THE ECOSY QUEER NETWORK's NEWSLETTER - NUMBER 8 - FEBRUARY 2006
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IN THIS NEWSLETTER:
Editorial
by Conny Paatzsch
Network coordinator
Dear comrades, dear friends, dear readers,
The new red and pink newsletter is just out, and i would like to thank everyone of you that contributed to this 8th issues.
It has been some months after the last newsletter and again many things happened in the field of LGBT issues. We had a huge demonstration in Rome that demanded a Civil Partnership Law and showed the world that there is a oppostion against the Vatican’s definition of family.
We received good news from Portugal where JS presented a law project for same sex marriages and from Northern Ireland, where the first civil partnership was celebrated.
Also topics from within our organisations caught our attention. IUSY – the Internationale Union of Socialist Youth – has a new LesbiGay Working Group Coordinator, Yoav.
The popular Queer Easter Seminar is coming closer and the preparation for it are speeding up. The invitation for it can be found in this newsletter.
We are hoping to see many of you on Queer Easter.
Conny
On the latest IUSY Congress in January 2006 Yoav Sivan was elected new LesbiGay Working Group Coordinator of IUSY. ECOSY is congratulating Yoav for his post, wishing him all the best for promoting LGBT rights within the socialist youth and further on. We are looking forward for a close cooperation between ECOSY and IUSY in the field of LGBT and queer issues.
: :
LesBiGay, LGBT, LGBTQ, Queer: Even choosing a name is a political question. Indeed, the first question I have to face upon starting my position as the LesBiGay Workshop Coordinator for IUSY (International Union of Socialist Youth) is what title I should choose.
No matter how you are approaching LGBTQ issues you are forced to confront with questions of labeling and politics of identity. Thus, picking up letters and arranging them according to some logic bring about a few political dilemmas:
- How do we dare to label when the struggle against labeling is the essence of the campaign against homophobia?
- Does it make any sense to combine the queer perspective which is radical and deconstructive with the LGBT agenda which is conservative where it seeks to broaden the existing norms rather than destroy them altogether?
- By having the L of the Lesbians before the G of the (male) Gays, do we confront the problem of the male hegemony or hinder a solution by masking the harsh reality?
- And finally: Do we really have one agenda in which L, G, B, T (and Q) come together in political demands?
Of course, those are only readymade questions, the list is much longer. But perhaps this is what makes LGBT issues (and I choose here the common convention) so interesting: action is so easily connected with ideology. Yet it also blurs our steps, the measures needed to be taken: if every action begs an ideological self-examining, then what shape does political advocacy take?
I hope that in the course of time I will find ways to provide some (partial) answers to the aforementioned dilemmas and many more. This could be achieved by bringing together as many people as possible, with various and colourful affiliations and identities, to speak up their minds and to promote their politics. A strong presence of women, a close collaboration of non-Europeans, and offering a special place to people who chose to cross even the radical sexual and political identities are only a few of the goals I see myself obliged to.
Yoav Sivan
newly elected IUSY LesBiGay Coordinator
“Questo matrimonio non s'ha da fare, né domani, né mai” or: this wedding should not be celebrated, neither tomorrow, nor ever. This quotation from the book “The Bethroted” (in Italian “I promessi sposi”), by Alessandro Manzoni, sums up the situation for same-sex marriage in Italy. At the moment it simply is not on the Italian political agenda. Both centre-left and centre-right coalitions are avoiding the topic for the next elections. The only possibility for LGBT people is the big discussion about a law on PaCS or on Registered Partnerships.
But… why “same-sex marriage” is not on the Italian
political agenda? Since it would cause a tremendous outcry from the
Vatican, even more than in Spain, no major political party dares to
raise the issue, since no one wants to have the Catholic hierarchy among
their enemies. Political parties are all frightened to lose a lot of
votes if there will be a strong campaign of the Catholic Church against
those who wants to promote same-sex marriage.
As a strictly Roman Catholic country, Italy still has a dominant religious
moralism that influences all aspects of people’s life.
Or at least this is what it seems… average people are in fact much more intelligent than Joseph Ratzinger thinks. Anytime there is a meeting or a papal audience, Benedict XVI or other members of his staff (e.g. cardinals Ruini, Pompedda or Sodano) never miss opportunity to speak against those who promotes Civil Rights. The Vatican attacks continuously the Italian center-left coalition on civil unions, abortion, sexually transmitted disease prevention, divorce and so on, joined at once by the most reactionary parts of the center-right coalition.
It is worth noting, though, that the more Vatican hierarchy speaks about ethically sensible topics, in attempt to assert their authority on Italians and the laws of the Republic, the more the people get sick and tired of them. For this reason I think that the manifestations of the 14th of January 2006 have been extremely important for Italian society, a first step in affirmation the right to self-determination and an unquestionable sign of progress.
In Rome around 50.000 people were demonstrating to promote the Civil Partnership law (PaCS). Leading personalities in the cultural and political fields were on stage “coming out” as de facto couples, to prove that they are also family and that a law on PaCS would not wreck traditional marriage.
At the same time around 200.000 people where in Milan defending the Law 194 on Abortion, expressing their strong view that this law should stay unchanged. Women of all ages were in this huge march shouting that decisions on their body were to be taken only by themselves, as a warning to Health Minister Storace who is trying to destroy Law 194 to please ProLife associations close to the Catholic Church.
For the very first time Italian mass media have shown interest about those matters, probably thanks to these massive demonstrations, which is really important, at least because, for once, there has been a correct information on the issues.
As you can see while in Europe is spreading a wind of change in civil rights, Italy is subject to strong forces that try to bring us back in the Middle Ages. People in Italy are not going to hear the wind blowing but the want to be part of it, therefore they are ready to react, to defend the secularity of the Republic, holding fast to the idea of Earl Camillo Cavour (one of the fathers of modern Italy) “free church in free State”, equal in dignity but separate.
Claudio Sartorelli
Sinistra Giovanile,
Italy
Monday 19th December 2005 saw the first ever UK civil partnership held in Belfast Northern Ireland, met with cheers and protests in equal measure. The SDLP had led the fight for these rights, and were present at City Hall to celebrate the first unions, congratulate those involved, and stand up to the fundamentalists determined to ruin the day.
The Civil Partnership Act 2004 provides same-sex couples with similar
legal rights to married couples. When the bill was introduced to Parliament
in
2004 the only party from Northern Ireland to support the bill was
the SDLP.
Objections came from all other Northern parties in Westminster, calling
civil partnerships unnatural and immoral. The SDLP stood strong, strong
for Equality.
SDLP youth took lead in both the party and in Northern Ireland with a motion to the annual conference in 2000 expressing the need for LGBT rights to be at the forefront of the party’s agenda, a motion that was passed unanimously. Equality was at the forefront of these proposals, which address unfair aspects of taxation, pensions and social security policies. Other parties rejected outright what they called “gay marriage”.
Once again, the SDLP’s pioneering approach has resulted in a move which will change the lives of many. As the most progressive party in Northern Ireland we have proved once again that ours is a vision of a society based on human rights & social justice. We have proved we are willing to stand strong in order to challenge the inequalities and injustices within our society. This has been proven not only through these actions but our rejection and eventual defeat of the recent ‘on the runs’ legislation – a proposal drawn up between Sinn Fein and the British Government, which was to grant an amnesty to paramilitary organisations and security forces, allowing those who committed some of the most terrible atrocities of out Troubles to ever avoid justice for their acts.
Through these times the SDLP has seen a renewed interest in the party and a new life to its Youth Group. The peace process in the North of Ireland has become stale and corrupt in parts, and SDLP Youth is leading the charge to inject new life and integrity to politics here.
While the Northern Ireland Assembly remains in suspension the SDLP is still working for rapid and full implementation of Good Friday Agreement. As other parties use delaying tactics over commitment to power-sharing and ending criminality, the SDLP are fighting vigorously for the needs and rights of the people of the North – and in the case of civil partnerships, we are gradually achieving these, in spite of those who want to keep us in the dark ages.
John O'Doherty
SDLP Youth Northern Ireland
ILGA-Europe and IGLYO want to produce a comprehensive report on the Social Exclusion of LGBT Youth in Europe that is planned to be presented at a hearing of the European Parliament in 2006. The report will include an overview of existing research material and case studies collected from European countries, reflecting real life experiences of European LGBT youth in relation to social exclusion. This can be useful in your lobbying activities, and to raise awareness among policy-makers.
We would like to ask for your contribution to produce this report in the form of collecting typical cases of social exclusion as well as good examples of fair treatment of LGBT youth from your country. We are aware that there is a growing number of countries where the social integration problems of young LGBT people are taken seriously. However, there are still a lot of European countries where problems of LGBT people in general, and those of young LGBT people in particular are not highlighted enough, if at all. We would like to invite you to voice your problems, concerns and achievements in these fields.
The main goal of this initiative is to collect descriptions of real life personal experiences with which we can illustrate how social exclusion mechanisms work to prevent the successful social integration of young LGBT people in Europe. We want to use this information to turn to the European Commission to request for more attention and support to be given to the issue of social exclusion of LGBT youth.
There are two sets of questions that can be downloaded here. Can you please send them back (preferably in English) to the following address: socialexclusionresearch@iglyo.com
Bjorn van Roozendaal
IGLYO
Gay sex in public spaces – especially in parks – has been a topic well discussed in the Netherlands the past two months, because some time ago the Dutch liberal and conservative party (VVD) in the municipality of Amsterdam decided to bring this item back to the public’s attention. Surprisingly their aim was not to try and put an end to publicly displayed sexual activity between gay men, but rather to protect it!
In attempt to launch their 50-pages counting plan called “Amsterdam Gay Capital, Tolerant Gay City”, the VVD is trying to restore the tolerance there once was towards gay people in Amsterdam. Gay cruising areas, they figure, has become a risk zone for gay men as regards to their health and safety. Attempting to resolve this situation, the VVD feels a solution is to be found in allowing gay men to have sex in some of (or parts of) Amsterdam’s public parks, with condom vending machines in close proximity and policemen patrolling the area to insure their safety.
Not only were politicians from other political parties (both left and right) in Amsterdam surprised by this motion, the debate on this issue was also vividly held amongst the people themselves. Not many voices were to be found in support of the motion, better yet even most gay (rights) organisations strongly expressed their doubts and even their dislike. First of all these organisations found that there is a question of discrimination when you allow gay people to have cruising spaces and do not do the same for heterosexuals, thus emphasizing their (social) differences. Second, public parks are not meant for having sex, it’s a place you can stroll and relax. Moreover, it is a place frequently visited by children, and one cannot in good conscience put the ‘joy’ of some of having sex in public spaces above the naivety of children. And third, part of the reason for many gay men to have sex in public spaces is because of the thrill it provides, the thrill of knowing one can be caught at any second (for after all public sex is still illegal). When you allow gay men to have sex in public spaces, you take away that thrill. It’s just that when these places don’t provide that thrill anymore, there will be found other places where it is still illegal to have sex in, places that then do still provide that excitement.
I myself firmly embrace the thought of making Amsterdam more tolerant towards gay people, which after all is the aim of the 50 pages counting plan. Apart from Amsterdam still being very tolerant as regards to lgbt people, certain things can of course always be improved. For reasons mentioned earlier, I’m just not sure whether police protected gay cruising areas will contribute to achieving that goal. Therefore I do oppose this part of the plan. In line with this idea is the VVD spokeswoman for (gay) diversity policy. She recently spoke against this part of the plan, which may very well point to the fact that the VVD now too has dropped the subject.
Regardless of whether this (part of the) plan will be implemented or not, it’s good to know lgbt issues are not forgotten on the Amsterdam political agenda. This year there has even been set aside an extra amount of 200.000 euros for the purpose of ‘gay emancipation’ in the city. The only sour aspect of this situation is the comparison between Amsterdam and more conservative societies. When you think of countries such as Poland where lgbt people are still deprived of many rights, it’s quite strange that in Amsterdam we are discussing whether or not we should create public spaces for gay people to have sex in. That is why I hope when discussing lgbt issues people do not get caught up in relatively small issues as this ‘cruising matter’, and then forget about fighting for much more basic rights in communities where the lgbt situation is much worse. After all, let us not forget we all live in the same world, and that it is up to all of us to make it a better one, for all of us.
Sebastiaan Matulewicz
LGBT Coordinator JS in de PvdA, the Netherlands
Queer Easter is coming your way again. The seventh Queer Easter is going to take place from 11th to 17th of April 2006. The seminar is organized as a cooperation seminar of the LBGT working group of IUSY, the Queer Network of ECOSY, the International Falcon Movement IFM –SEI and the educational centre Kurt Löwenstein. Every year we gather more than hundred people from all over the world to discuss LGBT issues.
The venue will be the educational centre Kurt Loewenstein in Werftpfuhl (30 km away from Berlin). The accommodation is going to be mainly in 4-bed-rooms. Invited are 18-30-year-old members of IUSY-, ECOSY and IFM-SEI-organisations and friends. Working language of the seminar is English. Women are encouraged to apply to this seminar.
We’re going to work with political workshops in the morning and media-working-groups in the afternoon. In the workshops we’ll tackle many different topics. The exact program is going to be sent out with the “last-information letter” one week before the seminar starts. In the afternoon sessions we’ll work in different media-working groups. The participation fee, which is in general low, depends on the country you come from. For more detailed information please contact Raana at the educational centre (r.graesle@kurt-loewenstein.de), contact Conny Paatzsch or go to the online application form:
http://www.ecosy.org/Queer_Easter_2006_application.258.0.html
We hope to see you you in Werftpfuhl,
The Queer Easter 2006 Team
This newsletter does not automatically represent positions of ECOSY. This newsletter is open to everyone who wants to join the debate on LGBT Rights issues. More debates? http://www.ecosy.org
PRESS RELEASE 15 FEBRUARY 2006:
JS PORTUGAL MADE A LAW PROJECT TO ALLOW SAME SEX MARRIAGE.
Today in the Parliament, JS Portugal presented in a press conference a law project to allow same sex marriage in Portugal. After the change of our Constitution, in 2004, who states that:
1. All citizens have the same social rank and are equal
before the law.
2. No one shall be privileged or favoured, or discriminated against,
or deprived
of any right or exempted from any duty, by reason of his or her ancestry,
sex,
race, language, territory of origin, religion, political or ideological
convictions,
education, economic situation, social circumstances or sexual orientation.
Now JS starts the law procedure to introduce the same sex marriage in Portuguese juridical system. After the presentation JS/Portugal going to organize a seminar in the Parliament about the issue and going to start a public debate in the Portuguese society, in order to change the law in the beginning of 2007.
More information on www.ecosy.org