Socialization Problems in LGBT Community

Nino Kimadze

Since 2005, on May 17, International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia has been celebrated every year. Discriminative facts against sexual minorities are observed both in private and public sectors.

First large scaled violence and persecution of LGBT people in Georgia was observed on May 17, 2013. Afterwards, in 2014 Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II declared May 17 to be National Day of Family Purity and Parents. In addition, in May 2014 the Parliament of Georgia adopted the Law on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination. Before that, various human rights organizations blamed the Government and Parliament of Georgia in inactivity.

It is noteworthy that several nongovernmental organizations and unions work on the protection of rights of sexual minorities in Georgia. They provide community members with free and psychological aids. Their purpose is to expose discrimination facts and internal homophobia.

 

Executive director of the LGBT Georgia Davit-Mikheil Shubladze spoke about wrong attitude of the general society towards sexual minorities. He said LGBT people often apply to them for help.

“Sometimes not a single LGBT person applies to us for help within one week time but sometimes several people come to our office in a week. Their main problem is abuse by police officers, public servants and ordinary citizens. We support them morally and provide with free legal aid. Lately, two young men were beaten in Mukhiani settlement and they needed our help because the police did not qualify the incident as hate crime. Police usually hides similar facts and records them as minor hooliganism. There is Article 53′ Part III of the Criminal Code of Georgia which considers assault on the ground of sexual orientation or gender as aggravating circumstance of the offence,” Davit-Mikheil Shubladze said.

Shubladze thinks public attitude towards sexual minority cause inclination of LGBT people to suicide. He said the general attitude has changed since 1990s but it is still hard and oppressive.

 

“If we compare current situation to the situation in 1990s, there is some progress in the society in relation with the LGBT community. However, since 2010 the situation has been hard.  Situation gets particularly complicated in May with the approaching May 17. We usually give suggestions to the community members to refrain from walking street unless they have urgent matters,” Davit-Mikheil Shubladze.

According to him, minority member is distinguished from majority with long hair and different clothing, that makes them target of aggression. He also added that society segregates members of any minority because they do not feel positive about different people.

“If society offers some compromises to me, I do not need this society; I have my circle of friends and will create my own socium. So, it is absolutely clear why people need isolation and segregation,” executive director of LGBT Georgia said.

LGBT community activist Beka Gabadadze spoke about oppression from society and problems of self-estimation in the society. He said minority groups are under permanent psychological and physical oppression; he mentioned most recent example of physical assault on LGBT people in Mukhiani district. Beka Gabadadze believes the major problem is obstacles for LGBT community in the labor market.

“The minority groups mostly complain about employment. For example, when transgender woman applies for job but her ID card states he is male, employers do not hire similar people. My friend applied for a job but when employers guessed she was transgender, they refused to hire her,” Beka Gabadadze said.

According to Gabadadze, LGBT people also often get victims of domestic violence; they are intimidated by parents. He said the legislation is more or less adequate towards the issues of minorities but police does not protect citizens equally. 

“Not to speaking about violence in the family and educational institutions, there are cases when parents take their children with different sexual orientation to psychologists, give hormone medicines to them or expel from home. As for school, bullying is urgent problem. LGBT underage children are under particular oppression,” Beka Gabadadze said.

Davit-Mikheil Shubladze clarified that LGBT community feels particular threat with the approaching May 17 event and they refrain from communication with society particularly with journalists.

 

On May 17, nongovernmental organizations intend to hold different activities with colorful flayers and flags to raise public awareness about the rights of LGBT people. In parallel to that, the Patriarchate of Georgia intends to organize a concert to celebrate the Day of Family Purity and Parents. Secretary of the Georgian Catholicos- Patriarch Michael Botkoveli confirmed this information with the magazine Liberali.