Comments on: Gay pride activists march in Rome, Warsaw, Zagreb

By: drewski

drewski — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 08:11:39 +0000

Poland had those goddamn Kaczynski twins who damn near got it under some serious EU sanction–but those fuckers were both elected (and it seems Lech is still president). Poland is in transition, and like the Baltic States, Poland is still coming out of its past. I still like to think that Polish resilience and love of life will overcome the venom of both nationalists and the Church.

Italy? Berlusconi is doing nothing so much as making Italian legislators the joke they have collectively been since (before?) Mussolini. The good that could come of this foolishness is that Berlusconi would likely amend the Lateran Treaty to give new powers to the Roman Catholic Church. In my fantasy world, that would give truth to the idea that the Church is both a faith AND a state, which would allow even strict-constructionists to bitch-slap the Church into no longer interfering with US domestic politics. I have my kleenex ready.

Croatia? That’s some balls, but don’t rule them out. We have a huge Croatian population here (CLE). Croats aren’t so far from Italians. Catholic but real people too. Very much like the Baptists I grew up with–what you advocate isn’t necesarily what you believe.

By: Steerpike

Steerpike — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 07:39:38 +0000

These people are the real heroes today: on the front lines, with ignorant fascists screaming abuse and threats at them. Small groups, leading the charge. Gay rights are global human rights. Our enemies are who they’ve always been; haters of freedom, obscurantists, bigots, racists and miogynists, hypocrites and the violent.

By: Charon

Charon — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:46:34 +0000

In Zagreb, five - reportedly ant-gays - were arrested. Also, one incident did happen: a guy returning from Pride was badly beaten. Don't know details. Anti-gay counterdemonstration was organized by a political party (Croatian Pure Party of Rights (extreme right-wing) and a minor profacist organization "Croatian Nationalists". It was approved by Croatian police despite hate-language and poster they have published.

By: Dominik

Dominik — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:01:06 +0000

Poland never criminalized hmosexuality. This law was inherited from Russian occupation. But when we liberated we had to “repeal” this law.
And I can’t agree with “heavily” catholic. Catholic Church is dying in our country, nobody cares at all about what they say and what they claim. But politicians like to invoke “the greatest Pole” John Paul II and Poles loved him very much and that’s the only reason why this country remains to be seemed as a catholic in the world.

By: Morgan

Morgan — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 13:33:48 +0000

Poland (Polska) decriminilized homosexuality in 1935 I read. But the country still lags in recognition of same-sex relationships. So work needs to be done there and is so much of Eastern Europe. The former Yugoslav republic of Slovenia has civil unions(borders Italy and shares in Alpine mountain region with neighboring Italy the only Slavic country to have an Alpine mountain region)as does the Czech Republic.

By: mdc.philly

mdc.philly — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 13:15:05 +0000

The “Shot heard ’round the world”