HERA – youth group
“Do not discriminate love“
International day against homophobia and transphobia.
The volunteers in HERA continuously work with young people form the entire country whilst performing informal sexual education. Often when working on and discussing issues connected with different sexual orientations the young people express homophobic statements and attitudes, which are more often then not targeted to some of their classmates or peers. Situations as these are the everyday for some young people and they as they are exposed to harassment by their peers. This makes the young people vulnerable. Instead of maturing and growing up in an environment that would support them in their self-realization, they fight against stigma, rejection, reprimand, pressures, harassment by the environment, the family, the peers, the schools – they waste themselves in shame and hiding.
The ignoring of homophobia does not contribute to the changing of that state, on the contrary in affects its worsening. Not reacting to homophobic statements, which are sometimes viewed with ridicule, leaves space for such statement and actions to be continued, and even grow worse. Not reacting and not dealing with homophobia directly impacts the young LGBTIQ people; they cannot realize their rights to free expression and free living or to receive an appropriate health service. Simply put, young LGBTIQ are unable to preform their basic human rights and liberties.
This is why the young volunteers form HERA have produced the film “Do not discriminate love”. Through this one-minute short film the young volunteers would like to send the message for respecting the young LGBTIQ people and facing homophobia. Using these moving pictures the young volunteers are sending the message that without an absolute respect for the rights of all people, including the young LGBTIQ people it is not possible to build an open and a democratic society. Thus, it is necessary to confront the stereotypes and taboos, which often rise before us due to lack of information.
And yes, homophobia is here. We should not close our eyes to it.
The homophobia present in the everyday of the young is not easily surpassed. Especially not, if there is nothing about it in the textbooks for primary and high school pupils, if there are no professionals present in the debate for LGBTIQ rights, if in the public and state speeches LGBTIQ people are spoken of as ill or unnatural.
This is why we need:
- Messages from politicians and public figures that accept the young LGBTIQ as equals in society;
- Sanctions for those who spread hate speech and/or call for violence;
- Sexual education and educated skilled personnel;
- Active and bold professionals to brake the myths and prejudiced against LGBTIQ
Together for a better world, with equal rights for all.
