Tear Gas And Other Firsts: Gay Pride In Split, Croatia
Today marked Split’s first gay pride, our first pride out of the United States, our first time hearing hundreds of angry men shout “kill the fags,” first time feeling the burn of tear gas and the first time I actually felt appreciation towards all the “less angry” anti-gay mobs that I’ve experienced back home who simply hold anti-gay cardboard signs. Just a few of our many firsts today.
Split’s first Gay Pride parade
Today June 11, 2011 was Split’s first pride, an event that took over a year of preparation for this small gay community. We arrived in Split on Thursday and immediately noticed the numerous anti-gay and anti-gay parade graffiti on Split’s 
beautiful and historical walls. As we saw graffiti after graffiti, Leah and I knew we were not in Kansas anymore (AKA San Francisco or Chicago).
First time meeting Marta Drury
We began our day meeting Marta Drury for coffee. Marta is an inspiring woman: a fellow National Center for Lesbian Rights supporter, and founder of the Heart and Hand Fund, which supports women and LGBTI initiatives in the United States and the Balkans. She began the Heart and Hand Fund in 1999 after speaking to a friend at 2am in Pristina, Kosova who told her that the Serbian army was going door to door in their neighborhood and herding 
people onto boxcars. She has been active helping lesbian community in Eastern Europe ever since.
First time meeting gays and lesbians from Eastern Europe
After coffee we headed to the Domine offices; a feminist organization that generously donated their space to Split’s LGBT pride group. There, we met Pride organizers from Kontra and the International LGBTI Association (ILGA) to finish up the crucial last minute details that make every gay pride great, blowing up the right amount of balloons and putting the finishing touches to the elaborate signs.
First time being surrounded by about a thousand cops
As soon as we started walking towards the parade’s starting point, we were surprised to see helicopter above us, but even more surprised to see around 200 or so police officers surrounding the parade route, protecting the marchers. As the march began, we were literally surrounded by more and more police: in front of us, clearing the way; alongside us, blocking the anti-gay mob from the route; everywhere. You could tell just by looking at the police force that they took their job seriously (minus the ones with hand held cameras) but we couldn’t help but think about what some of the organizers told us: that given the mood of the country, the police were probably more sympathetic to the views of the anti-gay mob, which was growing in number all around us.
First time seeing true hatred
As we continued on the parade route, we came upon groups of angry men and boys, all aged 18-35ish. They were yelling and flipping off the parade, and chanting something in Croatian that we didn’t understand. We found out later that they were chanting, “Kill the Gays”. We also saw angry women also flipping off the parade. For some reason the 25-year-old looking women flipping off the parade disturbed me more than the angry mob of men. My expectations for women are simply higher.
As veterans of many gay pride parades in San Francisco and Chicago, we’re used to anti-gay protesters. Usually these are misguided bible-beaters with signs bearing Biblical verses. Annoying, but fairly harmless. We’re not used to the absolute hatred that we saw in today’s anti-gay mob. These people had burning anger in their eyes, as they shouted “Kill The Gays,” raised their arms in the unmistakable Nazi salute, threw glass ash trays into the crowd, and pushed up against the police barricades.
Later tonight on the news, it was reported that there were over 10,000 protestors, 137 people were detained and many others were injured after the anti-gay mob attacked participants with rocks, bottles and firecrackers.
First time seeing the Nazi salute in real life
See above paragraph. It’s chilling.
First time feeling the burn of tear gas
We approached the main part of the parade, where the narrow streets open up onto a seaside promenade. As we got closer we saw an even larger group of men yelling and with their fists raised. The tension rose, and the constant piercing sound of the marchers’ pink whistles got even louder. Then we heard three loud booms as bombs went off. The crowd started to run in the opposite direction. We were running through a slight fog, and the sour-smelling air burned our eyes and lungs. We recognized this as tear gas, and we kept running to get away. We passed a few allays and saw the gas pour out of its canister, and we followed the people in front of us. We kept going, and I yelled at Leah to cover her mouth with her shirt (that’s what all the locals were doing). We’re still not sure who actually detonated the tear gas (the police or the mob), but we decided to head back to the safe part of the promenade, away from the trouble.
Even in the safe part, we saw violence. Where the mob and the marchers met, we saw that planters had been broken and plants scattered, and what looked like a pile of poo was thrown into the parade. From a distance we saw someone throw something into the crowd and immediately we saw an undercover cop arrest him. We watched three more arrests just like the first and finally made it back to the entrance only to find the police would not let us or anymore in with the Gay Pride group. We watched from the sidelines slightly disappointed, but mostly appreciative of the police officer’s determination to keep the Gay Pride group safe.
First time being REALLY thankful to be Gay Americans
Later, after we reflected on today’s events, we felt truly grateful. Despite the political ups and downs in the U.S., our situation at home is so much better than here. Granted, we realize that it’s taken years to get to where we are, and that gay pride marches of the past were as violent as this one. And we realize that in San Francisco and Chicago we enjoy an acceptance and freedom that many gays and lesbians in less enlightened cities have yet to experience. But we’re grateful that we’ve come so far. After seeing this, we resolve not to take for granted the freedom and safety we enjoy.
As we were marching, seeing the gay flag waving around us gave me the chills, and I don’t even particularly care for the rainbow flag. The organizers and gay Croatians were so proud and extremely confident that I almost forgot about the all the people who don’t want us there.
I want to thank all of the organizers, people who marched in today’s parade and the police officers who protected them.
Please consider making a donation to the Heart and Hand fund, 100% of your donation goes towards the LGBTI community groups here in the Balkan region.
To learn more about LGBTI issues in Croatia click here. And to learn more about LGBTI issues in Europe click here.
To check out our youtube video from Pride please click here.
Related posts:
- Ciclovia Meets May Day Protest in Bogota
- Ciclovia Meets May Day Protest in Bogota
- Gay in Costa Rica: A Tica’s Point of View
- Gay in Costa Rica: A Tica’s Point of View
- What the Hell is the Pitaya Fest About?
Category: Croatia, Gay Stuff, Photos, Photos & Videos, Places, Travel Guide
They were at their homes watching what they just googled. I mean those supporters of gay community/free expressionists. They typed “gay” and enjoyed the afternoon, while other (rednecks – described bellow) freely went outside. I know I’m from here, from Croatia… (sigh)
First of all, I think we have a potential to change.. but sadly the change cannot be fast, not in the lifetime of an average croatian boy nowadays. This hate evolves from the warmth of their homes, and continues to grow on the street, which is the “main school” for a great number of young croatians… where they can see and learn that being redneck on top of the pack is the key to success, and take all the girls :)
One thing further is that the most female children in Croatia are raised under “old school”, in families where redneck dad (also an retired war face with 2 days spent in the front line, probably sleeping)is the main figure in family and everything composes to him, and his little son (not a rare case that hes the 10th child and first son), so that gives a male Croatian an advantage and a kick in the back to shout and raise his redneck arm like Ante Pavelic while his friend next to him sings Thompson aloud, both barely 16. Police nor government nor any kind of institution cannot do anything here. This is just a matter of time and evolution. It is sad to be a Croatian on today’s day, i must agree.
sad… but true…
i’m from split, and me and most of my friends support gay rights, but i must say that this gay pide was calling for trouble :( everybody who lives in split and surrounding area knows that split is not jet ready for gay pride… if you ask me, this went well as i tought it would be…:(
i blame most of this on goverment and church for supporting hate! 10 years ago in highschool i almost failed religion class (yes, we have religion as subject in school) beacuse i said that gay people are not different and should be accepted as any other person…
but boris is right, changes are coming… soon i hope!
warm regards from split :)
sorry for spelling mistakes ;)
Boris – Thanks so much for your comment. It definitely sheds some needed light on the current political and cultural situation here in Croatia. We can relate to the “its a matter of time” argument. Most younger Americans support gay rights and some argue we should just wait until the next generation gets older.
Thanks for sharing and feel free to pass along any more information or ways we can help.
heartbreaking. but i’m sure you’re glad you experienced it, as sad as it was. i’m proud of you girls and your bravery… way to take a stand and try to make a difference.
I agree with most of what Boris said, I would only like to add the church to the list of reasons Croatia reacts like it does. Church is the puppet master behind most of these reactions, people have no real issues with , they are just repeating what’s being shoved into their heads since birth.
Church can appeal to change laws in the state, they give advice on how to vote in the time of elections… basically, they’re doing everything they shouldn’t be. And people are listening because CHURCH=CROATIA in most eyes here. As if the bible states us as the chosen people or something lol.
It’s a hard time to live here if you have a head or just a single thought of your own. Now more than ever. You can’t be an atheist without instantly being a “communist serbian fag”. You can’t be gay without being an “anticroatian antichristian communist”. Etc… It’s a simple One-hate-fits-all package, and they’re doing everything to keep it that way.
I’m really sorry for what happened, I wish I could say those people were the minority. Alas….
that’s what you get when you simply don’t understand that all you get in parading across the street is irritation of people around you. why can’t you just be happy with being gay and stop shoving it into other people’s face?
Hi Oman,
Yesterday a friend of mine, a girl, married another girl after having lived together for several years. Except for adoption, they now have the same legal rights and obligations in financial and social matters as every other couple and they can publicly show that they belong together and be accepted by others as such. This would not have happened without demonstrations and parades and bringing public attention to an important issue. Politicians as well as the Church will never change anything unless they are under pressure. And the pressure must come from the public opinion.
That is why it is so important to parade across the street.
Gunnar,
I absolutely agree with you. Just to remember to Stonewall. Pride is our way how to show that we are here, we are normal and we want same rights as heterosexual people. But question is if is Croatia really prepared for homosexual people showing themselves (10 000 of people who protest is really big number).
We had our first Pride at Slovakia last year. We had also troubles to march because of extremists, also some stones and petards were thrown. But if I count extremists I will get number around 50. But I have to say that this year was much more better than last. I cannot compare it because policemen were better prepared to protect us, also we as homosexual group was bigger (1600 people) and extremists were a little group of neo-Nazi people and they were not able to do anything. It was great march full of happiness, joy and pride. So there is a progress in Slovakia.
I cannot judge if Croatian are or not are prepared for that kind of action but result of this pride is number 200/10.000.
First of all we have to show them that we are big group of people and not only 200 hundred of “weird sick homosexual” as other think. I know that you in Croatia could be bigger group, because you have almost same number of citizens as Slovakia. But I understand that you are afraid to show who you are in this country…
If it will help I will come with my girlfriend to support you. Also others from countries where is more easy to live as homosexual should come and support Community in Croatia.
Dear Leanne – Having been elsewhere in Croatia for a couple of weeks we went to Split yesterday, just to look around for a few hours before leaving for the airport. The taxi driver taking us into town explained about traffic problems in the city and about the parade and as he finished, he kind of sighed saying “I guess one has to accept that kind of thing in a democracy.” Not knowing what was to come, I found his thinkng somewhat limited, but acceptable. While strolling around in the old city, my wife and I where rather upset over the graffiti on the anciant buildings, but did not know the meaning of it until we read your aricle above. As the day went on we noticed the build up of the police forces and I got somewhat concerned noticing how they were equipped and did not fancy the fact that each of them was carrying a gas mask, but a Pride parade is a happy and joyful event and we wanted to join in, to watch and to show our support and we found a place at a café at the seaside promenade just 50 yards before the main stage. Beer was served in plastic cups and the restaurants where not allowed to place their glass ashtrays on tables outside, yet another concerning fact. Evidently this was not the kind of Pride event we were expeting. Around us and around the main stage were so much riot police and about ten very agile police dogs so that not even a squirrel could have passed through. As the parade came around the corner from the small streets onto the seaside promenade we heard the noise but could not make out if it was friendly or hostile. I saw something thrown into the parade. I looked like a small piece of cloth which exploded as it landed and white smoke erupted. This happened two or three times. If there was tear gas in that corner, it was perhaps the devices thrown in by the anti-demonstrators and not the police. As the parade came to where we where, we could see some members of the parade with happy and cheerful faces, but most of them looked very tense, nervous and taken by the events. At the end of the parade, there were not more than about 100 paraders making it to the center stage. I assume many did what you did and left just prior to entering the seaside promanade. After one large rock landed at our feet and I got hit by smaller rock, I took a firm grip on my wifes writs and we got out of there.
In this context do not forget, however, that there were lots of people in the gallery applauding and suppporting the parade. They might have been overshadowed by the anti-demonstrators, but they where there and not so few.
You and the others in the parade want no harm to others and do not want to take anything away from anyone else. You just want to live your lifes and have the same rights and acceptance in society as everyone else. And yet, people shout at you and throw rocks, fire crackers and all sorts of hard objects at you. I admire those that walked in this parade. It must have taken a lot of strength and courage to make it to the end. And to the red-necks that Boris described above I ask myself, are not some of them left handed, some of them color blind and some of them just a tiny little bit different from the rest, what we call indiviuality? The emotions displayed yesterday are very primitive and will go away with time. But it only goes away with education and presistance. So keep marching, keep making it colorful and happy and eventually, it will become the same kind of cheerful and great pary that we have in so many other cities around the globe.
And thanks Boris for your comments above putting this in perspective and making us that watch from the outside, understand a bit more of how it is from within.
Hi Gunner,
Thanks for sharing your experience. It def fills in some of gaps we had from yesterdays events.
As another citizen of Split I have to say I am ashamed of the actions displayed by some individuals yesterday. It was ugly to watch and especially to hear. You can’t really translate those words to English and in my opinion it is better that way. But the sad thing is, I expected as much. The hate shown yesterday has been brewing for weeks. There was evidence of it on the walls, you could hear it in coffee shops not to mention internet. As choices went, Split was probably the worst town a pride could have been organized in. It was also pure luck things ended the way they did, it could have been much worse.
Outsiders don’t realize how much influence the church has here and ‘old ways’ can’t be just erased over night. Not one fight can be won over night, but I also think people should choose their battles. What that pride did yesterday, was not to promote equality and take a step closer to having the same legal rights, it set back the little freedom gay people in Split had. I heard comments this morning ‘serves them right’ ‘they shouldn’t push their way in our faces’. People who ignored it so far, now have a firmer opinion and unfortunately it is not a positive one. The hate shown yesterday at the pride escalated during the night, and it wasn’t unusual to see random fights through out the town. It won’t just go away because the event is over. In a way it has shown those stupid individuals throwing rocks yesterday that hate is okay, and that they will have support of thousands when they decide to beat someone who they consider gay tomorrow. I don’t see that as success, and while some battles are won by tragic occurrences, this shouldn’t have gone in that same direction. Split just wasn’t ready and I hope this won’t send the message that violence is okay to the upcoming pride in Zagreb which has been held peacefully for a few years now. I already saw proud comments on the forums telling people in Zagreb ‘this is how it is done’.
But the events yesterday showed Split as well as Croatia as a country not worth visiting. We are all now placed in the same group as the haters showing their lack of civil upbringing yesterday and it is offensive. I am a supporter of gay rights, but also of any type of diversity. But I will be seen as someone hating without reason. In any other situation we are hospitable and welcoming, ready to help and willing to accept differences. Something like this escalating so out of proportion is shocking. Did anyone see those women throwing insults? And I don’t mean just finger showing. I can’t believe they kiss and sweet talk with those same lips. I know I was raised better and it is unbelievable to me that the parents, seeing their children on TV like that will be able to look their own child in the eye again. I adore Split, I am proud to be Croatian, but I am also ashamed of sharing the same space as that unfortunately uneducated and uncivilized mob showing their upbringing yesterday. Croatia and Split are better than that.
I’m from Croatia, and I think that most of those hooligans come from football supporters of Split’s football club Hajduk. Not all Hajduk supporters are hooligans, in fact most of them are just regular Joes, but hard core supporters will get themselves organized for any event where they can spread hate. I don’t understand why this is the case, but sadly it is. The same is with almost every Croatian football club and their hard core supporters.
I am a lesbian, I’m sorry I wasn’t in Split to march, but I will be attending Zagreb’s pride. Zagreb Pride is celebrating their 10th birthday, and first is always the hardest one. I’m happy to say that Zagreb made huge progress. Split will change too, we just need to keep being brave, and talk to people, come out of our closets and educate people.
OMG, just watching the news and major of Split said that the will of the majority must be respected. Unbelievable.
I’m really embarrassed to be Croatian today. I hope that Zagreb march will make me feel proud. in fact, I know it will :)
First of all I have to say well done to everyone who has had the guts and amazing courage to march in Split!
My family is originally from Croatia and I am an out and proud lesbian but sadly living for years abroad as my parents cannot cope with the fact of me being out.
Croatians seems to hate everything that is different. That does not solely refer to gays, that includes anyone who is not Roman Catholic, anyone who is not white and anyone who dares to say out loud what they think. As long as the government is ridden with corruption there is no real progress in the country! Split’s Major could not have cared less what happened and I am pretty sure that the police (despite making arrests) shared the sentiment of those protestors!
I cannot believe the EU agreed to accept Croatia as a member state!
As long as religion is allowed to indoctrinate kids at school, as long as the common person listens during Sunday service about how ‘perverse’ and ‘evil’ homosexuality is, thing will probably stay the same!
What a shame – it is one of the most beautiful countries in the world!
Today I am ashamed and sorry to be Croatian!
I don’t support the violence, but in this sick world with twisted values, Croatia is still a country with moral people!
idiote smrdljiviiiiiiiiiii operi se dinaridu grdi
Croatia is a country with moral people? Where have you been living boy? Croatia has no idea what moral really means, in their books, it is something that priest told them at the church… what was it.. oh, yes, hate everything that is different and that you don’t understand. And don’t ask questions – ignorance is bliss.
Unfortunately, I was born and raised here, in this shithole that does not deserve to be called a country….
dear leanne or whatever and the rest of you guys who posted anything.i couldn’t not reply.first of all I am sad that you are so shallow that you don’t see the picture more wider.you came to Croatia and in this article you are only talking that we are some Nazi people who are blood thirsty.yes this looks at first sight like this,but let me tell you something.you don’t understand our culture and you don’t understand obviously your own culture.if you wanna talk about human rights and freedom of people in general I would say that Croatia is heaven as opposed to america.I was in america and nobody needs to convince me that this is a bullshit false democracy.also I am sad that most of you Americans are brainwashed with that theory of freedom.let me give you an example.being gay or lesbian in Croatia is great,nobody will ask you anything or judge you if you don’t put your opinion out loud and why would you,are you an egomaniac to walk the street and yell that you are homosexual.we don’t care keep it to yourself and do whatever you want.I am not walking into an parade and yelling that i like women,why should I,that is my personal thing.also I have an idea,how would you feel if you organized an pride as for example the one in Split and let say in the pride is 500 people,and then 10000 people come and make on the same day a pride for heterosexuals and then we do the same thing as you,yell that we are heterosexuals and we want our rights.you would be nothing compared to 10000 people and nobody would even hear you,so please tell me how unimportant would you feel on that day?so please be gay,lesbian, whatever makes you happy but keep it to yourself because we don’t care:)best regards
Thanks for commenting and sharing your thoughts.
I would welcome any heterosexual march, but heterosexual people don’t need to shout – everyone accepts them and gives them equal rights. But if they did, I am certain that there would have been no violence yesterday and no people shouting “Kill the heterosexuals.” Yesterday the anti-gay protesters threw glass, rocks, fireworks and gas bombs at the gay marchers. They did the Nazi salute and desecrated their own beautiful buildings with anti-gay graffiti. Please don’t claim that “people don’t care.” People clearly do care.
I was not implying that America is better than Croatia, I was only sharing my opinion that in America, and especially in the cities where my girlfriend and I have lived, gay people are more accepted. We feel safer to be gay in America than here. Of course, America has its faults and I do not support all actions of our government. My opinions were less about policy than about experience, and I hope you can understand that after yesterday’s experience, we do not feel safe being gay here.
Thanks again for sharing your comments.
I just have to say that some Uk magazine few years ago wrote about Dalmatia as gay paradise!!! So what happend? I think that leric is right, people who don’t have opinion are now anti-gay because they feel iritaded by gay people marching the streets… specially now, when our country has no money and they had to spend tousands of kunas for making secure your gay pride… :S
and i’m on your side but i don’t like how you present croatia! gunner said that there was lot of people in croud supporting you. we said we were sorry, and if you (not you leanne, you-everybody) are judging whole country because of 100-200 homofobs, then sorry, you are same as they are… :(((
Just so you know we are in Korcula now (a Croatian island 3 hours from Split) and have experienced many friendly people since Saturday. We def don’t want anyone to think that there isn’t more to Croatia than what happened on Saturday. I know there is and both my girlfriend and I want to learn and experience more.
You appear to be following in my footsteps and if so, your next stop should be the pretty little village/town of Komiza at the island Vis, an absolute pearl with very nice and friendly people, a livley port with lots of fishermen and sailors and its own piece of Croatian history. A young pirdy woman at the tourist office will tell ya all about it…
both, korcula and komiža are very nice… go and explore… :)))
I was the one carrying the “I have 2 moms” poster on that Saturday (incidentally I really do have them, because my first mom died when I was a baby and my father married again) – i will not say what I heard from the public from young children (elementary school). It was terryfing to be in, but we have to stop this “you have to be the proper Hajduk fan-Croat-heterosexual-roman chatolic” course of mind that started to grow here in Croatia and in my town Split as soon as possible. That’s why we, “people that want a free-to-express yourself right for everybody in whatever way while you don’t threaten my human rights” have to act, ASAP.
Three pictures how an “as antifascist as one could possibly be town during WWII (heck, my Grandma was amongst the first people from ex-YU that was awarded “Righteous amongst People” medal, because she compromited her own life to save a Jewish family) looks now:
1. Every bigger wall has to have big Hajduk (soccer club) amblem – even schools; people were putting them on massively not beacuse they like Hajduk so much, but because empty wall soon became a place for ugly graffity- nowadays this doesn’t help anymore
2. In a center of town (for people who were in Split it’s on the main road to port, Zagrebacka, 2 min from the park where this years pride started) a group of highschool youngsters (a “gang” – although there are no real crimes in this town yet, so this is not an “american gang”) were throwing bottles on another group of similar youngsters (another “gang”, from another part of town), hitting them and all other guests that happened to be in this caffe bar at the time – people ended up in hospital
3. Croatian national football team came to Split after 14 ys of avoiding this town (1700 year old town). Before the game supporters of Hajduk (Split football team) and supporters of Dinamo (Zagreb football team) began a fight just because they are from the other group, 50 injured, some in hospital.
4. This stonethrowing of the extremely polite (not a boob, not an arse, not anything, singing, whistling, carrying signs) group having distinguished people (like professor emeritus of the Uni) just because we have a different opinion, and want our society different.
Now, where is this all going. To one of two ends:
1. if everybody (government to schools to families) don’t act NOW we could be having dead Rom people (there were strong voices from the Nazi hand people calling “CIGANI!”) on the streats anyday; or existing underpayed retired professors forced to scavange through litter containers, searching for empty bottles to get a few kunas (local money) more dead because they, once, gave a student an F.
2. if people act, more people will raise voices and we will, through fight for better education (in all senses, from family to school) end up in a free, mediterannean city of Split.
so this is why it was important to do it now (I was a school teacher for three ys, trust me, I know), as often and as loud as we can, and right here – in the very heart of town, in spite of all the people who said “why do you have to do it”
just another thing: although public opinion is “we are anti-gay, get away and do what you want where we don’t see you”, a large group (i would even say as much as half of these 10000 public, were there because they were curious and some even supportive
Check out the news video on pride – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4KCXVbR3jI
I’d love to hear your thoughts on the what the news in Croatia sad about the event.
I’m Croatian from Split, supporting LGBT community, but really don’t like comments from somebody who don’t live here and is “judging book only by the covers”. Yes, we have football hooligans like every country in EU, not even so aggressive, we have some neo-nazis, gay haters, but it’s all marginal. Anyhow, police took good “care” about them and they’ll be prosecuted, don’t worry.
So far Split didn’t recover from immigration of abt 70,000 people during the war in 90′s, who brought here narrow-minded primitivism from their villages in rural Dalmatia and Hercegovina. Assimilation will take long time and we, native inhabitants, are still having hard time to learn them basic democracy behaviour.
We can judge American people by some incidents, lets say, what happened in New Orleans after Katrina hit them. Should I say Americans are very bad because violence and criminal activities took place in New Orleans? Or Americans are very good and human because they were participating in rescue and all other helping activities, taking care about their countrymen?
What I want to point out is to be objective when commenting Croatia and Croatian people, we are good (and bad) as any other nation in the world. Just by googling few minutes about Gay Pride incidents in last few years you can find that everywhere shit can happen, so I’m bringing here just few of them:
Finland: Helsinki police took three young men into custody on Saturday suspected of launching a pepper spray attack at the Helsinki Pride festival. Officers are also looking for 2 to 5 other individuals suspected of participating in the assault. Over 30 people were hit by the spray. No one was seriously injured, however, some of the victims were children.
Czech: Neo-Nazis fired tear gas at the rally following the June 28 Queer Parade at Svobody Square in the Czech city of Brno, sparking a 45-minute melee. Paramedics treated around ten people. Police said 15 anti-gay protesters were arrested. As the neo-Nazis fled police down the streets, they stopped to pelt a group of about five Romanies with tomatoes.
England: Leeds Gay Pride attack. Dane Holdsworth, 21, who works in a city centre bar, was punched and kicked until he lost consciousness, for simply being gay.
Slovakia: On 23 May, the 500 participants in Bratislava’s and Slovakia’s first every Gay Pride were attacked by skinheads. With shouts of “garbage queers” and “Slovakia is ours,” the group of 80 extremists launched a rain of eggs, stones and tear gas before physically attacking gay marchers and other demonstrators who attempted to defend them. The daily is highly critical of the role of police “who failed to provide sufficient protection for the marchers,” several of whom were injured.
Israel: Jerusalem: Jewish Extremist Attacks Gay Pride Parade. One Ultra-Orthodox man decided to take matters into his own hands and attacked the parade, stabbing three people. Other protesters, most of them religious Jews, lined the mile-long route of the “Love Without Borders” march through central Jerusalem. Some held placards that read “You are corrupting our children” while others shouted insults. One placard read “Jerusalem is not San Francisco.” Thirteen protesters were arrested, including one man who threw a soiled diaper at the marchers then attacked a photographer trying to record the scene.
Slovenia is celebrating its 10th annual Gay Pride event this week, but the run-up to the festivities has been somewhat marred by a series of homophobic acts of vandalism. Slovenia has some of the most progressive anti-discrimination legislation in the region, but gay rights campaigners say that, in practice, these laws are not always implemented. Last week one of the most popular gay bars in the capital, Ljubjana, was vandalised and daubed with homophobic graffiti. The house of a judge who recently handed jail sentences to three men for assaulting a gay rights activist was also targeted.
So before anyone try to judge us by some minor incidents please first be open minded and take good look in your back yard. Maybe then you’ll understand us better, because we’re not such different.
Dear Zorzi,
I read your article with great interest. Thank you for bringing more well informed thoughts and new angles to this large complex of differences, but please remember that none of us coming from the outside judge neither you, nor your people or your country by the events that took place in Split. We are all well aware that it in a sence was an isolated event and the people that threatened the well-being and health of others do not represent the country as such. And we have these people in all countries, both in Europe and the Ameicas. Furthermore, from what I saw of what the police did in Split, it looked like they did a good job holding the hooligans back, but then again, I only saw a small part of it right at very end of the parade.
I spent three weeks in Croatia and have met so many nice and wonderful people and have been treated with great hospitaliy adn warmth. Actually I could write a very, very long article about all the nice things and people that I came across during my stay and I am sure I will come back next year for another vacation.
Homofobia takes many different faces. I find it perfectly in order when people shout and show placards against the gay movement during a Pride. That is a healthy part of democracy where people have the right to voice their opinions, regardless of what they are. What is not okey is when people try to harm others in a financial (the gay bar in Ljubliana) or physical (the rocks that hit me in Split) way and what I do not understand, is why hooligans have to become so physical when they get agitated. But then again, I have never understood why football fans start fights after a what is supposed to be a fun game.
Best regards,
Gunnar
Leanne,
I appreciate your stories, and your heartlfelt emotions regarding your experiences. Your description of events during the parade did not influence my opinion of all Croatians, just of those who are angry enough to violently protest a gay pride parade. As you mentioned, parades in America probably used to be the same way, but hearing about the hatred, fear, and threats that are occuring in other countries opens our eyes to not only the fact that America HAS come a long way, but that there are still many in need of help, support, and prayer in other countries, who do not have the priveledge of feeling safe when marching in support of homosexuality.
Anyway, thanks for sharing. It is great to be able to hear your first hand accounts of what is going on around the world.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! And of course for keeping up with the travels!!! xo
I love Split and the islands – but I knew this first Pride wouldn’t go well. Dalmatians are intolerant across the board – misogynist, anti-gay, anti-Semitic, and sadly still anti-Serb, all of which is jarring to me as an American woman. Nobody cares too much what you do in private, which means Split remains fully in the closet – and the only place I think I’ve ever been with no gay bar.
God I love Croatia.
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