew Shepard followed by
17-hours of commercial-free rememberances of hate crimes victims. The massive effort was aimed at spurring action in MTV's young audience. The Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which would add sexual orientation along with gender and
disability as categories protected under federal hate crimes law, has been stalled in Congress, despite the Clinton-Gore administration's efforts to pass it. And since President Bush has said he opposes the bill, it is unlikely to become law anytime soon. However, a growing number of Republicans have expressed support for the bill. MTV's effort is surprising due to its constant promotion of muchly-praised anti-gay rapper Eminem.Canada: Kevin Bourassa and Joe Varnell, and Elaine Vautour and Anne Vautour were married by the Reverend Brent Hawkes at the Metropolitan Community Church after, in accord with the Ontario Marriage Act, the church announced the couples' marriage "banns" three Sundays in a row. Announcing marriage plans three weeks in a row in church carries the same legal weight as obtaining a marriage license at city hall. The relevant statute states: "Any person who is of the age of majority may obtain a license or be married under the authority of the publication of banns,
provided no lawful cause exists to hinder the solemnization." Following the double wedding, Hawkes issued legal marriage certificates to the couples and sent the certificates to the Ontario Registrar-General. The provincial government has said it will not record the marriages because the federal government does not allow same-sex marriage, but Hawkes says that doesn't matter. "The fact that I'm required by law to submit that documentation to the
government to be registered doesn't affect the marriage," he told the CBC. "There are even cases in law in the Marriage Act if, through negligence, the clergyperson fails to meet the requirement to submit the documentation within two days it doesn't affect the marriage of the couple. They're still married." A protracted legal battle is expected.
Lesbian Executed On January 11, Wanda Jean Allen, a poor, black, borderline mentally retarded woman was executed by lethal injection in Oklahoma. Allen's lawyers had requested clemency from Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating (a strong proponent of the death penalty), from the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver, and from the U.S. Supreme Court.
Despite substantial evidence that Allen had not been treated fairly by Oklahoma's justice system and notwithstanding protests led by Jesse Jackson, who was arrested for demonstrating outside an Oklahoma jail, most observers knew that the execution was all but inevitable. In the days leading up to Allen's death, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force communications director David Elliot said, "There's simply no cause for optimism right now." And indeed there wasn't. All of Allen's appeals for clemency were denied.
Wanda Jean Allen's case is remarkable for the variety of issues stacked against her, and yet the intersection of so many forms of prejudice and incompetence is hardly rare in capital cases. Allen's defense lawyer, who had never tried a capital case before, agreed to represent her for $5,000. When he found out that she faced the death penalty and that her family could only afford to pay $800 (not enough to arrange even the most basic of investigations), he asked to be taken off the case, even offering to act as co-counsel for free, if the court would assign a more experienced defense lawyer as lead counsel. The judge refused. During her trial, Allen's history of mental illness and her low mental capacity (twice measured at borderline retarded levels) were not mentioned. The prosecutor invoked stereotypes of lesbians. The history of domestic violence between Allen and her partner was not considered as a mitigating factor. According to Eric Ferrero of the ACLU Lesbian and Gay Rights Project, "If she had been straight and killed her boyfriend, she probably wouldn't be on death row."
TopArticle 200 of the Romanian Penal Code denies lesbians, gays and bisexuals their fundamental rights to a private life, to free association and to free expression. In a secular state governed by the rule of law, as stipulated by the Romanian Constitution, an equal legal treatment should be applicable to all individuals, irrespective of their sexual orientation. For Romanian legislators, this argument did not weigh more than the position on the Orthodox Church against the “legalisation” of sodomy. The Church claiming to speak on behalf of more than 80% of Romanians argues this position.
Homosexuality – A Moral or Political Issue for the Romanian Orthodox Church?
Adrian Coman
Executive Director of ACCEPTDecriminalising homosexuality in Romania remains an issue of concern for the Council of Europe and the European Union, as same sex relations between consenting adults taking place in private are still punishable by the criminal law. This issue has to be addressed by the newly elected Romanian authorities (November 26, 2000), in the light of Romania’s international commitments and accession process to EU. The main obstacle that prevented the Romanian Parliaments from eliminating the discrimination based on sexual orientation was the strong opposition of the Orthodox Church. This article will look at possible implications of the approach of the Church on homosexuality.
A number of arguments question the Christian moral approach of the Church and give room to political interpretations of its lobby and final goals.
Political Influence
The Romanian Orthodox Church attempts to maintain a political influence on the state institutions. Making laws cannot be a responsibility of the Church in a laic and democratic state. But if the Church succeeds to influence the parliament debates on issues such as homosexuality, within the reform of an organic law (Penal Code), it actually achieves to replace a legal debate with a religious one, and can aspire to position God as the point of reference in all moral approaches.
The Orthodox Church claims to speak on behalf of the majority of Romanians because this way it can emphasise that politicians acknowledging the discrimination of lesbian and gay people situate themselves against the majority whose religion considers homosexuality a “sin” that should not be legalised. The number of supporters is a typical argument to legitimise the room of a religious entity in society.
Other Moral Issues
Another argument is the lower profile given by the Church to abortion in comparison with homosexuality. Homosexuality is profiled as a moral issue and the Church wants to appear as the keeper of the truth and the good morals in society. However, another moral issue - abortion – did not become the object of a similarly aggressive lobbying by the Church. That is because the illegal status of abortion during the communist regime created so much suffering. Advocating for outlawing abortion can only decrease the popularity of the Church. The Church is inconsistent by only pursuing one moral issue, rather than all.Recognising the role of minorities is another issue feared by the Church. In general, recognising the role of minorities is not a social practice in Romania, in particular not one encouraged by the Church. A positive approach by law to homosexuals can only strengthen the access of minorities to public visibility and politics, and the result can be that more groups will feel encouraged to claim their human rights. Religious minorities can later benefit from the same trend. The campaign by the Orthodox Church in 1996 against Jehovah’s Witnesses’ right to free assembly and association when the later intended to organise their World Congress in Bucharest, prove the repressive policy of the Church.
Inconsistency
The effects of the lobby of the Church are not consistent with its mission. The lobby of the Church against homosexuality is deepening a division in society. Arguing on one side or another has passed the stage of a peaceful debate. Radicalising the discourse of the Church can only situate it in an opposition with one of its apparent goals: the promotion of tolerance and understanding. It seems that winning the battle weights heavier than the promotion of hatred that comes along with the aggressive public campaign against homosexuals.In order to eliminate discrimination based on sexual orientation, the debate on the matter has to move from the area of religious approaches to the one of ensuring equality before the law and full enjoyment of human rights. Following the example of the Hungarians’ Union, the other political parties need to affirm the same necessary political will to approach human rights as a non-negotiable and non-questionable matter in order to initiate a change. The Church will have to adapt its discourse to a changing society towards accepting pluralism and treasuring diversity.
Statements by Former, Current Dignitaries on Same-sex RelationsTop
Collected by AlexS
Adrian Severin, PDSR Deputy of Bucharest (at the time of the statement, PD member):
“You must understand that homosexuality does not represent an European standard and that no one is asking us to be homosexual in order to enter Europe! Our requirement is that we be tolerant and that people live how they want, provided that they do not harm the others.”
(Romania libera, July 13, 1993. “No One Asks Us to be Gay, Says Adrian Severin”)
Valeriu Stoica, PNL Deputy of Bucharest (at the time of the statement, Minister of Justice)
Justice Minister Valeriu Stoica admitted that doing away with the notion of same-sex relations, one could think that they are encouraged. “Morally and religiously speaking, I don’t agree either, but this type of unnatural relations must be dealt with in moral, religious, and medical terms”, he said.
(Adevarul, September 26, 2000. “Justice Minister Valeriu Stoica: ‘Homosexuals Should Not Be Dealt with Legally, but in Moral, Religious, Medical Terms’”)
Mircea Ionescu-Quintus, PNL Senator of Prahova (At the time, chairman of PNL and of the Senate)
PNL leader Mircea Ionescu-Quintus does not agree with making a referendum on decriminalising homosexuality, as suggested by the Romanian Orthodox Church. He added that he “didn’t know” how the other Liberal Senators were going to cast their vote with regard to article 200.
(Evenimentul Zilei, September 4, 2000. Referendum for Homosexuals)Marko Bela, Chairman of UDMR, Senator of Mures (same at the time)
UDMR chairman Marko Bela said, “We agree with amending article 200 from the Penal Code, in order for us to fulfill the requirements of the European Union. I do not think that we need a referendum. This issue is not so important as to make a referendum necessary.”
(Evenimentul Zilei, September 4, 2000. Referendum for Homosexuals)Doru Ioan Taracila, PDSR Senator of Calarasi (at the time, leader of PDSR Senators’ group)
Doru Ioan Taracila, leader of PDSR Senators’ group, said that PDSR group had not taken any decision with regard to the issue of amending article 200, but added that he personally was in favour of that: “In know the requirements of the European community on this issue, and I’ve tried to put the amendment on the agenda for a number of times. Even though the Orthodox Church does not agree, I think that what we do in bed is our own problem”
(Evenimentul Zilei, September 4, 2000. Referendum for Homosexuals)
Ion Iliescu, President of Romania (at the time, candidate for Presidency on behalf of PDSR)
“Homosexuals are ours like other minorities are, for instance the handicapped persons, so they owe their place in society. What bothers many is their tendency towards proselytism and their public manifestations […]. Nevertheless, I think that the position of the Church represents the population’s sanctioning these abnormal practices, which come against the traditions and morality of the Romanian people.”
(Tele7abc TV station, October 23, 2000, Dintre sute de ziare show)Rodica Stanoiu, Justice Minister (at the time, newly appointed in the Government)
“I may be shocking many, it is my personal view – but, in a country like ours, given the opposition of the [Romanian Orthodox] Church and the discussions that have aroused in this matter, I would be in favour of a referendum”
(ProFM radio station, December 21, 2000, News)
Top
“I may be shocking many, it is my personal view – but, in a country like ours, given the opposition of the [Romanian Orthodox] Church and the discussions that have aroused in this matter, I would be in favour of a referendum” (ProFM radio station, December 21, 2000, News)
Article 90 from the Romanian Constitution: The President of Romania, after previously consulting the Parliament, may demand the people to express, by means of referendum, their will regarding problems of national interest.
The position adopted by the new Minister of Justice, Ms. Rodica Stanoiu, is somewhat rambling with respect to the matter of homosexuality. Even if we were to grant her the circumstances of post-electoral euphoria, or of an exaggerated consumption of sausages, there are still a number of comments to make. First, the phrase “personal position” keeps coming up, quite annoyingly, in the speech of Romanian politicians. One case has already become famous, and of sorry remembrance—of a tabloid journalist and senator who industriously practises this political schizophrenia. In spite of the fact that pathology is not exactly what was missing from our political circles… A former minister from PDSR (the Minister of Culture!) was chasing a young secretary around the ministerial cabinet—true, outside of office hours, which probably allowed displaying the open ministerial zipper not only to the young lady, but to the staring eye of the cameraman (or “camera-person,” pardon me…). It will take the century predicted by an aged prophet for Ms. Rodica Stanoiu to understand that in the matters regarding the ministerial yard which she shepherds “personal positions” are not allowed. Those (i.e., the positions) are up to the free choice of the honourable minister in cultural, horticultural, science-fiction, or intimate problems (and here, isn’t it, we don’t intrude—at all!).
However, the article 200 matter is one pertaining to the ministry led by Ms. Stanoiu. I hope that a confusion ably or crudely maintained by stupid politicians and a superficial mass-media will not continue: that Romania’s homosexuals simply wish the abrogation of article 200 Penal Code. We are talking here, and we should not stop saying this, of repealing article 200 while altering other articles in the Penal Code, regarding crimes related to sexual conduct, all with the final purpose of uniform penalties in this respect. A “homosexual” rape should carry the same sentence as a “heterosexual” rape; that is simple, common sense, and more than anything, fair. Repealing article 200 also targets eliminating certain restrictions to the right of association and freedom of speech of Romanian homosexual citizens, included in the last paragraph of the article in its current form. The sensitivity of Romanian homosexuals to this issue should be understandable: the Penal Code suggests, through its current provisions, that homosexuality itself is an undesirable and condemnable thing, and it is precisely this aspect which is unacceptable to a group of people who, in large proportions, will never have to deal with the provisions of the Penal Code, in its current or future form.
Ms. Stanoiu’s references to the position of the Romanian Orthodox Church are, once again, out of place. The argument that the Romanian state is one based on laic foundations may seem dry and repetitive to the “man in the street, the average person” so very dear to Romanian social democracy. What matters is the truth that Christian morality is not entirely, and should not be, transposed into the Civil or Penal Code; I have no knowledge, for instance, that not fasting on Fridays, sculpting faces, or adultery would constitute crimes. Not to mention abortion—a matter about which the Romanian Orthodox Church is very discreet. As if the aggression against the family institution did not come predominantly from that direction, and from intra-family violence emphasised by any statistical survey.
The idea of a national referendum for the matter of repealing article 200 is, however, seriously unsound. According to article 90 from Romania’s Constitution, a referendum should be organised only for issues relating to national interests. How Ms. Rodica Stanoiu will prove that altering a few articles in the Penal Code, regardless of which these articles are, is a matter of national interest still remains a mystery—apparently one which cannot be solved. From the gallery of mysteries dear to PDSR: the enigma of December ’89 terrorists, the supernatural fog in January 1990, and (should you agree) last in the list, the mystery of JFK’s death. What is more, the precedent might be extremely dangerous: PDSR needs to undertake reform in view of Romania’s European integration, with a starved people of which one third is already on C.V.Tudor’s side. If you undertake a referendum for changing the Penal Code, you must undertake it in any question on the urgent agenda of national interest, and sometimes this can place the government in the corner. Famous examples of such referenda in Western countries, regarding joining the Euro, are undoubted forewarnings. If PDSR can afford it, they can go ahead. The country is on fire and Ms. Rodica Stanescu graciously brushes her hair, longingly staring in the mirror of the Romanian Orthodox Church which—isn’t it?—is the largest and most national in the country.
The fundamental problem is, however, another one, and not that of pretexts used for not cutting short the “homosexual issue.” It is political cowardice, a peremptory symptom of governments brought to leadership by populism and despair. It is already evident that Romania will not become a member of the European Union without solving, along with a long list of problems, the one related to removing the crime status of homosexuality. National interest only comes in here: in the courage of making decisions necessary against a relative (and subject to discussion) majority of its own electorate. Doubtless, the homosexual community in Romania has been a good scapegoat for politicians and other powerless members of the hierarchy, hungry for “image” and cheap popularity. Romanian homosexuals have often been subject to the Orwellian “two minutes of hatred” offered to a confused, tormented, and starving audience.
Last but not least, we can only hope for the good thought and the final wisdom, even the one of the Romanian Minister of Justice.
On Stereotypes, from Another (The Other) Perspective. Madonna's ChallengeSilvia D. Jimenez
(Correspondence from New York)
Top
No one is immune to gender stereotyping. We’ve all experienced it in different forms. Either you’ve looked at someone funny or someone looked at you strangely because you were different. Stereotypes are fears of the Other, fears of the unknown, fears of that which is different from conventionally defined normality. It begins at birth (with your parents who will chose blue/pink as appropriate colours depending on your sex), continues in adolescence (what is appropriate for a good girl/boy to do?) and remains with you throughout your life (is this masculine/feminine enough?). When asked to write this article, I was encouraged to write about the ‘woman/lesbian’ perspective. Questions such as: what constitutes a lesbian, clouded my mind. Is she a woman being attracted to another woman? Does it require having same-sex relations? Unconscious projections? All sorts of stereotypes came to mind. However, my editor tapped into something compelling, namely that any conversation about gender stereotypes should not be separated from a conversation on the arrangement of western culture generally, and patriarchy specifically.
Historically, females were seen as less advanced than males and the idea of “woman as a defective man” influenced the field of psychology (and sciences) for centuries. Gender stereotyping results in the differential treatment of males and females; we all know that. But, did you also notice that this occurs in the gay and lesbian community as well (dykes are not suppose to wear make-up, gay men are feminine and expected to sleep around)?
In the U.S., we are being presented (via media channels) with movies that portray lesbians, as well as same-sex high profile lesbian couples (Ellen DeGeneres and former partner Anne Heche, musician Melissa Etheridge and former partner Julie Cypher) – however where are the gay men? As America is attempting to accept homosexuality (and please do not mistake cities such as New York, San Francisco. etc, with middle US – where the word faggot is in everyone’s vocabulary and Matthew Shepard is considered a sodomite who deserved what he got!) we need to question how this acceptance occurs. Are we accepting sexual diversity, or simply playing into the ultimate hetero/male fantasy (two women). Sadly, the lack of gay male visibility answers these questions. Or, when they are visible (Queer as Folk, US version) the presentation is loaded with stereotypes, i.e. the viral gay male predator ready to have sex with any man in sight.
Intertwined with this story is of course, the stereotypes perpetuating in the gay and lesbian communit(ies)y, which (unconsciously) maintain the(ir)se heterosexual expectations. For example, would you wear a skirt if you define yourself as a dyke? If you are strictly top, don’t you have to strap one on? At times, the gay community can be just as oppressive towards its outsiders (bisexuals, transvestites for example) and movements of resistance (i.e. the gay one) become homogenised and oppressive in their own way.
The promise of ending gender stereotyping is found in gender bending, and/or transvestites. Transvestism is about acting out gender roles: putting on gender masks. The audience is usually aware of the real sex of the performer, and reminded of the perfomity and fluidity of gender. Transvestism confirms existing prejudices about gender. Gender bending consists in playing with gender, expanding and transforming clichés. Master gender benders: Madonna as she screams "Oh my God, I'm getting a hard-on,” in the film In Bed With Madonna, as well as Prince singing "If I was your girlfriend..." on his Sign Of The Times CD.
Prejudice is maintained by ignorance and hate. Lack of understanding makes us fearful -- it is only through familiarity that we gain acceptance. Either by Madonna’s play on gender constructs or by the visibility that lesbians are now experiencing, these acts will bring familiarity to the gay community and empower acceptance of differences. Maybe, soon enough gay men could walk hand in hand as Ellen and Anne once did. In turn, the queer communit(ies)y has to learn tolerance towards its own outsiders and realize that sexuality is as individual as each human being. In the meantime, we all need to re-think our own perceptions and constructions of what constitutes sexual identity. Just remember, we are the ones destroying/perpetuating them...
Madonna’s exaggeration of stereotypical images of women is a rebellion against the status quo, an exposure of the feminine mystique, as a lie, a mask. She uncovers the void behind the mask, showing how femininity is a masquerade. Gender is a style, a disguise. The parodic effect results from the fact that nothing is being masked or concealed, since the masquerade of femininity is not based on any original gender identity, but constructed as the opposite of masculinity.
HomoStereoTypesTop
Sociologist Elena Mititelu on stereotypes related to the LGBT people
There are two things on which misperceptions regarding sexual minorities are based: the conviction that everything outside heterosexuality is “sick,” “a vice,” “a sin,” and the spreading opinion that lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transsexuals, and transgender persons are interested only in eroticism and sex.
Currently, doctors from different fields of medicine, psychologists, anthropologists, sociologists and other researchers are proving that homosexuality represents a part of human diversity, present along the history of humanity, which is not based more on an erotic component than heterosexuality is.
In other words, sexual orientation does not change, in any radical way, people’s daily life. In fact, the differences between homosexuals and heterosexuals are smaller than differences between men and women.
Why is it commonly believed that sexual minorities are an almost inexistent human category? Because very rarely do we know that we talk across the counter to a worker/we are examined by a doctor/we read an author/we vote for a senator/we buy from a shop-assistant who is gay, lesbian, or bisexual. Nobody declines their sexual orientation in the course of normal social relations, just as they do not share with us that they are an orphan/engaged/believer/adept of an ideology, etc.
It is commonly believed that gays are effeminate and lesbians are butch. In fact any man and any woman builds, across their life, a certain image which they believe best expresses them, taking into account fashion, the desire for affirmation and recognition, age requirements, etc.
Gay men are predisposed towards pedophilia. Since sexual orientation is a mere human characteristic which does not carry, in itself, any pathological connotation, and pedophilia is a malady which can affect a human being regardless of his/her sexual orientation, it clearly follows that this connection is forced and malevolent. Statistics show that, based on population number, there are more pedophilia-affected persons among heterosexuals than among homosexuals.
LGBT people were victims of childhood abuse, lacked parental affection, have lived in sexually promiscuous communities. A person does not “become” a homo/bi/transsexual due to causes external to his being. Circumstances can, at most, facilitate or delay the manifestation of impulses that the person feels, but which he/she cannot find an explanation for, or is afraid to follow. As a matter of fact, most of the members of sexual minorities did not experience trauma in their childhood. Sexual orientation is not a choice/option but an inborn feature. Oftentimes a person may live their whole life hiding, or dissimulating, the fact that s/he is a lesbian/gay, have a family and social relations which do not explicitly suggest that s/he is not a heterosexual. With a little imagination we can realise how tragic it is to have to suppress your natural desires along an entire life-span!
Homosexuals are obsessed with sex and are attracted by all same-sex persons whom they meet. When such affirmations are made, we must think that the same is said about adolescents and young people, because their attitude and behaviour towards sex is more visible than with elder persons. Just the same, men are more uninhibited than women in their manifestations relating to erotic preferences, having sex, expressing interest for a rich sexual life. It is important to remember that there is no difference between homosexuals and heterosexuals when it comes to women and men. Women are more prudish, and less prone to exhibit at the social level what is connected to eroticism and sex, whether they are lesbian or heterosexual. A gay or a lesbian does not love, desire, establish relationships with any person of the same sex that comes along their way! Just as with heterosexual relationships, a good understanding, common interests, resembling motivations, hopes for the future, and physical attraction are needed in order to result in a relationship. As far as social life is concerned, the same sympathy or antipathy criteria are at work; interest or lack of interest; affective predisposition towards an open, participating type of life, or a closed attitude towards social relations, limited to one’s own territory. In fact, everyone agrees that each of us has their own personal tastes and preferences, rhythm of life, and own habits. We must resort to the “dichotomy” of young versus old: the lifestyle of young persons, whether they are homosexuals or heterosexuals, is the same, but different from that of elderly persons.
In a homosexual relationship one of the partners in the couple—whether gay or lesbian—plays the part of a woman, and the other plays the part of a man. The truth is that both partners have the same roles, and there are no interactions between them which would imitate heterosexual ones, where an “opposite sex” exists.
There are sexual minorities due to inability of certain persons to establish relationships with opposite-sex persons. Except for bisexuals, who can establish relationships both with persons belonging to the same sex and with those belonging to the opposite sex, lesbians and gays don’t even think about establishing relationships with the opposite sex. They are simply not interested in the opposite sex when it comes to sentimental, erotic, or sexual relations. This does not prevent stable friendships, based on mutual respect and equality, from developing between gay men and heterosexual women. In the company of gay men, they do not feel they are being “sexually hunted,” inhibited by beauty standards, or annoyed by “compliments” received from heterosexual men who freely practice discrimination based on gender (such as the notorious division of persons between the “weak”/”beautiful” sex and the “strong” one…).
If there is an acceptance of talking in positive terms about homosexuality, won’t there be more and more homosexuals? Persons of homosexual orientation are not the result of discussions about eroticism and sex. They exist because they were born this way. It is as if thinking that talking about richness would bring about, just like that, more and more rich people.The results of a sociological enquiry conducted in 1999 on a sample of subjects selected from the homosexual community at ACCEPT Association showed that the common desire of more than 80% of them is to meet a suitable partner, whom they can establish a stable couple relationship and spend their entire life with. According to participants to this study, this union would be based on: (1) love, (2) understanding, (3) respect, (4) mutual trust.
A Visit to Sweden
Daniel Vãduva, ACCEPT volunteer
During December 5-17, 2000, I payed a visit to Sweden at the invitation of RFSL, the national organisation for gays and lesbians.TopOn December the 6th, I went to a confrence, which took place at the Swedish Parliament house, about the status of refugee that the ones discriminated on reasons of sexual orientation could get. Among numbers of parliamentarys and reprezentatives of Swedish Goverment, there were the chief of Parliamentary’s Comision for refugees, the manager of Amnesty International for Sweden, a representative of the United Nations and a lawyer from RFSL. The actual law refering to refugees was analised and solutions for amending this law and supporting the victims were sought after.
On December the 7th at RFSL center took place the meeting with the international comision of this organisation. I had the oportunity of presenting a report about the situation of sexual minorities of Romania, which was very welcomed by the attendants.
I was impressed by the impact my presentation had and by the honest desire of the ones who were there to find out more details about the legal state from the country and about the consequences of the presence of the 200 article in the legal system to the LGBT persons from Romania.
Two days later I had the honour of attending a cultural of TUPILAK, a Swedish organisation which promotes the gay subculture, where I met Mr. Bill Schiller, the president of this organisation, Mr. Scott Long, manager of International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, Mr. Oscar Stewstorm, the secretary of International Organisation of Social Democrat Party, as well as other gay intelectuals. Mr. Bill Schiller was going to appoint me the Romanian Gay Cultural Ambassador, which honour I had to turn down. In this respect, I put TUPILAK in e-mail contact with “Corola”, the gay dance group from ACCEPT.
The existance of TUPILAK made me become aware about the importance of culture, of creating such a group in Romania, the importance of proving we are a value and the importance of giving the values of gay subculture to the entire Romanian society.
On December the 14th, at the residence of Mr. Stig-Ake Petresson, the lawyer of RFSL (who visited us in October on the ocasion of the „ACCEPTing Diversity” Conference in Bucharest) a meeting took place with members of the Swedish Liberal Party and the chief of the Parliamentary Gay Group. I had informal discutions refering to the Swedish and Romania’s policies concerning the human rights in general and especially the sexual minority rights.
On December the 16th, I attended the Christmas concert of Stokholm Gay Chorus. Enchanting moments, when the skies above seemed to open, and one could hear the angels praising God through their divine voices!
This visit made me think seriously of the importance of LGBT contribution in the Romanian Parliament. When shall we have out gays in politics? The silence, the fear maybe the indeffrence makes us eliminate the posibility of representing our fellow gays.
Maybe it’s a daring ideea, but it’s not impossible. I wish the Romanian LGBT readers who want to join the politics to think over about this.
TopUnfortunately, however, since Sorina is psychologically unstable, this case cannot be considered a full success.
Transsex Surgery Becomes Common
Rudy Radu
Co-ordinator of the Transsexuals' Group within ACCEPTChanging sex by surgery has become an almost common thing across the world, a routine operation which more and more people undergo, whether with justification or not, and whether it is more or less professionally done. Prices abroad are of around USD 40,000.
ÎIn Romania, the first surgery of this kind took place at the Bucharest Emergency Hospital, within the Plastical and Reconstituting Surgery Department, turning Sorin into Sorina.
The effort doctors put into turning a woman into a man is increased, because penis reconstruction only can last for around eight hours, and the entire procedure necessitates three more operations: extirpation of breasts, implant of testicular prosthesis, and extirpation of the female genitalia. Taking into account the complexity of this surgery, doctors operate such cases only at a few months’ interval.
In either case, for those of you wishing to undergo surgery in Romania, the Emergency Hospital in Bucharest is one of the last stages you need to go through, as the entire process lasts for approximately two years.
First of all, you need to put together a medical record, which comprises the certificates from the psychologist, endocrinologist, the Legal Medicine Institute, etc., which certify that your normal civil status which would make you feel appropriate, would be the opposite to the one you were born with. This file must be taken to court, in order to initiate legal action to obtain approval of surgery and the final court decision in favor of changing civil status. Only after such a court decision is reached can physical surgery take place.
Before, and particularly after, the operation takes place, the patient must undergo hormonal treatment in order to obtain the somatic characteristics of the desired sex, as well as psychological treatment for post-surgery adjustment.
From the Library of ACCEPT. Book ReviewTop
By Beatrice Nica, Co-ordonator of ACCEPT Information&Documentation CentreOscar Wilde, De profundis.
Cu câteva amintiri despre Oscar Wilde ale lui André Gide (With André Gide's remembrance of Oscar Wilde)
(Allfa 1999, Bucharest. Translation into Romanian byIrina Izverna)“Suffering is eternal, obscure, and secret.These are the words that could preface what Oscar Wilde offered by De Profundis.
It is like the infinite.“
(William Wordsworth)The book, structured in three parts offers the image of Oscar Wilde seen by Andre Gide, by Robert Ross (the one who’ll publish the manuscript) and finally that image offered by Oscar Wilde himself: an image of purification by pain, a philosophy of suferring.
Andre Gide succedes to remove that mask weared elegantly by the one who was Oscar Wilde, an elegance lightly exciting, in a permanent metamorphosis depending on the the situation and the person he was around. That shallowness and that air of dandy is relased, seting free a profund and deep insideness?, a world where thoughts are expressed by stories: „they are not capable of understanding that I’m able to think only in stories. The sculptor doesn’t translate his thoughts in marble, he thinks straigt in the marble. His entire nature was a continous efervescence, a strong and wilde joy, „my life is spring…”
Same as The Happy Prince he knew glory, admiration and renegation, oblivion.
Robert Ross, by the publication of the letters, offers the image of an Oscar Wilde surrounded by pain, forgotten by many frieds or urged to forget; it was the only conection with the world, the art and the playwriting.The manuscrispt offered in the last part of the book is a way of initiation, a decend in Dante’s Hell for purification. If at the begining the words cared him to suicide, later he understood the pain’s part in his own knowledge and discovery. It restores the efect of the social fall dued to the punishment with prison, over a human being gifted artistical, reflecting another image of The Prince.
The prison – The Purgatory – shapes him a wiseness (wisdom?) of the pain, as a new limit which he has to pass for true happyness. The suffering provoked by pain, as supreme emotion, throws him to his own debths: „…The pain is an endless moment. For us, the ones who are here, there are no seasons…For us, the time doesn’t go forward, it seams to describe a cercle around a center of pain…”
The rest is only words…
| Psychologist's
Advice
Beatrice Nica ACCEPT's Pshychologist Write
to Beatrice by e-mail at beatricenica@hotmail.com
or by regular mail at CP 34-56, Bucharest.
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Am I Becoming Gay?TopI am 29. An age at which I should be aware of my sexual orientation, aware of my self (knowledge of one’s self is a prerequisite of wisdom). I work in the Ministry of Domestic Affairs. Some time ago I have met a young gay whom I have helped professionally. Unfortunately, probably misunderstanding my intentions, he fell in love with me and tried to persuade me to have a relationship with him. Faced with my negative answer, he publicly declared that “we have been having an affair for two years now” which compromised my position at my workplace. An investigation was started, during which my friends, neighbours and colleagues were questioned. Eventually he was forced to admit the truth and the inquiry came to an end without me suffering any consequences; but following this incident I started hating homosexuals and avoiding them.
But this is not the reason why I am writing to you. This year, at New Year’s Eve, I was at my workplace and, because I did not want to be alone, I invited my girlfriend to keep me company. At midnight, we invited the two police soldiers to join us for champagne. What seemed strange to us was that at midnight the two soldiers kissed each other (but we did not say anything about this). About one hour later, when I went out for a smoke, one of them came close and, without saying a word, kissed me. What is strange is that I kissed him back. Slightly later, the other one came and kissed me too. I kissed them and I liked it. They told me they liked me, that they were won over by my way of being; that, unlike my other colleagues, I treated them respectfully, and so on. Later I withdrew and started crying—nervous breakdown or too many emotions, I don’t know why. My girlfriend, to whom I had to confess what had happened was not too surprised (she’s seen a lot in her lifetime), and told me that everything was a consequence of the incident I spoke about in the first part of my letter—some sort of strange revenge. She suggested that perhaps I should go all the way and see whether this is what I am really looking for—maybe this way I will no longer suffer from a complex and will escape homophobia. I don’t know if I want men in general, I don’t know if I want to have sex with men, but I know those handsome men, whom I sincerely envy, are still on my mind. My problem, nevertheless, is: what if only now everything gets complicated? What if I like it? Am I turning gay? How should I look for the answer to these questions?
Respectfully, and thanking you in advance,
Eugen (E-mail)
Eugen,You ask me to teach you how to look for answers to your questions; I can help you precisely by asking you questions whose answers are inside you – you yourself should be able to bring them out. Knowing oneself and that prerequisite of wisdom that you mentioned, develop with time; these are things which we discover inside ourselves which can surprise us at any age – this is what questions are for. You believe your behaviour encouraged that youth to behave towards you in a certain way. A great majority of the messages we give those around us, especially non-verbal ones, can cause a series of interpretations and at times you could be surprised by the reactions and the answers you get. Motivated by revenge or out of curiosity, you entered a world which, anyway, you cannot be indifferent to. You are not sure whether or not you liked what happened on New Year’s Eve—things you could not ignore, especially since you reacted. Behind this can indeed be an unrelieved tension, accumulated fury, being in fact a reverse of the pretended revenge, which surprised you, however.
Leaving behind what happened, it’s only you who can judge facts with a clear mind. It was not just an answer to an accumulated rage, was it perhaps just a wish to identify with them, to feel what they feel, those “handsome men whom I sincerely envy.” The answer is within yourself.
Your friend suggested you go all the way. But what does “all the way” mean to you?
I hope the answer to my questions helps you.Best wishes,
Beatrice
Entertainment - by Florin RaduTopThis victory was followed, however, by an aggressive return to the merciless reality of a world governed by racism and puritanism—everything started with the publishing of naked pictures of Vanessa, taken during her adolescence, in the Penthouse magazine. There was a huge scandal, and those who called themselves the defenders of American morality cornered her, determining Vanessa to give up the Miss America title. White people did not want to admit the standard of American beauty being embodied by a Black woman, and Black people refused to support her, thinking she was not Black enough.
Star profile
Vanessa Williams
At the age of 37, Vanessa Williams is envied by the divas in Hollywood’s musical world. Her skin is copper-like, her body could not be further “improved” by plastic surgery, and her eyes are ocean-like in their clarity and colour. More than that, she has a unique voice which enjoys an unquestionable success with the audience.
Vanessa Williams was born on March 18, 1963 in Millwood, NY. Her parents, Helen and Milton Williams, both teachers of music, are the ones who instilled the love of this art in little Vanessa. She took piano lessons for a few years, then she took acting, diction, and dance classes. In 1985 she got a degree in Music from the Syracuse University. But Vanessa had already turned famous in 1983 when she was the first African American to win the Miss America contest.
Her first album, The Right Stuff (1988), won a Golden Album award and brought her two nominations for the Grammy Awards, as well as the R&B debut prize. With this promising debut in the musical world, her road has literally been paved in gold. In 1991 The Comfort Zone came out, winning two Platinum Awards, and strengthening her position of R&B music diva. Her next album, The Sweetest Days, obtained another Platinum Award. 1996 was a sad year in her private life, due to a difficult divorce, but it was the most successful year in her professional life. Colors of the Wind, the musical theme of the Pocahontas cartoons, brought her no less than three important prizes—an Academy Award, a Grammy, and a Golden Globe. The moviemaking world attracts Vanessa as an actress, and she got a secondary part in Erasure, next to Arnold Schwarzenegger.
More music themes followed, a TV production with a great impact on the audience, The Odissey, and a success part in Dance with Me, movie which featured her indisputable talent as a dancer. Her latest album, Next, which came out in 1997, made it to the top of the best-selling R&B albums in the US. Currently, Vanessa Williams is preparing material for a new album, which will surely not disappoint her countless fans.
Regardless of how many albums she would come up with, and of how many prizes she would win, Vanessa Williams’ number one priority is children. It is for the first time in life when everything she wants are the love and peace of a home which she surely deserves.
A Successful Homophobe - Eminem
The rap singer Eminem (his real name is Marshal Mathers), caused a real controversy in the United States and abroad because of his lyrics. Claiming the freedom of expression, Eminem doesn't hesitate to attack homosexuals and women. Far from being paid attention to, the efforts of the LGBT and women's organisations are not made public, while the singer gets loads of awards from MTV and was recently nominated for Grammies. Plus, the music shops in the States censored the anti-religious, pro-drugs and pro-violence lyrics, leaving the anti-gay and missoginistic lyrics untouched. Moreover, his latest album - "Marshal Mathers LP" - was sold in record numbers in 2000, clearly the best-seller of the year inasmuch as the rap music is concerned.
This is just a sample from Eminem's lyrics: “My words are like a dagger with a jagged edge/That’ll stab you in the head/Whether you’re a fag or lez/Or the homosex, hermaph, or trans-a-ves”, which made GLAAD, The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, protest against Eminem's nominations at the Grammy Awards. GLAAD's initiative was ignored. Now we can only hope that the members of the committee grantingbthe awards will not support the career of a singer who, as shown, spreads primitive hatred through his lyrics.
The Wedding of 2000
Madonna (42) and the British director Guy Ritchie (32) said "Yes" on December 22, 2000, in the UK, 900 km from London, by the Scottish town of Dornach, in the famous castle of Skibo. The godfather was Sting, assisted by his wife Trudie Styler. The event, characterised by the press as "the wedding of 2000", brought the attention of the entire world.
For her second wedding (Madonna was married in the 80's to actor sean Penn), the singer chose a beige dress, created espacially for this occasion by her good friend, stylist Stella Mc Cartney. The dress came with a 19-K diamond bracelet. During the ceremony, the star asked Elton John to perform the famous tune “Song for Guy” especially for her husband. Such a famous couple couldn't have invited but renowned guests - besides Sting and Trudie, Goerge Clooney, Robin Williams, Brad Pitt, Rupert Everett, and Gwyneth Paltrow - the last one, maid of honour.
The Wedding of 2001?
Alexandru Manolache
Another gay icon, Mariah Carey, is expected to get married (again). After the divorce of Sony Co. boss Tommy Mottola a few years ago, Mariah seemed to have gained some independence. Which is kind of maculated now, that she's dating the handsome Spanish singer Luis Miguel, see the photo.
The beautiful Mariah has all the reasons to be happy: recently she has been declared the most successful female singer of all times, outra(n)ging Madonna and Whitney Houston inasmuch as the albumsales are concerned.
Important AnnouncementsTopEach Friday and Saturday, Disco Club Casablanca (Sala Polivalentã, Parcul Tineretului, Bucharest) organises gay&lesbian nights. Lesbian night on Sundays. Reservations at 330.12.06. See you there!
To the ones who're in love
On Wednesday, February 14, ACCEPT invites you to celebrate together St. Valentine's Day, between 6:00 and 9:00 pm. You can read poems, sing, mimic, post your cards on the wall, dedicate a song (bring the CD), offer flowers, letters, gifts to the loved one(s).Meeting
Pro Europa League, The Romanian Helsinki Committee (APADOR-CH), Romani CRISS, and ACCEPT are organising, on Monday, February 12, at ACCEPT centre, a meeting of the Romanian human rights organisations.
The meeting aims to identify a common agenda of the attending organisations and aims to fulfill the need for debates and direct exchange of information about the programmes and objectives of the human rights organisations.
The administrative work will be dealt with by ACCEPT.
For further information please call 01/252 56 20, write to adicos@fx.ro and read details (in Romanian) at http://accept.ong.ro/eveniment.html
Contact person: Adrian Coman, ACCEPT Executive DirectorACCEPT members are kindly reminded to pay the membership fee - 60,000 lei/year. Please pay the fee either at ACCEPT centre or by bank transfer to ACCEPT account, Nr. 01 29678915, ING Barings Bank, Bucharest Branch, SWIFT Code INGBROBU , Bank address - Soseaua Kiseleff Nr. 11 - 13, Bucuresti, ROMÂNIA.
Special thanks
ACCEPT would like to thank COC Netherlands organisation for the financial collect during the 6th edition of COC National Song Contest. The money that was raised - 868.50 guldens, was donated to ACCEPT.
ACCEPT also thanks Mr. Denni Robertson and Mr. Tim Correll for their donation to ACCEPT - 100 dollars.We also thank Mr. Bruce Benderson and Mr. Pierre Noël, for the books donated to ACCEPT - Pins (Jim Provenzono), The Kid (Dan Savage), Le rose et le noir (Frederic Martel), In September, the Light Changes (Andrew Holleran) and, respectively, The New Joy of Gay Sex (Charles Silverstein) and Best Gay Erotica (various authors).
If you want to receive weekly updates on ACCEPT's activities, do subscribe to ACCEPT's mailing list by sending a blank message to accept@fx.ro entering the word "subscribe" in the subject line. You'll enter a confidential list - your name will remain invisible to the others.
