HOW FAR CAN TOLERANCE GO (GAY RELATIONSHIPS)
A WEEK AGO, THE Chamber of deputies with Romanian parliament annulled the controversial article of law no 200 of the Penal Code, punishing homosexual relationships. On articles, the annulment of the law was decided, as 122 deputies voted for the annulment of the article, 63 against it, and 17 deputies abstained from the vote. The nationalist and left-wing opposition, as well as deputies from the Christian democratic national peasants' party, part of the ruling coalition voted against the annulment of the article. On the other hand, given the changes of the penal code, the deputies decided that the public sexual perversities should be punished with 1to 5 years jail-time. The text of the law defines a sexual perversity as 'any unnatural act involved in a sexual relationship'. The annulment of the article punishing homosexual relationships, repeatedly requested by the Council of Europe, was necessary in order to harmonize Romanian and EU legislation, since Bucharest has actually started EU accession negotiations. The article was discussed only in the Chamber of deputies, raising controversies and harsh criticism from the Romanian Orthodox Church, the majority cult. Next, the senators are supposed to adopt the changes of the penal code, before the law comes into force. Speaking in the name of the Orthodox Church, patriarch Teoctist sent a letter of protest to the parliament, reinforcing his opposition towards ,I quote, 'whatever is against nature and Romanian tradition'. The head of the Romanian Orthodox Church believes that Romania will be accepted into the European structures ' together with its specific Christian identity, if , what is sought is a fusion of spiritual values, not an artificially imposed unity.'
Back to parliament, the president of the Juridical committee, the Christian democratic deputy, Emil Popescu, said that, as far the article 200 is concerned, a flexible solution has been found: gay people will be punished only if they have homosexual relations in public. The decision of the Chamber of deputies was approved by 'Accept', an association defending the rights of sexual minorities. According to Adrian Coman, the executive director of this association, the annulment of the article will not necessarily liberalize homosexuality, but will render all citizens equal before the law, regardless of their sexual orientation. In addition, Coman said that modification of the law will not necessarily bring about radical changes in the way homosexuality is perceived in Romania, or in the way homosexuals behave.
We asked several Romanians what they believe about homosexuality.
Here is what a middle-aged worker told us:
"I don't like homosexuals and lesbos; I think they are sick people; seeing them kissing in public makes me sick. I have three children, and if one of them would ever do such a thing, I would never want to see him again."
A former clerk, now a pensioner, said: “I am against the law approving homosexual relations. They are against decency, morality, religion.”
Let us listen to a 35 year old driver: 'Homosexuality is against nature, neither people nor animals should do it. This is the way of God'.
Our next interlocutors have clearer opinions, like that of a young shop assistant:
‘I agree with the legalisation, but there shouldn’t be public manifestations. As far as I know, there has not been such a gene in my family”
A elderly buyer told us:
“It should’ve been legalised long ago, soon after 1990. Maybe such relationships have always existed, but they haven’t been made public. Now we all know. Anyway, there’s too much fuss about it”
A student at the Polytechnics declared himself in favour of discretion:
“I think homosexuality is not a real danger to our society and as long as homosexuals avoid public manifestations and don’t try to make proselytes, they should be left alone’.
Therefore, opinions in this matter go from radical rejection to careful tolerance, but they all show relaxation - nobody believes anymore that homosexuals’ place is in jail.
We wanted though to see what the tolerance limit was and, as our first interlocutor talked about her three children, we asked those questioned in the street, what would happen if their own child fell in love with a person of the same sex. Here is what the pensioner answered: ‘I would say I’m a person without any luck and I’ll probably be crushed morally and I’d destroy myself physically as well.
The driver told us:
“I wouldn’t repudiate him, I would try to make him give up this idea, but not by force or violence.”
The young shop assistant and the student, both with no children, told us they couldn’t image something like what they called ‘this genetic accident’ could happen to them, as long as they were normal. Therefore, imagination and tolerance are not the same when it comes to one’s own family, and mentalities and instincts of preservation (or perpetuation of the species) work more promptly than tolerance as to the right to be different.
In the end we talked to the manager of a Romanian-American marketing company, who studied foreign languages and psycho-therapy. MRs. Martina Iancu is 42 years old and has a son who is a computer analyst. Here is what she told us:
“ I am for people having freedom, just like the freedom of speech and circulation. That is why I think these people should have the right to love. Of course there is a limit for everything, and if a certain group exaggerates, the necessary legal measures will be taken. Anyway, this is a long trodden path in the West. What we have to do is to find the way that fits us best. In any case, I am for freedom.”
But is the Romanian society ready to accept homosexuals’ rights? Here is Martina Iancu again: “I thought the Romanian society was ready to offer all kinds of freedoms; it isn’t but, like a child, is has to be educated. It’s difficult to define freedom, but it’s even harder to assume it. As far as sexual freedom is concerned, society accepts these things more easily if they happen far from people’s eyes and ears. A gay manifestation, with people wearing striking costumes and banners would probably not be received with enthusiasm in Romania. But maybe even a carnival celebrating the ‘classical’ but too free love-making way would be received in the same way. After all, it’s also about the right to privacy, isn’t it.“
Back to parliament, the president of the Juridical committee, the Christian democratic deputy, Emil Popescu, said that, as far the article 200 is concerned, a flexible solution has been found: gay people will be punished only if they have homosexual relations in public. The decision of the Chamber of deputies was approved by 'Accept', an association defending the rights of sexual minorities. According to Adrian Coman, the executive director of this association, the annulment of the article will not necessarily liberalize homosexuality, but will render all citizens equal before the law, regardless of their sexual orientation. In addition, Coman said that modification of the law will not necessarily bring about radical changes in the way homosexuality is perceived in Romania, or in the way homosexuals behave.
We asked several Romanians what they believe about homosexuality.
Here is what a middle-aged worker told us:
"I don't like homosexuals and lesbos; I think they are sick people; seeing them kissing in public makes me sick. I have three children, and if one of them would ever do such a thing, I would never want to see him again."
A former clerk, now a pensioner, said: “I am against the law approving homosexual relations. They are against decency, morality, religion.”
Let us listen to a 35 year old driver: 'Homosexuality is against nature, neither people nor animals should do it. This is the way of God'.
Our next interlocutors have clearer opinions, like that of a young shop assistant:
‘I agree with the legalisation, but there shouldn’t be public manifestations. As far as I know, there has not been such a gene in my family”
A elderly buyer told us:
“It should’ve been legalised long ago, soon after 1990. Maybe such relationships have always existed, but they haven’t been made public. Now we all know. Anyway, there’s too much fuss about it”
A student at the Polytechnics declared himself in favour of discretion:
“I think homosexuality is not a real danger to our society and as long as homosexuals avoid public manifestations and don’t try to make proselytes, they should be left alone’.
Therefore, opinions in this matter go from radical rejection to careful tolerance, but they all show relaxation - nobody believes anymore that homosexuals’ place is in jail.
We wanted though to see what the tolerance limit was and, as our first interlocutor talked about her three children, we asked those questioned in the street, what would happen if their own child fell in love with a person of the same sex. Here is what the pensioner answered: ‘I would say I’m a person without any luck and I’ll probably be crushed morally and I’d destroy myself physically as well.
The driver told us:
“I wouldn’t repudiate him, I would try to make him give up this idea, but not by force or violence.”
The young shop assistant and the student, both with no children, told us they couldn’t image something like what they called ‘this genetic accident’ could happen to them, as long as they were normal. Therefore, imagination and tolerance are not the same when it comes to one’s own family, and mentalities and instincts of preservation (or perpetuation of the species) work more promptly than tolerance as to the right to be different.
In the end we talked to the manager of a Romanian-American marketing company, who studied foreign languages and psycho-therapy. MRs. Martina Iancu is 42 years old and has a son who is a computer analyst. Here is what she told us:
“ I am for people having freedom, just like the freedom of speech and circulation. That is why I think these people should have the right to love. Of course there is a limit for everything, and if a certain group exaggerates, the necessary legal measures will be taken. Anyway, this is a long trodden path in the West. What we have to do is to find the way that fits us best. In any case, I am for freedom.”
But is the Romanian society ready to accept homosexuals’ rights? Here is Martina Iancu again: “I thought the Romanian society was ready to offer all kinds of freedoms; it isn’t but, like a child, is has to be educated. It’s difficult to define freedom, but it’s even harder to assume it. As far as sexual freedom is concerned, society accepts these things more easily if they happen far from people’s eyes and ears. A gay manifestation, with people wearing striking costumes and banners would probably not be received with enthusiasm in Romania. But maybe even a carnival celebrating the ‘classical’ but too free love-making way would be received in the same way. After all, it’s also about the right to privacy, isn’t it.“
posted by Andreea Demirgian at
4:29 AM
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