Belarus in the Greenwood Encyclopedia of LGBT Issues Worldwide
Svyatoslav Sementsov
LGBT Issues Worldwide published earlier this year. The three volumes
account for more than 1300 pages of important and timely information.
This set has an ambitious scope with the goal of offering the most
up-to-date international overview of key issues in the lives of
lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals. Eighty-two
countries are represented. Belarus chapter was written by Viachaslau
Bortnik, Belarusian human rights defender and LGBT activist.
Bellow we provide excerpts from the chapter.
Overview of LGBT Issues in Belarus
While homosexual activity is no longer considered a crime in
Belarus, and the age of consent for heterosexual and homosexual
relations is equal, LGBT rights still remains a marginal topic in
public discourse and does not play any role in national and or local
politics.
Homophobia remains widespread throughout the country country, and
instances of harassment and discrimination appear occur regularly.
Many Belarusians believe consider homosexuality to be a disease, and
some see it as a sin, but few consider it a legitimate sexual
orientation.
President Lukashenka and members of Parliament parliament often
make negative statements about homosexuals, which strengthens
strengthening the homophobia in society.
Homosexuality is frowned upon in Belarusian society and condemned
by the church. Belarusian society is conservative in this respect,
with homosexuals generally being socially stigmatized. Gay life in
Belarus remains largely underground, and only a few homosexuals openly
declare their sexual orientation.
The government-controlled media often attempts to smear the
domestic political opposition by associating it with homosexuality.
This strategy is also used against foreign countries; in one two year
period, three foreign diplomats were expelled from Belarus on claims
of homosexuality. Homosexuality is often seen by the government as
allied with Western paths to development.
While the Belarusian Constitution constitution says it forbids
discrimination, this prohibition has not extended to discrimination
based on sexual orientation. Belarusian law does not provide
protection for LGBT people against discrimination with regard to
employment, housing, or family relationships. Although many people
live together outside of marriage , domestic partnership and
cohabitation is are not recognized by the government and LGBT
Belarusian couples do not have any of the rights as of heterosexual
couples. Gay men are also not allowed to serve in the armed forces.
Although hate crimes against homosexuals are not uncommon,
homophobia is not recognized as an independent motive for crimes. LGBT
people continue to face harassment and discrimination by the general
population; and they cannot count on police protection protection, as
the police often refuse to protect the rights of LGBT citizens. There
is evidence that LGBT people are targeted for violence; in 2001–2002,
five LGBT people were tortured and killed in Minsk. Other countries
have granted asylum to Belarusians who claimed discrimination based on
sexual orientation.
There is no official recognition of LGBT organizations in Belarus
Belarus, although many groups continue to operate without registering,
which makes them illegal. These groups face difficulties such as armed
militia storming into their meetings to threaten and arrest their
members, members; LGBT individuals and groups are also the target of
hate crimes. Recent changes to Belarus’s Criminal criminal Code code
have given the authorities even more latitude to treat the activities
of LGBT groups as illegal attempts to discredit or bring harm to
Belarus.
Outlook for the 21st Century
The Belarusian LGBT movement is one of the youngest in Europe. It
operates in one of the most repressive political environments, nearly
in full international isolation, without public support inside the
country. Attempts of at consolidation undertaken by LGBT groups in
2007 give vital hope for a grooving, growing developing movement to
benefit the Belarusian LGBT community as a whole. The most important
step in the near future is seen to be a public campaign to change the
legislation affecting the relationship between NGOs and the government
government; that this will allow LGBT groups to work openly and more
effectively. The second step is the promotion of antidiscrimination
legislation. The Belarusian LGBT movement can only achieve these
serious goals by working in alliance with other organizations that
fight for human rights, women’s rights rights, and other progressive
causes in the country.
Undoubtedly, gradual change in the political regime and future
integration within the European Union will play an important role in
the improvement of the situation of LGBT people in Belarus.
The Greenwood Encyclopedia of LGBT Issues Worldwide/ Edited by Chuck
Stewart, 2010.
http://www.pride.by/en/show.php?id=43
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Svyatoslav Sementsov
co-president
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m. +375297390882
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