Holy Shit

This year the UN Commission for NGO's again refused to give consultative status to several LGBT NGO's in ECOSOC. The Holy See delegate said in the commission:

"Sexual orientation is not comparable to race or ethnic origin. In spite of its assertions about human rights, this NGO’s particular interests fall beyond the scope of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the international juridical instruments: In other words, what ILGA and its proponents are asking is not for equal rights but special rights; special rights that allow others a leeway for a discreet suppression of moral distinctions in choices and behavior that are of vital concern to the international community and the international order."

It is time that people and instutions blocking certain LGBT people to be protected from hate, violence and discrimination because of who they are, are kept responsible for the consequenses.

"On many occasions that the Holy See has been misunderstood, it is because it has always critically distinguished a homosexual person from his/her choices and behavior. The Holy See has always respected and defended all persons who are entitled to the protection of their fundamental dignity granted not by the State, not by some international organization, but by the nature given to them by the Creator."

And who says that the creator doesn't entitle me, who has sexual intercourse with partners of the same sex, fundamental dignity?

(...)

"The lack of making a stand against public homosexual behavior amounts to regarding homosexuality, as such, “as a positive source of human rights. Tolerance without standards seeks to create a level playing field offering loopholes for suppressing moral distinctions in choices and behavior which would be tantamount to accepting fake expressions of “anarchic freedom.”

I believe thus I can discriminate?

"The Holy See's position on marriage and adoption of children is based precisely on a recognition of a fundamental truth: marriage is based on the union of a man and a woman; the family is based on marriage. In spite of interpretations to the contrary, this is the meaning of the Universal Declaration and the 1966 Covenants. Furthermore new forms of family structure are weaker and less stable."

People, wake up! Already since five years the marriage in many countries can also be an union of a man and a man, or a woman and a woman. This is not an interpretation, but a fact!

"If this stand of the Holy See which hopefully is shared by other distinguished members of the NGO Committee here, were to be taken as an imposition of its own morality, in response it cannot but say that “gay rights laws and the demand for special rights as well impose one view of sexual morality (sexual relativism) on all peoples and then enforce this code of morality on constituents of other groups holding other beliefs and legislations.”

Who are the non-distinguished members? And who try to impose?

LGBT rights in the centre of Europe

This week LGBT rights were, probably for the first time in history, discussed extensively at the centre of Europe. The vice-president of the European Commission Mr. Frattini, Commissioner of Employment Mr. Spidla, the Council of European Human Rights Commissioner Mr. Hammelberg and the chair of the European Parliament Mr. Borrel-Fortelles were all speaking firm words on how LGBT rigths should be respected as Human Rights.
They clearly said that the assination of gay people during World War II should be recognized at history books so that young people at schools learn about it.

They promised to further explore possibilities for the implementation of an anti-discrimination directeve, and they informed us that a green paper on freedom of movement and marriage is going to be present shortly. This would, in a period of time, also mean for same-sex couples that they will be recognized, even though in some cases the European Court of Justice shall have to decide upon this.

Mr. Hammelberg announced to fully support the Moscow gay pride, remarkable considering Russia's is currently chairing the Council of Europe. Even though remarkable progress is being made in Europe, I again was a bit dissapointed. Mr. Frattini told me that LGBT young people Europe can benefit from a communication campaign about anti-discrimimation the coming years, but will not actively protected from discrimination. This priveledge is kept to employed people. I still don't understand that the European Parliament would not see the benefit of educating young people more progressively about discrimination... Because on a longer term this would have more economical benefits as anti-discrimination policies and programs in the employment sector have currently.

Straight prejudices

These weeks I am hosting many guests. It's fun, as it makes you show people around your city which you then see with different eyes. As different people visit me I am taking them to all kind of different places. Yesterday I was at a Gay discotheque with a friend from Slovenia, and tonight I was in a coffeeshop with the American brother of a friend of mine.

Next week two Australian friends are coming over, whom will go to watch the football in Germany. I don't know where I should take them yet... and I especially don't know how to tell them that I have to visit the Mr. Gay Netheralands elections at Saturday.

Night train to Idaho

In an hour I will jump into the night train to Strasbourg, where tomorrow I will attend a conference organised by the European Parliament on IDAHO (International Day Against HOmophobia). Finally visibility to homophobia at the same time in different places!

Many activities are organised around Europe, see for an overview of some activities: http://www.iglyo.com/content/activities/idaho-activ06.html.

Never before I have been with the night train, so that is exciting! I'm also excited for a lunch tomorrow with the Members of the Intergroup of the European Parliament on lesbian and gay rights, as well with Spidla and Frattini. Curious to see what commitment they make for the coming years.

For more general information:
http://www.iglyo.com/content/activities/idaho.html

Pride and Proud

This weekend I visited the vifth Moldovan Gay Pride. It was great being back in Chisinau: the dedication of people working for and with GenderDoc-M, the hospitality, and the fun made it a pleasure coming back!

Even though the organisers faced some backlashes in terms of recognition of the necessity of such event I think they can be proud on the event they again succesfully managed to organize in this part of Europe. It's through the efforts of involving many actors from civil society in the work that the Pride is so widely being supported.

On the pictures you see people being involved in 'forum-theatre'. An interactive working method by which needs for anti-discrimination legislation were discussed. Very touching as real-life situations were projected on the current legal situation. The ban of the actual pride by the Chisinau major, as well the participation of a representative of the Moldovan Baptist community (whom addressed homosexuality as unnatural during the conference), made it clear that there's big need for such legislation!

Work again

My holidays are over, tomorrow I have to start working again. I didn't spend my holidays in a very traditional way this time: I used my hours off from my paid job to work on my unpaid work. That was a rather good experience! The last thing I did during these holidays was representing IGLYO at the Council of Members of the European Youth Forum, in Prato, Italy. At the moment that we were practising our democratic rights by electing new members for two important Youth Forum structures, the gay pride in Krakow was attached by right-winged extremist. Together with many dedicated young people from several Youth organisations I worked on a declaration against homophobia, which was signed by 102 representatives. A result which made me very happy!

I really enjoyed these weeks off! I met great and wonderful people, had a beautiful time around Europe, slept several mornings, stayed awake several nights without being concerned about the next morning and thus now feel completely re-energized to start working again.

Relax

Currently I am quite relaxed. Next week I have to start working again, and I realise that these weeks with limited obligations have calmed me down. I have done the things that I wanted to do (which doesn't include painting the bedroom), and even though I am now looking to a big pile of work I haven't finished yet I am happy. Cristian, thank you for the wonderful days!

People's palace

Too short I have been in Bucharest.

Yesterday morning I joined a tour through the people's palace, Ceaucescu's building which he never saw finished. 700 architects and 20.000 builders worked on this building, which is in terms of surface the second large building of the world. One third of the old city centre of Bucharest was broken down in order to provide sufficient place to build it. Nowadays the government is using the building, and it houses a conferences centre. Together with an American delegation I followed a tour, in which the beautifulness of the building was described. No single word was said what Romanian people think about the building, and which offers they have given for this mass monument on the communist era.

A: American Tourist, B: Bjorn, M: Marcy, T: tourist guide

A: So where are you from?
B: I am from the Netherlands, where are you from?
A: Virginia, USA. So you're traveling Romania?
B: Yes, I'm doing a short tour here, went to Brasov, Sibiu and tonight I unfortunately fly home. What about you?
A: Well, we were going on a Danube tour but apparently there is a flood. So now we're doing this.
B: So where do you go after Romania
A: I don't know, it's a tour, we do different countries in Eastern Europe.
B: So where are you going to next?
A: Marcy, where are we going to next?
M: Well we're doing other countries in Eastern Europe

...

T: So this is a conference room made in German classic style, with the heighest ceiling in the building. The patron in the curtains, which is filled with silk, is the same as the patron on the plates covering the heating. The floors are made of oak wood and in there are different sorts of marmer on the columns.
A: Can to chandelliers come down to be cleaned?
T: No
A: So what did Coucezu use this room for?
T: Ceaucescu never used it, he died before the building was finished.
A: Oh, Ceaucescu, I should say Ceaucescu?

Belarus 2006

Berlin

Yesterday I took some time to discover Berlin. Last Saturday we also did this during Queer Easter, but it was very Queer focussed. Since it was my first time in the German capital I decided to spend one day extra in it, and see some of its sights. I was very tired, so didn't see as much as I could have seen, but saw interesting architecture! Especially enjoyed Potsdamer Platz, close to it there is the new monument in memory of European Jews, which is just so impressive to see!

Deutschland

Yesterday evening I returned from a week Germany. First I spent one week in Werftpuhl, together with almost 100 young socialists and queer activists. It was a beautiful week with hard working and lots of fun. Bettina already wrote it: it's unbelievable how empowering such events are! Making new contacts and building bridges between the work we do. Returning in reality can than be a cold shower... this is how I continued fund raising for IGLYO today... the importance of our work is obviously not experienced by decission makers. So now it is time to become more explicitly part of policies, which is of course much more work and complicated, but maybe even a better way to go on the longer term. So I take a deep breath and continue with my work.

"Balkenende against gay marriage"

During a visit to Djakarta our Minister President visited an Islamic state university. A student asked how he thought about the Dutch gay marriage, on which he answered: "During that period I have voted against the gay marriage, but a majority of the House of representatives supported the legalisation."

Not only Balkenende is indirectly responsible for the infringement of Human Rights whilst making such remarks in his position and in such context, moreover he strongly devaluates his own authority as representative of the Dutch government. It is a State policy that the Netherlands aims to have a 'pioneering function' when it comes to LGBT emancipation.

Most interesting is the fact that he has blamed several Ministers in the past months for not presenting and defending the Parliament's policies, it all just sounds a bit awkward to me now!

Polder living

This is the building in which I live. The old catalogue From polder to city tells: "The cooperative building 'Westereind' in Slotermeer has been developed from concrete completely by J. Rietveld and J.R. Bloemsma. This building with its characteristic blue painted corner-windows was designated for singles."

The city-district in which I live is now discussing whether this building, together with older old buildings in the so called 'garden-cities', will be added to the list of 'city heritage', meaning that the building will be protected in several ways. When I saw the flat for the first time I immediately decided I wanted it, even though it is quite far out of the city-centre. Above all I fell in love with all the light that floods in the appartment on sunny days like today.

Besides its typical post-war building styles this area of Amsterdam is well-known for the high percentage of communists and socialists that to live here after the war. Now it is especially attractive for young poeple, as it offers good quality for a low price.

I miss The Hague

Yesterday I decided that it is official: I miss The Hague! This might sound like a very typical sentiment, and I think that is true. I like the athmosphere in the city, I like its architecture and I like its people. The Hague has a beach which Amsterdam doesn't have, and in The Hague people are just a little bit less stressed than here. Also there are memories left in The Hague, not even of so long ago but sometimes it feels like I left behind a different life in The Hague. One I enjoyed in another way.
So yesterday I decided that one day I will live in The Hague again.

Pizza in bed

Today was an extremely boring day, more or less on purpose. I have barely been outside of bed, well of course I took a shower and I had to open the door for the Pizza-delivery earlier this evening. Sometimes I simply need days like these.... to relax and to catch up missed sleep. It feels like the autumn has started here... again it is raining and the leaves on the trees are growing slower than I hoped.

The good news is that my luggage is back and I have my phone working again. Also there is work in progress... My to-do list is finally getting shorter and that is necessary because the I will be travelling mostly for the rest of the month. I booked my tickets for Queer Easter in Berlin, a break in Romania (can't wait to be there) and for the Youth Forum's Council of Members in Florence.

Yesterday I spent the day with young representatives from LGBT organisations from Latin America. Extremely interesting to hear their point of view. They were very interested in the functioning of IGLYO, and we discussed whether such construction would make sense in their context as well. Personally I think it will, especially now countries in Latin America are seriously discussing the possible establishment of a South American Community of Nations. Unlike the EEC its focus will include a more social perspective which offers chances for social NGO's. Similar to Europe, the differences in South-America are enormous. The Brazilian government actively supports LGBT organisations (mainly in combatting Hiv/Aids), the penal code of Nicuragua however still forbids sexual intercourse between couples of the same sex.


I hope that we will be able to assist the groups in establishing a network similar to IGLYO in South-America. Not only because together we stand stronger in getting access to e.g. the United Nations, but also I believe that young people can make a difference. The access to information that is created by such networks is of vital importance for these organisations, as well is the personal empowerment of young people doing their work in often hostile environments.