LESBO 17/18
Id. 2002: TRANS
Eleven years of independence
ELEVEN YEARS OF HOMOPHOBIA
1991 1992
1993 1994
1995 1996
1997 1998
1999 2000
2001 2002
Illustration Boris Benko
1991
The explicit prohibition of discrimination based on sexual orientation
is excluded from the Constitution. Angelca Žerovnik from the Social
Democrat Party of Slovenia believes that the prohibition of discrimination
based on sexual orientation would allow for orientation towards
“children, animals, and statues”.
June: the Ljubljana City Council cancels the financial aid to
Revolver stating that it is a “pornographic magazine” and at the
same time prohibits the (co-) funding of GLBT projects.
Back to top
1992
In December, Roza Klub issued a leaflet “Sexuality and AIDS”.
The following year begins with a scandal: dr. Veljko Troha of
the Expert Council for Education and Upbringing makes assesses
the leaflet as inappropriate for the youth because it “does not
adhere to our Slovenian family mentality”. It was even said to
be an undercover action of trafficking young people into homosexuality.
Dr. Anton Dolenc, a professor at the Medical Faculty and president
of the Slovenian Medical Society adds that same-sex oriented people
are “a perversion of society since there is no way for them to
procreate with their sexual practices, therefore they are doomed
to extinction in the first generation and as such, they are a
dead branch on the living tree of life”. The Slovenian Chamber
of Health detaches itself from this statement, however only following
a public appeal. The World Health Organization later rates the
leaflet as unobjectionable.
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1993
There is much excitement caused by the initiative to the Constitutional
Court filed by Aleksander Perdih and Silvo Zupanc. In its reply
to the Constitutional Court, the Ministry of Family, Labor and
Social Affairs refers to the existing Law on the matrimonial relationship
and family relations.
“But this type of sexual orientation is often linked to some
other neurotic or emotional disturbances. Homosexuality is often
linked to drug abuse and it manifests itself in special forms
of conduct. The psychologists' meeting studied this problem and
our unanimous opinion was that our army doesn't advocate it, but
we also don't prevent it. Probably development also brings deviant
phenomena: drugs, homosexuality. But this is here still in the
early stages.”(Vinko Majcen, M.Sc., head of psychology in the
army for Veeer, February 28)
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1994
Letters of the readers in Delo (the largest national daily newspaper):
in reference to the events in Zagreb where an HIV-positive man
had knowingly infected several of his partners, Vera Hauptman
residing in Litija demands a compulsory testing of all Slovenians
for HIV and supports her argument with the positive effects of
photofluorography.
The GLBT movement intends to organize the celebration of the
10th anniversary of the organized movement. The celebration was
to take place on May 27 on the Ljubljana Castle. The leaseholder
Dejan Novak cancels the event minutes before its beginning stating
that “he had only heard a couple of hours prior to the event that
this is an event organized by homosexuals” and he was concerned
that “he would get a bad reputation. If he allowed this, he would
probably lose his clientele”. It later turned out that the City
Council of Ljubljana was behind this, specifically Janez Lesar,
who was opposed to the event because of construction works. Slovenske
Novice (a national tabloid daily newspaper with a wide circulation)
reported: “[...] however, on that part of the courtyard, there
were no great construction works to be seen”.
Back to top
1995
On February 23, Angelca Žerovnik, the inventor of the expression
“lesbism”, tells us in a statement for “TV Tednik”, a weekly news
show, that homosexuality can simply “go away with time” for some
people.
On March 16, dr. Karel Zupančič gives a lecture at the Law Faculty
entitled “Law and the lifelong unions of same-sex persons (sic!)”.
Among other things, he said the following: “From the legal point
of view, a marital union is significant as the frame that is the
most beneficial for the child. It is about the founding of a family
in a natural manner. Same-sex persons cannot have natural children,
however.” He believes that a different sexual orientation presupposes
a different treatment under the law.
On April 14, Delo Stik carries out a survey among 609 telephone
subscribers. The majority of the people asked (35.6%) are bothered
by the sexual orientation of other people. Almost 60% do not support
same-sex marriages. Only one-fifth of the people surveyed believe
that the state should take decisive action against the phenomena
and movements that profess racism, chauvinism and intolerance
towards foreigners in general.
“I have no prejudice against same-sex love, but only if affection
comes from both sides equally - I don't like if boys are being
harassed and forced into another form of life, which they don't
want.” (Miša Molk, interview for Slovenske novice, August 22)
On August 25, Vice-president of the National Assembly Lev Kreft
opens the “International discussion on homosexuality” and becomes
the victim of negative criticism in “Slovenec”, a then-daily newspaper.
In September, Delo publishes a comment entitled “New Form of
Rape”, where the author “R.K.” writes, among other things: “Many
are asking themselves, for example, if the promotion of homosexuality
is truly one of the unavoidable ways in which citizens must prove
their level of tolerance towards different people. So we had a
world congress, some other panel discussions and meetings, and
some days ago, an international congress of those who are sexually
different. Ever more loudly, the rights of these people are discussed
and also the equality of the different, about the possibility
of adoption, some evil tongues hint at requests for a special
shortened pension qualifying period and various other benefits...
The constantly repeated slogans demanding the right to be different
and complaining about the intolerance which surrounds them, in
view of the actual circumstances, however, are not applicable
at all, they are provoking and propagandist, if anything.” The
comment goes on to describe an instance of rape, where the rapist
and the victim were both male. The commentator ascribes homosexuality
to the rapist and heterosexuality to the victim and describes
the event as an “unusual, a completely new form of rape for our
city”. The description of the rape is followed by another homophobic
outburst: “[...] the silence with which the group, which publicly
displays its difference, has surrounded itself, leads us to believe
that the event does not exactly speak in favor of the fight for
“privileges” and the various congregations of homosexuals in Ljubljana.
It seems that even amongst the different, there are villains.”
Vrni na vrh
1996
On January 7, the chief of security in the only gay and lesbian
club in the country beats the club's promoter. The club's management
refused to condemn and gave evasive statements how “the promoter
was never popular among security guards.” More serious actions
were taken only after activists took over the premises of the
club and disabled the cashier and the DJ to do their work.
On February 18, a survey, taken by the weekly newspaper NeDelo,
shows that 6.4% of Slovene populations finds jokes based on people's
differences (blondes, homosexuals) the funniest.
In March 1996, 19th issue of Revolver is published and provides
attitudes toward homosexuality of Slovenian political parties.
Representatives of all but one party shared their views. Slovenska
ljudska stranka (Slovene People's Party) refused to take part.
Some interviews contain statements that could be labeled homophobic.
For example, SKD (Slovene Christian Democrats) representative
Nada Skuk stated that a family is “a father, a mother and a child.”;
“We know what is the purpose of a family and the purpose of pursuing
a family. The purpose is continuation of a generation, continuation
of humans, and that is possible only in the case when two people
of different sexes unite- when to mate, so to speak.” She also
says that her party would never support establishment of a governmental
office for issues regarding homosexuality: “No, I do not think
it is necessary.” She also answered the question whether their
party has any gay members: “I believe there are none. Judging
by our program, orientation and our evidences, there is not a
sign that there are.” Similar response was given by Aleksandra
Forte of SDSS (Social Democratic Party of Slovenia: “As far as
family is concerned, our party follows such definitions of family
where we think that its primary task is bringing up and nurturing
children. The existence of family is, therefore, limited with
children. That is why we believe that expertise provides good
arguments that environment of same-sex partners does not provide
sufficient conditions for a child's up-bringing. [...] Psychology
and psychoanalysis does not label such communities as pathological,
however, judging by psychodynamics and suitable environment for
up-bringing, a child needs both male and female figures involved.
[...]”
The same magazine runs an interview with pop singer Marta Zore
entitled “I support clear democracy”; “[...] for example, adoption
of children by same-sex partners... I would not allow that for
a simple reason. A child is entitled to both, mother and father,
therefore both. I also believe that a woman who would like to
adopt (or bear) a child, should also consider the father before
pursuing her wish. [...] As far as joint households and issues
of same-sex partnerships are concerned, I support some 'fair'
arrangement. Perhaps two people can sign an interpersonal contract,
if not something else. [...]”
On August 8, three foreigners were refused entrance into Slovenia
at the Hungarian border by Slovenian police, despite written invitation
of organisers of 10th regional IGLA conference for East, Southeast
and Central Europe, taking place in Ljubljana. They even carried
organisers' guarantee that both accommodation and nourishment
are taken care of. Formal explanation was that they lacked means
for survival. Police stated that they carried 300USD altogether,
while the affected claimed they head 300USD each. They also complained
about rude and incorrect behaviour from the police.
On August 17, the national newspaper Delo publishes a survey
in which 34% labelled homosexuality as unacceptable. 70% of which
labelled it as immoral, 57% shared negative attitude toward it
for medical reasons (AIDS), 52% believed homosexuality was a disease
and 51% believed that homosexuality poses a threat to a society's
value system.
21st issue of Revolver is released in September 1996. The issue
presents various political institutions' attitudes toward homosexuality.
It is clear that the Ombudsman, Ivan Bizjak, does not treat gay
and lesbian rights as a part of human rights. He claims that “partnerships
as these” are opposites of “family” and homosexuality is “each
individual's private matter.” On intolerant groups and individuals:
“I have not sensed any huge intolerance in this field. [...] I
do not have the impression nor have I been acquainted with a case
of obvious excess of intolerance in this area.” A worse response
came from the president of the republic's office. Ms. Furlan,
Milan Kučan's PR, said to the press that “this topic is too marginal,
too specific and too narrow for a president to consider.”
In December 1996, International Gay And Lesbian Film Festival
takes place in Ljubljana. Ministry of Culture, its minister Janez
Dular respectively is informed that the motion pictures were aired
without subtitles, which were obligatory in the new law, unless
the minister allows differently. The organisers of the festival
make a request to the Ministry to allow airing of these films
without subtitles, as these movies will never again be aired in
Slovenia and because of the non-commercial nature of the festival,
supplying subtitles would mean an additional cost to the organisers.
The request was denied.
Vrni na vrh
1997
In the beginning of the year 1997, a work group within Ministry
of Labour, Family and Social Affair was established to prepare
the proposition of the law concerning same-sex partnerships. A
representative in the field of psychiatry was involved. The basic
draft of the law was outlined by the Law Faculty of Maribor and
also included the following: “[...] Same-sex partnership is not
a community of a man and a woman and therefore cannot establish
any legal consequences, typical of marital affair. [...] The basis
of legal regulation of marital affairs is in formation of family.
[...] It is impossible to claim that a community of same-sexed
(sic!) persons is capable of a congruent up-bringing of a child,
as is a community of a mother and a father. [...] Therefore possibilities
of adoption or extra-marital and artificial insemination are not
to be allowed. [...] It is not expected for a community of same-sex
partners to become similar to matrimony.”
February: During a parliamentary hearing, Dr. Majda Ana Kregelj
Zbačnik, president of the parliamentary committee of health, otherwise
a member of SDS (Social Democratic Party), accuses Tone Rop, candidate
for the minister of labour, family and social affairs, of insufficient
interest in family values and preoccupation with gays, lesbians
and actions such as “Condoms to every village.”
May: a journalist of POP TV labels badminton as a 'faggot sport'
during sport program “Športna scena” (Sport scene).
May 7th: During an interview for Mag (weekly magazine), dr. Ivan
Štuhec states: “homosexual affairs cannot be treated as morally
justifiable.” The interview was made after an outbreak of an affair
when a man blackmailed priests with whom he had sexual intercourse.
November 21st: during a meeting with presidential candidates
in Club K4, candidates Janez Podobnik and Jože Bernik express
their disapproval of same-sex marriages.
Dr. Tone Mlinar, a professor at Faculty of Theology, states:
“I believe, that sex stops being a language of love in homosexual
relations.”
Vrni na vrh
1998
An expert committee for programs of publishing and literature
within Ministry of Culture with members Milan Dekleva, Dušan Jovanovič,
dr. Mladen Dolar, Andreja Mlinar, Ženja Leiler Kos, Tilka Jamnik,
Božidar Premrl in Tone Pavček approves subventions to 62 magazines
and denies to 16. Among the 16 were the only GLBT publications
Revolver and Lesbo.
Vrni na vrh
1999
On June 15, telephone hotline for youth in need that exists
within Union of Friends of the Youth of Slovenia, reports that
number of calls related to issues of homosexuality has grown in
the current year.
In November, ŠOU v Ljubljani (Student Organisation of University
of Ljubljana) cancels Roza disko (Pink Disco). After protests
of several non-governmental organisations that join the protest
of Škuc-LL, ŠOU changes its mind.
Vrni na vrh
2000
On March 26, NeDelo publishes a survey on limits of political
satire. 40.6% believe that political satire should not be racist,
homophobic, xenophobic or sexist, while only 30.7% think that
it should not be offensive to gay and lesbian population.
In May, Škuc-LL receives a reply from Ombudsman's office in regard
to their initiative to abolish discrimination of same-sex partnerships.
It is clear that the Office did not want to deal with this problem,
as the initiator was denied the right to refer to the constitutional
article that deals with issues of equality. He claims that he
was not able to obtain documents of Council of Europe and European
Parliament on cancellation of discrimination etc. The reply was
cynically concluded with opinion that “Ombudsman's work should
not be equated with activity of non-governmental organisations.”
On June 21, parliamentary Committee of Work, Health, Family and
Social Affairs convenes. They discuss the proposition of the law
on healing infertility and means of insemination with biomedical
support. The biggest outrage was caused by amendment to Article
5 by which single women are also entitled to artificial insemination.
Jože Trontelj, president of the National committee for medical
ethics adds that it is completely unacceptable to help a single
woman bear a child, since an “imperfect family” is thus formed.
Karlo Zupančič “warned” that this could give homosexual partners
an opportunity to have children, which would make Slovenia one
of a kind in Europe. Jože Možgan's opinion was that such way of
insemination enabled disabled women to become pregnant, who were
otherwise “unattractive for matrimonial community, though they
still wished a child.” At the end of the discussion, Health Minister
dr. Dušan Keber appealed to LDS (Liberal Democracy of Slovenia)
to withdraw their suggestions of amendments.
On July 16, NeDelo publishes another survey in which 10% would
deny single women the right to artificial insemenation, 60% vote
against the possibility of a child living in a community of same-sex
partners.
On July 27, Office for Women in Politics reacts. They state that
the Law on Healing Infertility and Means of Insemination with
Biomedical Support presents an “alarming case of diminishing women's
rights” and stresses brutal disqualification of some groups of
women (mainly single and same-sex oriented) by the National Assembly.
On December 5, distinguished lawyers also shared views on adoption
by same-sex couples at a public discussion. Barbara Brezigar,
Tone Jerovšek and France Bučar were all against it, as “the child's
rights are the most important factor when adoptions are discussed.”
Matevž Krivic, on the other hand, stressed the fact that also
several heterosexual partnerships exist in the society that are
equally ill-equipped to bring up a child. He supported the idea
of an expert overview of the subject.
Vrni na vrh
2001
On March 15, the government adopted the proposal of the amendments
to the amending act on the treatment of infertility and the procedures
of artificial insemination through biomedical assistance (IBMA).
According to this proposal, single women are entitled to IBMA,
provided that these women have to get a special commission's authorization.
On March 22, the Faculty of Moral Theology speaks out and opposes
the changing of the law. 22. Anton Mlinar, the faculty's foreman,
believes that it is “unacceptable that the legislation opens the
way to the irresponsible and planned parenthood of single or even
same-sex oriented persons, under the cover of treating infertility”.
On April 18, the National Assembly discusses the proposal of
the legislative amendment. According to the Slovenian National
Party Member Sašo Peče, the purpose of the Law is to “destroy
the healthy family in the Slovenian society”. Apart from this
he believes the law to be “the first step to the acknowledgment
of the possibility of adoption by homosexual partners”. SMS believes
that the law will “support the spread of single parenting”. The
proposal of the legislative amendment is also seen as morally
and/or ethically objectionable by MPs from the Social Democrat
Party (SDS), New Slovenian Party (NSi) and Slovenian People's
Party and Slovenian Christian Democrats (SLS+SKD).
On May 4, the youth party of the SLS+SKD, Nova Generacija, speak
out. They claim that 80% of the medical profession object to the
article allowing access to the IBMA to single mothers. NG announce
the action “It's better in pairs” and state that the law opens
the “issue of same-sex partners”. They also express concern that
Slovenia could become the European “Mecca” for the artificial
insemination of single women.
On May 15, the media publish “A letter against homophobia” by
the Non-Aggressive Communication Society, which carried out workshops
in highschools about violence, discrimination, communication and
conflict resolution. One of the workshops dealt with homosexuality.
One of the highschools conditioned the permission for the execution
of workshops by excluding the same-sex workshop. The impetus for
this demand had been the parents' complaints that the school is
“promoting for homosexuality”.
On June 5, the Association For The Democratization Of Public Publications
and the Civil Society for Democratization and the Lawful State.
Hubert Požarnik points out in their name that the legislative
amendment of the Law for IBMA “opens the possibility of insemination
to lesbian women as well” and that “all studies show that children
of lesbians -we know that some lesbians have children or they
are bisexual - have significantly more trouble with their sexual
identity. Because they grow up in such an environment, girls more
often turn out as lesbian, bisexual and sexually unrestrained.
In contrast to this, boys have significantly more trouble with
impotence.”
On June 8, the security guard at the “Galerija” café in Ljubljana's
City Gallery, which is owned by the City Municipality of Ljubljana,
forbade entry to the gay poets Brane Mozetič and Jean Paul Daoust.
He explains his decision by telling them that “they should get
used to the fact that this café is no longer for “people like
them””. This is followed by a protest drinking of mineral water
in the café and waiting for the state authorities to react to
the obvious discrimination: the prosecution with the indictment,
and higher representatives by condemning the act. There is no
conviction and so, preparations begin for the “Detour around Homophobia
- the Anti-Homophobia Walk”.
In the meantime, the leaseholder of the said establishment explains
his act with lies that the poets were misconducting themselves
and that they had been kissing in the street etc., which the media
fall for.
On July 3, we finally get a condemnation from the ombudsman.
“Article 14 of the Constitution forbids the discrimination on
the basis of any personal circumstances, which must also be respected
by public establishments which obtained a lease from the state
to perform their economic activity. The belief which has of late
become apparent, namely that the state, due to the lack of the
appropriate laws, does not ensure equality regarding sexual orientation,
is therefore erroneous. In the instance of discrimination, state
authorities are obligated to take appropriate measures and do
not need a specific legal authorization for these measures.” Despite
the ombudsman's opinion, the state authorities do nothing, also
there is no follow-up condemnation of the action taken by the
leaseholder from the part of the other state representatives.
On July 6, the demonstrations take place entitled “Detour around
Homophobia - the Anti-Homophobia Walk”. Still, there is no movement
on the part of the representatives of the state. The National
TV (RTV Slovenia, the same one involved in the Eurovision song
scandal) manages to overlook the event that set the beat of the
old city center for two hours - they report on it several days
later, following the protests of activists.
On July 12, Delo publishes the comment by Boris Jež. In his comment,
Jež states that xenofobia in Slovenia is no different from other
parts of the world, that the on-call concerned activists compete
in exposing intolerance. “Because various civil-society groups
are making such a ruckus as if the whole country should be put
before the Hague court because of the persecution of Jews, homosexuals
and blacks,” says Jež.
On July 15, Nedelo (the Sunday edition of Delo) publishes the
survey results on tolerance. 34.9% of the surveyed believe that
Slovenians are tolerant enough towards the others and the different.
28.1% of the surveyed would not want to have a homosexual for
a neighbor.
On July 24, Veeer (a regional daily newspaper) publishes a comment
in which Petra Zemljič states that society is homophobic. “One
can't help but remember the eighties, when the homosexual and
lesbian scene was forming in Slovenia and got the firmest legitimacy.
[...] Today, the story is different, as the social environment
towards the issue is more ignorant, if not more severe.”
On July 25, the Mayor of Ljubljana Viktorija Potočnik finally
holds a reception for the advocates of the rights of the same-sex
oriented people. The reason for this reception is mainly because
Brane Mozetič publicly exposed her as a liar in his interview
for Mladina (a weekly political magazine), and the secondary reason
was the political pressure to condemn discriminatory practices
(the case of “Café Galerija”) applied by the GLBT organizations
since June 8. Among other things, the mayor managed to say that
in the City Municipality of Ljubljana, “they will carefully consider
whether or not they will extend the lease to the owner of the
establishment where they have the discriminatory policy”.
On the same day, in the weekly 7D, the comment by Darko Špelc
is published, where he states: “it was not long ago that this
new word was launched into the media - homophobia! The word has
been in use for the past three decades and has the same “scientific”
credibility as the premise that homosexuality is hereditary.”
“There is no point in condemning two homosexuals living together,
although it's unnatural, unless negative influence on public morality
is the case. Sanctioning homosexual partnerships by state marriage
is on the other hand total nonsense, because it's unnatural. Child
adoptions by homosexual couples should be unconditionally prevented,
because such orientation is harmful to the society. Even the fact
that we're discussing it tells us we're on the verge of social
insanity. [...] At the same time, father must nurture a special
erotic relationship to his daughter, who must get the life-important
experience that she 'captured' her father. If she failed to do
so, she will be erotically handicapped for the rest of her life.
It is imperative to respect the fact that it is the father (who
was, is and will be representative of social reality) who brings
up children, whereas mother helps the husband mostly by nodding.
[...] Children can absorb essential life guidelines only if they
grow up by their father and their mother, whereas they will unconditionally
become handicapped near two lesbians or two homosexuals. Let's
not forget: homosexuals are dried branch, because they can't or
won't continue their descent. Despite that they very aggressively
enforce presumed right to birth unproductiveness. We must not
allow that, despite contemporal multiculturism which allows society
to be flowed by pathology of all kinds. Even without that a high
percentage of children is exposed to all-round handicapping by
their single mothers, whose singlehood proves that they weren't
able to get and keep a man, who usually escaped them because of
their feminist attacks and became a 'distant husband and father'.”
Janez Rugelj, MD, Večer, August 13
On November 9, the Peace Institute presented the book “Report
by the Group for the Monitoring of Intolerance”. The General Manager
of the Institute, Vlasta Jalušič said for the occasion, that “racism
and xenophobia are present in the Slovenian society even though
some believe otherwise.” The media also quoted the report: “I
have no feelings against same-sex oriented persons, but I believe
that the legalization of same-sex marriages would be mockery of
the heterosexual, that is to say normal, marriages.”
On November 14, the Slovenian PEN center gives a statement. The
president of the administration committee said in a statement
that the center “is concerned that two recognized literary authors
whose works contain the subject of homosexuality, have been denied
the right to the status of Independent Cultural Worker with the
right to payment of contributions from the state budget, by the
jurisdictive state authority on the first level; with the author
of lesbian prose, who has received praise from the critics and
was accepted into a foreign publisher's program, with the explanation
that “the quality of her work does not represent a significant
contribution to Slovenian culture, there is a presence of a poor
creative approach.' [...] We are concerned that the issue is not
only non-understanding but also intolerance towards diversity.
For its public appearance, it abuses the violent mood towards
the same-sex oriented persons, which is increasingly co-created
by the Slovenian media. From all, especially those who channel
the public opinion, we expect more respect for the right to be
different.”
On November 23, the Ministry of Culture rejects PEN's accusations
of discrimination of authors based on sexual orientation. “The
Committee and the Ministry of Culture do not discriminate authors
on their sexual orientation under any circumstances. We do not
have that kind of information [...].” The motif of same-sex orientation
is obvious from the works of both authors.
“Homosexuals are dangerous... [...] Which means I did not start
a planned action against them, I only told them a few basic facts
of anthropology, which says it's basic duty of every man to put
effort into reproduction. In this context, homosexuals are dry
branches and are at the same time incapable of a normal (manly!)
relationship towards men and women; their relationship is twisted,
therefore homosexuals can't be exemplary fathers. In addition
to that, in the absence of a wife, they can't fully develop personally,
and are also unable to be a good example in the areas of leadership.Some
homosexuals are extremely sophisticated seducers of young boys
(I am preparing a special report on that), who are never endangered
by heterosexual men at all therefore we have to keep the youth
aware about this. The psychological traumas of boys abused by
homosexuals are much worse than male pedophilia with little girls,
which is (was) natural in many places and is therefore still to
be expected. [...] A TRULY mature personality has finished the
anticipated education, is successful professionally, lives in
a creative heterosexual partnership and parenthood, has no negative
addictions and has an affinity for sensible education and physical
fitness (gym, running, mountain-climbing...) and achieves self-confidence
in creative work for other people.In this context, I was interested
if there was any homosexual wishing to achieve the highest stage
of Anthropos, - mainly through the technique of the permanent
visualization of the esthetic difference of the beauty of the
heterosexual and the ugliness of the homosexual sexual act, which
I stated clearly in the interview. I have met no such homosexual,
but I still have not lost hope.”
Janez Rugelj, MD, Mladina, December 3
On December 8, on behalf of the Škuc Society, Brane Mozetič pressed
charges for inciting racial or religious hatred, discord or intolerance
against Janez Rugelj, MD. The latter said in an interview for
magazine Sodobnost: “American psychiatrist Szasz wrote that psychiatry
was a social service for non-criminal delinquency. All, delinquents:
poets, writers, politicians, lesbians, homosexuals and other vagabonds,
are so thick that psychiatry doesn't even try to change them because
it's impossible. [...] The problem is of another kind. Women here
have masochistically left themselves to the capitalistic exploitation
and let themselves be equally exploited by men with delight. They
work eight, ten hours, and are after incapable of being wives,
mistresses, mothers. [...] Anyone who doesn't respect that is
an outcast, becomes a man from the margin. Of course, there are
standards and values for idlers, con men, homosexuals, lesbians,
the impotent, the careful, robbers etc. [...] Homosexuals are
marginal, so they can't have the right to establish themselves
with their non-productivity, and also not with their sexual disgustingness:
oral sex or mutual masturbation or putting the penis into a stinking
ass between two men, this is disgusting. We should appreciate
esthetics! A man can't have a normal relationship to another man,
woman or child and therefore can't perform any public function.
If, for example, a beautiful woman takes off her clothes and spreads
her legs and shows her groin, beauty shines. Penetrating a clean
vagina is something completely different from stinking ass. We
must use exact terms, so that we make it known where homosexuals
belong. It's different with lesbians because the two of them can
be actively joined by one man. [...] A woman can succeed in therapy
only if she's beautiful and rich. She must be rich to pay for
the therapy and beautiful so some sort of transfer relationship
(even if platonic) between the therapist and the patient can develop.
If this is absent, nobody will concern himself with her. No psychotherapist
has some backward Moslem women on his couch. Only the beautiful
and the rich.”
The magazine Mag publishes the article by dr. Rugelj on December
19. The different (drug-addicts, single mothers, homosexuals)
according to him endanger the Slovenian nation. Homosexuals are
- according to him - created by “unhappy, depressed, hysterical,
obscurant mothers - mostly alcoholics' wives”; some homosexuals
are “very dangerous to young boys, so I take this opportunity
to warn parents, who should teach theirs sons about the dangers
of homosexual seduction, because traumas endured by young boys,
brought on by aggressive homosexual abuse are more fatal to them
than pedophilia of adult men to little girls.” In his experience,
“a very serious condition which falls in the category of nuclear
neurosis” is typical for gay men, therefore they “should be, because
of their being excluded from the constructive process of reproduction,
to some degree comfortable with their own limited reproductive
condition and therefore somehow modest”.
Vrni na vrh
2002
Radio host Janez Martinčič said on the national radio: “This faggot
Hitler has done many harm.” Section Škuc-LL complained about this
statement to Ombudsman's office and received reply that the ombudsman
“doesn't have authority to act in these cases” and that it's all
about “freedom of speech”.
“Between 1964 and 1970 I, as an army psychiatrist, closely analysed
around 50 soldiers, aggressive homosexuals (who caused disturbances
in their units to heterosexual soldiers) and I proposed dismissal
for all (the documentation is in Belgrade).I closely observed
the professional, erotic and political activities of a colleague
psychiatrist, who was bisexual and had distinctive homosexual
component. He was the paradigm of a fart. After leaving the army,
I have had homosexual patients. None of them accepted my propositions
to convert. Two of them have already viciously attacked me in
newspapers. [...] In all observed and studied homosexuals, I have
come to adopt a firm professional stance, which I mediated to
magazine Sodobnost's interviewer, and also to the recognition
of the fact that the WHO (World Health Organization) had made
a mistake by striking homosexuality off the psychiatric disorder
list. Sooner or later it will have to rectify the error.The main
personality vice of every homosexual is that he's unable to have
normal (regular) relationships with men, women and children, because
normal relationships require 100% heterosexual, whereas homosexual
in bisexual men act confused.”
Janez Rugelj, MD, Mladina, January 28
Drag queen trio Sestre (The Sisters) wins Slovenian contest for
Eurovision Song Contest (EMA 2002) on February 16. An outburst
of intolerance in public, media, national TV's management and
in the parliament follows. Homophobic outburst following this
event are more thoroughly documented in other materials.
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