Organization Q and the signatories strongly condemn the hate speech against homosexual people, promoted by the daily Glas Srpske. In addition to reporting on the results of the public opinion polls conducted by Gallup Balkan Monitor, the text published on December 12, 2010, on Glas Srpske’s web page contains incorrect and derogatory information presented in the form of “expert opinions” by Aleksandar Milić and Biljana Milošević, thus conveying the fascist attitude of Glas Srpske. The text was also published by radiosarajevo.ba and kladusa.net.
In this text, Glas Srpske is spreading prejudice and unprofessional and inaccurate information about homosexuals, directly violating the Press Code by discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation. Additionally, it violates the Law on Gender Equality and the Anti-Discrimination Law of Bosnia and Herzegovina by promoting discrimination based on sexual orientation, ethnic and/or national origin, sex and gender.
Glas Srpske has published the “expert” opinions of Aleksandar Milić and Biljana Milošević which are in direct conflict with the teachings of sociology and psychology, and which are dangerous as they promote and justify hatred based on national origin and sexual orientation. Milić equates homosexuality with sociopathy and places sexual orientation on a par with drug addiction, which endangers and stigmatizes lesbians and gays. Milić’s insinuations in this text, such as this one “Drug addicts or other types of sociopaths are poor role models for children and youth, and it is a positive thing that people have no tolerance for them. Freedom has to be tolerated until it begins to violate the freedom of other people, and the group of people who are imposing their way of life in a way that disrupts the lives of other people represent the lower cultural layer,” strengthen the stereotypes and represent an open call for intolerance and segregation of an entire population.
With her statement that homosexuals “are not dangerous, and until they become aggressive and begin threatening the freedom of other people, they should be considered as tolerable neighbors,” Biljana Milošević is also promoting prejudice against LGBT people. This statement is not in accordance with the scientific postulates of sociology. Aleksandar Milić and Biljana Milošević are stating their individual opinions and not their professional opinions which should reflect the standards of psychology and sociology. Therefore, they are abusing their academic degrees and professional positions.
Homosexuality, just like heterosexuality and bisexuality, is not a disease or an abnormality. It is one of the aspects of human sexuality and it does not deny or affect the rights and freedoms of others. The right to diversity and non-discrimination based on sexual orientation is guaranteed by numerous domestic laws. The fact that our society is deeply riddled with negative and fascist attitudes toward gays, lesbians and bisexual people is devastating enough, but the practice of the media and scientists to incite the people against LGBT people and promote prejudice and ignorance under the guise of their professions and expertise, is absolutely unacceptable.
We demand from Glas Srpske to publicly apologize to the LGBT population for their irresponsible journalism and promotion of discrimination and prejudice.
We demand from the web sites which, using their editorial policy, re-published the text (radiosarajevo.ba and kladusa.net) to process this topic in a thorough matter and, at the same time, to avoid the propagation of negative stereotypes and prejudices.
We demand from the media to report on the LGBT issues responsibly, professionally and in accordance with the law, and would like to remind them of the Press Code of Bosnia and Herzegovina, signed by all of the journalist associations in the FBiH and the RS.
We ask that the sociological and psychological associations in BiH issue a public disagreement with the opinions of psychologists and sociologists who stigmatize not only the LGBT population, but also national and religious minorities, thereby advocating intolerance and inequality. We call upon the professional and scientific societies in BiH to publicly state their position and scientific opinion toward homosexuality, considering that the American Psychiatric Association (in 1974), the American Psychological Association (in 1975) and the World Health Organization (in 1990) all removed homosexuality from the list of illnesses and disorders.
We would also like to invite all relevant organizations to react to hate speech and discrimination and take appropriate action.
Organization Q
Foundation CURE, Sarajevo, BiH
Labris – Lesbian human rights organization, Belgrade, Serbia
Juventas, Podgorica, Montenegro
OWPSEE Foundation, Sarajevo, BiH
INFOTEKA – women’s informational and documentation center, Zenica, BiH
Sarajevo Open Centre, Sarajevo, BiH
Rights for All, Sarajevo, BiH
Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Banja Luka, Banja Luka, BiH
Regional Center for Minorities, Belgrade, Serbia
Foundation of Local Democracy, Sarajevo, BiH
Zagreb Pride, Zagreb, Croatia
Udružene žene Banja Luka, Banja Luka, BiH
Lesbian Organization Rijeka „LORI“, Rijeka, Croatia
Center “Woman and Society”, Sarajevo, BiH
The Voice of Woman, Bihać, BiH
Autonomous Women’s Center, Belgrade, Srbija
Women to Women, Sarajevo, BiH
ŠUC-LL, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Individual signatories:
Leila Al Shammary
Besima Borić
Srđan Dizdarević
Dario Košarac
