Introduction Here is one of those former Soviet bloc countries where modern “Gay Life in Lithuania” is in conflict with old traditions as the country emerges from the repressive mentality that stigmatized and criminalized homosexuality. Two forces are clashing head on in Lithuania: progressive and tolerant human rights standards of European Union membership and
Albania
All Europe News & Reports
Andorra
Austria
Belarus
Belgium
Bosnia
Bulgaria
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Gibraltar
Gay Life in Kosovo
Introduction: Kosovo has had a difficult time becoming a nation and developing “Gay Life in Kosovo” has been even harder. Captured by the Ottomans then the Serbians subsumed into socialist Yugoslavia, then split off as part of independent Serbia in 1989 and again split off from Serbia to become an independent country in 2008. It’s no wonder such a struggle for identity and survival has left little time for such delicate issues as human rights, arts and letter–and especially for gay equal rights. Finding a decent gay life has not been and will not be easy for native citizens or western visitors.
The following is a lengthy collection of reports that attempt to portray the patchwork LGBT situation that is gay Kosovo, a nation torn by strife and hardship and warfare over the past century. It is not a simple story and not a glorious one. Homosexual citizens in Kosovo are far from equal in dignity, freedom and respect. One may hope that joining the European Union will slowly wean the country away from the crime of deep homophobia.
Gay Life in Estonia 2012
Introduction Establishing a “Gay Life in Estonia” is becoming an achievable reality through education, tolerance and government support. Estonia is a small country with hope in the air and in the streets that reaching a level of gay tolerance and presence will not take a decade more and not through bloodshed and social upheaval. First, both
Gay Life in Montenegro: Past and Present
From the Ottoman Empire to Modern Gay Rights Montenegro is a small Adriatic country has been shaped by a variety of cultural influences throughout history. Eastern Orthodox, Slavonic, Central European, Islamic, and seafaring Adriatic cultures (such as the Republic of Venice) have been the most important in recent centuries. Montenegro saw its independence from the
Gay Life in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Introduction: Article 26 of the Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) constitution recognizes that “all persons are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to the equal protection of the law on any ground such as race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.” Some rights activists argue the reference to sex prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation. But it is not a clearly defined issue and therein are the considerable troubles LGBT people face against a homophobic society in trying to enjoy “Gay Life in Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
Gay Life in Portugal
“Gay Life in Portugal” is a struggle but it’s alive and well. Portugal is an example of a culture that is not afraid to lean into the future of humanity. Despite old cultural habits, legal challenges and archaic religious beliefs this small country with an enormous history of world dominion has grabbed the mantel of future humanism and said yes to the newest social phenomenon of gay marriage, an idea that revolts most of the world but entices Portugal to take on the challenge of change.
Gay Life in Albania
Introduction: Albania is a mixed situation for gay and lesbian citizens. On one hand, in February 2010, the Parliament of Albania unanimously approved an all inclusive anti-discrimination law which bans discrimination in on the grounds of various characteristics, including sexual orientation and gender identity. However, on the negative side, according to BalkanInsight.com, “…ingrained attitudes among the public leave Albanian gays and lesbians on the fringes of society. They face intolerance, physical and psychological violence – often from the police – and discrimination in the workplace.”
The result is frustrating and risky for LGBT citizens who want to move ahead to a progressive “Gay Life in Albania” of better human rights but are caught in retrograde religious (Muslim and Catholic) opinions and resistant old traditions. Add to these the ever-present hostility of neo-Nazi extremists who fight any effort of gay Europeans to display Pride in public. The new new Albanian anti-discrimination legislation is intended for joining the European Union, whose members are required to adopt comprehensive anti-discrimination legislation. This received a big welcome gesture from humanists but angered the homophobes. So Albania is making strides to emerge into the 21st century while most people are rural poor who know little more than their own potato gardens.
Kurdish, Gay and Proud in Diyarbakir
An interview with a Kurdish Leader of Hebûn LGBT activist group Introduction Diyarbakir city is the capital of the Diyarbakır Province in eastern Turkey. The population is about 1,600,000. Kurds are the predominant population today. Other groups include Turks, Assyrians, Armenians, Arabs and Yazidis. Kurds rarely make it onto the international media, and that’s even
Gay European-Union News & Reports 2011
Combating sexual orientation discrimination European Group of Experts reviews legislative measures taken by the Member States of the European Union to combat sexual orientation discrimination Book URL for Lesbians in Christian church in Europe EGAT – European Aids Treatment Group 1 Discrimination sexual orientation and gender identity in Europe 1/11 2 Euro Parliament blasts Iran on gays
A Whisper of Beauty in Denmark
Around the world are countless breathtaking photo-ops that get swamped with tourist cameras, including mine–the Taj Mahal, Eiffel Tower, the Christus statue above Rio, China’s Great Wall, and so on. Then again, there are also countless small moments where unexpected images of beauty suddenly appear at unforeseen times and places. Sometimes they are intimate and
Copenhagen Day Trip to Malmo, Sweden
Across the Oresund Sound from Copenhagen is Malmo, Sweden, a twenty-minute train ride away. Malmo is the third most populous city in Sweden after Stockholm and Gothenburg. In 2008, its population was 628,388. Women have officially been given permission to swim topless in public swimming pools of the city. This was decided unanimously in the
Denmark’s Royalty
The Danish Monarchy is the constitutional monarchy of Denmark and its overseas territories. It is considered to be the oldest monarchy in the world. The present Queen is Margrethe II. As a constitutional monarch, the Queen is limited to non-partisan, ceremonial functions. The ultimate executive authority over the government of Denmark is still by and
Roskilde City, Cathedral and Viking Museum
Roskilde is the main city in Roskilde Municipality, Denmark on the island of Zealand. It is an ancient city, dating from the Viking Age. With a population of 46,701 the city is an economic center for the region. Roskilde has a pedestrian street running down the center of the city, with many shops, restaurants, and
Christiania Village in Copenhagen
Christiania Village Christiania is an 81-acre city within Copenhagen (see Stories, News & Photos) founded in 1971 by ‘alternative’ people–hippies and others seeking a freer lifestyle and a place to live. They invaded and took over an unused military compound against much government resistance. It’s been a forty year off-and-on struggle to keep the authorities
A Homophobia-Free Zone in Copenhagen
By Richard AmmonGlobalGayz.comJanuary 22, 2011 A recent extended stay in Copenhagen allowed me to explore with some depth this pretty, efficient and tolerant city on the north coast of Europe. Denmark is a highly gay-tolerant country compared to most others in the world, with more than two dozen LGBT (gay) venues, organizations and festivals throughout
Workers Keep Copenhagen Working–A Photo Essay
It’s easy to visit pretty Copenhagen and appreciate its culture, architecture and social scene but the city works because of the workers, many of whom rise before dawn to drive buses, bake pastries and dig holes for underground pipes. Here is a photo essay about the varied and valued ‘Workers of Copenhagen’. See other stories
Gay and Straight at the Malmo, Sweden Train Station
By Richard AmmonGlobalGayz.comJanuary 11, 2011 (1/11/11) Imagine this: arriving at the Malmo, Sweden train station (30 minutes east from Copenhagen) for the first time and looking around at the kiosks, cafes, ticket offices, bustling commuters. Nothing unusual–until I wandered into the variety store (called Interpress, a la 7-Eleven) and beheld a blizzard of print–probably a
On visiting a working-class neighborhood in Copenhagen
By Richard Ammon GlobalGayz.com January 10, 2011 Copenhagen, Denmark The first thing I notice are the tall stacks of apartments–dozens of buildings similar in design, height, facade, graffiti-scarred exterior doors–thousands of apartments neatly built on top of one another. Some have views of the local park, most look out onto windows of other apartments, row
Home Swapping Across Continents–California & Copenhagen
By Richard Ammon GlobalGayz.com January 7, 2010 The most interesting objects of desire, curiosity, fascination and entertainment for humankind are other people. We spend our entire lives entwined with others, either of our liking or not. And when we get a chance to see other people from different perspectives, from the inside, sideways, in public
On Visiting Copenhagen in Winter
By Richard AmmonGlobalGayz.comJanuary 7, 2010 Snow fell three inches yesterday with fine white ground coat across the park in front of my apartment. On the other side of the park is a leafy evergreen cemetery which is really an extension of the park. It’s a fine time to take a walk across the mono-colored land
Random Images of St Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea. The city’s other names were Petrograd and Leningrad 1924
Random Images of Moscow
Moscow is the capital of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the world. Moscow is the most populous city on the continent of Europe and the seventh largest city proper in the world. The population as of January 2010 was 10,562,099. Since the
Hermitage State Museum in St Petersburg
The State Hermitage is a museum of art and culture in Saint Petersburg, Russia. One of the largest and oldest museums of the world, it was founded in 1764 by Catherine the Great and open to the public since 1852. Its collections, of which only a small part is on permanent display, comprise nearly 3
Moscow Subways and the Bombing of March 2010
Moscow has some of the most elegant Metro subway stations of any country, ranging from modernistic art deco interior designs to more ornate baroque-looking walls to huge stained-glass walls. This gallery displays a few of the many styles. During the morning rush hour of March 29, 2010 two suicide bombings were carried out, about 40
Gay Russia Images: Moscow and St Petersburg
Gay Russia is a vast subject with a short modern history. Life is not easy for LGBT Russians and most prefer to remain in quiet safe closets. But three LGBT organizations (see story) are challenging the old traditions and attitudes. It is not easy or always safe but the challenge is great and their determination