We, the member organizations of the Civil Platform “No to Phobia!” express our concern about the homophobic environment existing in the country and the statements which followed the award of Guram Kashia by the UEFA for his support to the LGBT community.
“No to Phobia!” issues a statement in support to the members of LGBT community who suffer from intimidation in all the spheres of their life and become victims of discrimination. The Platform also supports Guram Kashia and all those persons, who in spite of the pressure from individual members of the society, openly and bravely express their solidarity to the LGBT community members.
In October last year, Guram Kashia wore an armband with the LGBT symbol on it during the football match; it was followed by the homophobic statements and actions made by some of the members of the society, extremist groups and some of the political parties. On 22 August this year, UEFA assigned a new reward “EqualGame”, which was first granted to Guram Kashia for the solidarity expressed towards the LGBT persons. This gesture pushed a new wave of aggression. For a example, the member of the “Georgian march”, Konstantine Margoshia, in reply to the award given by UEFA to Guram Kashia, made a homophobic and threatening statement on his own Facebook page: “Come to Tbilisi on 9 September and you will see the rest”.
It should be welcomed that the Ministry of Internal Affairs reacted to this fact and invited Konstantine Margoshia for questioning. We also would like to welcome the solidarity expressed towards Guram Kashia by the President of the Georgian Football Federation, Levan Kobiashvili, Vice-President – Nicka Jgarkava and part of the Georgian National Football Team. As for Guram Kashia, he himself responded to the pressure made upon him by his following statement: “Until I have even one fan, I will play for him/her in the National Team”.
The aggression and threat of violence towards Guram Kashia first and foremost indicates to the systemic and grave character of suppression and violence against the LGBT persons. In spite of the fact that LGBT persons formally enjoy the equality by the legislation, in practice they suffer from the neglect, systemic suppress and violence. The issue of homophobia institutionalized in practice in state agencies and administrations remains problematic, whereas, performing its function on the way of building free society based on equality and liberal-democratic values, still remains to be a challenge for the education system. In such environment, homophobia used as a political leverage and supported by different political and social groups damages the democratic development process. Unfortunately, the authorities and the responsible governmental agencies fail to create a political discourse supporting the equality and to solve the social conflicts emerged in the society. Relevant and timely legal response to the violence, discrimination and cases of intimidation still remain to be a challenging issue.
Against the background of increased homophobic atmosphere, it is important for the political elite, in particular for the governing political group to issue clear public statement in support of equality and for the law-enforcement authorities to ensure a relevant legal response to the statements containing threat and to all the actions undertaken towards the conflict provocation. It is also important to ensure the peaceful environment for the 9 September football match.
Georgian Democracy Initiative (GDI)
Institute for Democracy and Safe Development (IDSD)
Georgian Reforms Association (GRASS)
Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC)
Sapari
International Society for fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED)
Media Development Foundation (MDF)
Equality Movement
Article 42 of the Constitution
Tolerance and Diversity Institute (TDI)
Georgian Young Lawyers' Association (GYLA)
