Zagreb Marks International Day Against Homophobia

21 May 2007

On the occasion of May 17, the International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO), the Legal Team of Iskorak and Kontra, and the Croatian Women Network organized a distribution of �We are not homophobic, however...� leaflets, as well as leaflets warning of the increased homophobia spread by the Catholic Church.

The leaflets presented quotes from homophobic statements by Catholic Church representatives and the Programme of Catholic Catechises for elementary schools. The action aimed to warn the citizens of Croatia and the official institutions about the rising homophobia in the Catholic Church and the hate-speech used by Church representatives in public appearances.

Lamentably, soon after the start of the action, the activists were attacked by an official of the Church. Namely, a man who wouldn�t give his name, engaged in verbal and then physical attack on activists that distributed the promotional materials and the members of the press that covered the action. He yelled at the activists demanding they leave the square in front of the Cathedral church in Zagreb, for it was not �appropriate place� for such activities.

The Legal Team believes that the attack demonstrates well the Catholic Church policies towards homosexual persons. The message that the space in front of a church is not appropriate for education on human rights of sexual minorities confirms, once again, the homophobic views of the Church, according to the Legal Team.