|
|
 Essayists to Explore 'Satanic' Aspects of Same-Sex Love Anti-Gay Hysteria Ignited by Large Publishing Company |
|
By Juris Ludvigs Lavrikovs Summary
The language used by the company is extremely hysterical and offensive. The Latvian National Human Rights Office (LNHRO) stated that the topics suggested for the competition are "discriminatory and humiliating." The Office indicated it might call on the Public Prosecutor's Office to launch a criminal investigation against the organizers. Mr. Bruvers, the Director of the Office, said that in a democratic society everybody has a right to expression, including regarding homosexuality, but no one has a right to offend persons who are different. Mr. Garda, the Director of Vieda, immediately began an offensive campaign against Mr. Bruvers and the Latvian Human Rights Office, suggesting that Latvia is the only country in the world where non-homosexuals are oppressed and 'abnormality' is supported and promoted. The latest and most shocking development is that a small number of members of the Latvian Parliament, including two members of the Parliamentary Human Rights Commission, have joined the 'crusade against homosexuals.' Latvian lesbian and gay organizations have sent a letter of protest demanding that these MPs quit their positions in the Human Rights Commission or be excluded from its work for manifestly anti-human rights activities. Vieda's Competitions Earlier this year Vieda organized another competition on the topic of the 'decolonization' of Latvia. That competition and Vieda's activities promoting anti-Russian sentiment were heavily criticized by Russia and Europe. This time Vieda has announced its "just struggle against homosexuality." The suggested topics speak for themselves:
Position of the Latvian National Human Rights Office The first reaction from the Latvian Human Rights Office was that if the Office receives complaints about Vieda's competition it may call on the Public Prosecutor's Office to launch a criminal investigation against the organizers. In the view of the Office the topics suggested for the competition "undermine personal honor and respect and are discriminatory." The Latvian National Human Rights Office is an independent State institution and its functions are very similar to those of an Ombudsman. The Office's views and opinions are purely advisory and are not legally binding. The Office has a long history of supporting lesbian and gay rights in Latvia and for this reason is regarded as a controversial institution by a few members of the Parliament and by some members of the public. The Office has submitted a number of proposals for inclusion of sexual orientation in Latvian anti-discrimination legislation, delivered its opinion on discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation in a case in which a gay policeman was dismissed solely because of his sexuality, conducted research on lesbian and gay rights, and submitted proposals for a partnership law to the Parliament. Mr. Bruvers, a devout Christian and a family man, who is an ordained Baptist minister, had to abandon his right to preach as a Baptist minister following pressure from the leaders of the Latvian Baptist Church who suggested that his support for lesbian and gay rights contradicts Church doctrine. Following heated discussion around Vieda's competition, the Office delivered its response. According to the Office, the right to free expression is one of the basic rights in a democratic society and is guaranteed by the Latvian Constitution, the European Convention on Human Rights and other international human rights treaties. This right includes not only information and ideas that are positive, neutral and inoffensive, but also those that shock, offend and disturb some members of society. At the same time, the Office stressed that this right is not absolute and can be restricted in cases where the rights of others are endangered, for example, the right to privacy or personal safety. The Office referred to case law of the European Court of Human Rights that restricts the right to expression when that expression is humiliating and offensive. The Office further considered whether the organization of the competition "Latvia without homosexuality" is a violation of human rights. The Office noted that although it supports any discussion on the topic, the competition in question allows only those who oppose homosexuality to take part in it and therefore this is not a discussion about but against homosexuality. However, the Office does not consider that the organization of such a competition is per se a violation of human rights. Nevertheless, the Office notes that those of the competition's topics that associate homosexuality with Satanism and characterize it as a sign of societal degeneration promote intolerance in Latvia. The Office stated that if a society becomes less tolerant towards a particular group of people, those people's rights could be endangered. The Office concluded that calling homosexuals 'degenerates' is a violation of human rights: the right to expression does not protect Mr. Garda's statements and he has also overstepped the limits of ethical norms. The Office referred to case law of the European Court of Human Rights which identifies a person's sexual orientation as a part of that person's private life. References were also made to recent developments within the European Union to fight discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and Latvia's obligation to implement EU anti-discrimination standards. The Office stated that Latvia cannot ignore its international obligations, isolate itself and introduce its own standards. The Office also drew attention to the 1991 decision of the World Health Organization to delete homosexuality from the classification of mental illnesses and made it clear that Latvia should not make its own innovations. The Office stated that every person's right to privacy should be respected and that tolerance should be promoted within society, this being an important guarantee of the observance of human rights. The Office pointed out that there is only one step from intolerance to discrimination. The Office further touched upon the issue of how human rights violations can be remedied in Latvia. The Office referred to Article 158 of the Latvian Criminal Law, which provides that a person may be held criminally responsible if that person disseminates humiliating and offensive material. However, that Article relates more particularly to a situation where an individual person's honor and respect have been undermined. The Office also noted that cases of such a nature very rarely receive the courts' consideration. The Office noted that current legislation and practice do not provide effective remedy for similar cases where a group of persons seek to sue a person for undermining their honor and respect. The Office stated that, in any event, people who feel offended can submit a complaint to the Office, but pointed out once again that the Office's opinions are not legally binding and can only resolve disputes by way of amicable settlement. During the last few days the Office has received a number of complaints from lesbians and gay men concerning the competition organized by Vieda.
The latest, and even more disturbing, development is that three members of the Latvian Parliament, Mr. Juris Vidins (member of the Parliamentary Commission on Human Rights and Public Affairs), Mr. Peteris Tabuns (Secretary of the Parliamentary Commission on Human Rights and Public Affairs) and Mr. Janis Leja, have released a statement in support of the 'just' fight against homosexuality. They referred to the discussion around Vieda's competition and stated that expression of one's opinion cannot be considered a violation of human rights. In the MPs' view opinions regarding fundamental issues can differ, but then one view will be based upon a lie. The MPs stated that they categorically oppose 'unlimited dissemination' of 'pederasty' (this is how the MPs refer to homosexuality), pornography, drug abuse and alcoholism being regarded as an achievement in terms of human rights. They stated that 'pederasty' has always been and remains a deviation from normal human development and that its occurrence therefore deserves pity and sympathy, but does not deserve support, promotion or propaganda for this abnormality in the mass media, schools or public bodies of any kind. In their view it is absurd to regard tolerance of such a 'mental deformity' as a sign of civilized and modern society of the 21st century. They further stated that they support those young people who take a firm stand against any 'slackness', including 'pederasty'. They called upon healthy-thinking members of society to take even firmer steps and to be united in eliminating further dissemination of 'pederasty' and other forms of mental deformity and degeneration. The MPs stated that 'pederasty' promotes the spread of AIDS, a decreasing birth-rate, the break-up of families, and the deterioration of society's spiritual and physical health. Reaction of the Latvian lesbian and gay community Latvian lesbian and gay organizations have sent a letter of protest to the three members of Parliament who released this statement, calling on them to quit their work in the Commission, and a letter addressed to the Parliament and to the Parliamentary Human Rights and Public Affairs Commission demanding that these MPs be excluded from the work of the Commission. The letter expressed disbelief and shock that persons working to protect human rights could allow such statements of hate which absolutely contradict the ideals of human rights and tolerance. |
Two weeks ago the publishing company Vieda announced a scandalous competition for the best composition on the subject "Latvia without homosexuality."
The company invited pupils, students, and any Latvian resident to take part in the "just struggle against homosexuality."
Vieda and its Director Mr. Garda reacted extremely hysterically, with an outpouring of offensive comments regarding the Latvian National Human Rights Office and its Director Mr. Bruvers personally. Their main slogan was "Latvia is the only country is the world where non-homosexuals are persecuted."
