Comments on: British parliamentarians condemn Lithuania's anti-gay law

By: Peter Baird Darkest Queensland Australia

Peter Baird Darkest Queensland Australia — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 22:10:21 +0000

Jamestoronto. Your idea of spending Gay money elswhere is a good idea. We in Queensland have to contend with a conspiracy of silence from TOURISM QUEENSLAND. When it comes to The Brisbane Gay Pride Festival. There is no information from the Tourism office about the Festival which generates about EIGHTY MILLION dollars into this economy. I have requested an answer about this neglect from Premier Anna Bligh & Tourism Queensland, but so far have been greeted with the usual homophobic silence which is rampant in this State. Why don't we boycott this, 'Greatest Job In The World' advertising about North Queensland. Remember this is the only Prudish State in Australia which has no Nude Beaches. That is also the reason why the Japanese never returned to Surfers Paradise. Strange calling it by that name when it's community are mainly conservitave & hate Gay's. They ripp off our taxes & resources & we get nothing in return.

(Report comment to the moderator)

By: valerio

valerio — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 17:56:33 +0000

"What else can you expect of a mentaly backward country as Lithuania?"

Great to see that we have towards them the same attitude that they have towards LGBT people. You say "morally bankrupt", I say "mentally backward", let's call the whole thing off.

While it's clear that this is a terrible law, let's remember that we had the same law here in the UK up until a few years ago, so acting all outraged seems "fashionable", to say the least, especially by the conservative political parties and their voters.

I, like everyone on this forum, hope that something will be done to change this and would take part in demonstrations, if any are organised. But let's keep in mind that the European Institutions are not really able to act swiftly to address this issue.

All the vigorous anti-European integration policies adopted in this and other countries, mean that European institutions are not strong enough in my opinion to take the kind of swift action that most on this forum seem to be hoping for.

We cannot want a weak European Union and one that acts forcefully to rectify wrongs when they take place in other member states.

Something will happen at the European level, I'm sure, but it's going to take a long time and may leave you thinking: "is that it?"

(Report comment to the moderator)

By: Christina Engela

Christina Engela — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 07:40:46 +0000

"Members of the European Parliament have also condemned the new legislation"

Ok, so are they going to actually do anything about it? Just standing there and waving a finger will achieve nothing if you don't attach any caveats to this "condemnation".

In short, "if you sign that human rights violation into law, we will…" – it becomes nothing more than window dressing to say "we condemned the action, so we are on your side and looking after your rights, but unfortunately they didn't listen".

That is politics, and politics is a bitch. It just depends on which side of the bed she favors.

(Report comment to the moderator)

By: jamestoronto

jamestoronto — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 05:20:26 +0000

I agree with Dave, Why would any gay person travel and spend money in homophobic countries, states, etc. anywhere? As an "over-the-ponder" here in Canada, I am not too sure on the ins and outs of EU membeship but here is a dumb Canuck's take on it.

There is this club in town the goal of which is to help one another out in ways that different members need. Some members are wealthy and need no help at all but are willing to help out less rich members. This club has a charter though and everyone who joins must live by it. Now along come a few new folks who love the idea of getting money from the other members and apply to join. To do so, they have to agree to the club's charter, which they say they do. But once they have joined and scooped up all the aid they decide there are some rules we don't agree with any more, so they are changing them for ourselves. But we still want your money.

PS we may want to change more rules for ourselves in the future but we will still take your money. Oh yes, the real aim by the way is to change all your rules we don't like but still take your money. We keep changing the rules and you keep giving us money. This is a no brainer.

I got a call last year from a guest house I had stayed at quite often in Florida to see if I was coming down to visit (and leave behind money). I told them I had decided to visit and put my vacation savings into a pro-gay state and spent a great week in Massachusetts.

My attitude is if your government wants nothing to do with me then I want nothing to do with you.

(Report comment to the moderator)

By: Mihai Bucur

Mihai Bucur — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 05:08:37 +0000

re dave: I don't think you should lump Estonia in with Latvia and Lithuania. In Estonia, there are no anti-gay laws and politicians have been quite favourable to gay rights. It is Latvia and particularly Lithunia who are the problem within the EU.

(Report comment to the moderator)

By: RobN

RobN — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:02:50 +0000

Oh no!! They've been "condemned! That's torn it. Unfortunately we are talking about a country's politics, not a decaying building.

This so reminds me of the United Nations sending out an official line something akin to "a stiff talking to" – Essentially stating their common opinion, but actually resulting in.. you guessed it… absolutely fuck all.

Go ahead and condemn all you like. Talk is cheap. Either threaten them with eviction from the union or shut up.

(Report comment to the moderator)

By: John

John — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:30:24 +0000

What a joke!!! Pressure needs to be put now that either they get rid of this medieval "law" or they will get NO access to EU funds that OUR taxes pay for. Why should us gay people have to pay taxes that will be transferred abroad into the coffers of such a homophobic, oppressive government? They are quite happy to take EU funding but not EU values and human rights, making a complete sham of the system.
P.S. If nothing is done I assume we (the UK) can stop pandering to terrorists/preachers of hate here because to do otherwise would "infringe their human rights" and we would be punished by the EU if we didn't comply? Becayse if Lithuiania gets off scott-free for serious breaches then surely we will too? Nah, didn't thinkso.

(Report comment to the moderator)

By: dave

dave — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:23:04 +0000

i would not go to countries that are homphobic for holidays and urge straight friends not to go. dont let their economy access the pink or pinkish pond. i feel the same way about latvia and estonia and russia. what do others think.no reward for homophobia.

(Report comment to the moderator)

By: Brian Burton

Brian Burton — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:39:03 +0000

What else can you expect of a mentaly backward country as Lithuania? They are still mentaly back in the Sovirt Comunist era. It will take a few more years to rid the country of the 'Old Gaurd.'

(Report comment to the moderator)

By: Stephen Ramsey

Stephen Ramsey — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:55:18 +0000

And drop Michael Cashman an email asking what the Euro Parliament will do:

To: @europarl.europa.eu">michael.cashman @europarl.europa.eu

Dear Mr Cashman,

I welcome your condemnation of Lithuania for enacting a new facist law which bans the promotion of homosexuality and by equating homosexuality with the promotion of drugs or suicide, and the portrayal of killings, mutilation or torture.

However condemnation is not a sufficient response to this horrific new law. What practical financial consequences does the European Parliament plan to impose on Lithuania for this law's enactment? What steps are being taken to suspend Lithuania's EU membership while this law remains on their statue books?

I look forward to your response

Yours sincerely

(Report comment to the moderator)

By: Juris Lavrikovs

Juris Lavrikovs — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:53:59 +0000

The Council of Europe written declaration was signed not just by British MPs but MPs from many other European countries too.

(Report comment to the moderator)

By: Stephen Ramsey

Stephen Ramsey — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:48:56 +0000

Drop the council of Europe an email asking them what immediate financial consequences Lithuania will face as a result of this evil new law:

To: @coe.int">bureau.paris @coe.int; @coe.int">bureau.bruxelles @coe.int

Dear Council of Europe,

However condemnation is not a sufficient response to this horrific new law. What practical financial consequences does the Council of Europe plan to impose on Lithuania?

I look forward to your response

Yours sincerely

(Report comment to the moderator)

By: Stephen Ramsey

Stephen Ramsey — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:47:19 +0000

Good that they've condemned the law. What are the practical steps that will be taken in the meantime to ensure that all EU funding to Lithuania is stopped?

(Report comment to the moderator)