ANALIZA ŠTAMPANIH BH MEDIJA ZA LGBTTIQ TEME

Transcription

Analysis of Terminology pertaining to LGBTTIQ Persons and
Human Rights in Printed Media
in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Organization Q
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Table of Content
1. MEDIA IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA .................................................................................. 4
2. ANALYSIS OF ARTICLES .......................................................................................................... 5
What is in a title? ........................................................................................................................... 10
Power of language .................................................................................................................... 11
Power of the words.................................................................................................................... 13
Conclusion about qualitative analysis ....................................................................................... 17
3. STEREOTYPES IN MEDIA ....................................................................................................... 19
4. TERMINOLOGY USED IN WRITTEN MEDIA .......................................................................... 21
5. EXAMPLE OF WALTER............................................................................................................ 22
Diary of Revolution: Everything is Full of Drugged Faggots ..................................................... 22
Prejudice and Stereotypes.................................................................................................... 22
Hatred ................................................................................................................................... 23
Prejudice and Provocations .................................................................................................. 24
Woman under Veil Declared as a Dog...................................................................................... 24
Prejudice ............................................................................................................................... 24
Stereotypes........................................................................................................................... 24
Discrimination ....................................................................................................................... 25
Foreign donations, free Vaseline and ticket for “Go West” ....................................................... 25
6. MOST POSITIVE EXAMPLE OF WRITING ABOUT LGBTTIQ ISSUES ............................. 26
BH Magazine Dani .................................................................................................................... 26
7. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF PRINTED MEDIA................... 28
Terminology ................................................................................................................................... 30
ANNEX 1: Breakdown and Summaries of Analyzed Articles ........................................................ 32
ANNEX 2: A Review of the Ten Media Analyzed in this Report.................................................... 48
ANNEX 3: A Review of a 5 day free trial Professional Clipping .................................................... 50
ANNEX 4: Words and Phrases their Diversification in Printed Articles......................................... 51
2
Introduction
This research has been conducted as part of the project on Public Visibility: Raising
Awareness of the LGBTIQ Community Issues in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH),
sponsored by the Swedish Helsinki Committee for Human Rights.
This analysis was designed and completed out of relevant articles printed in BiH media.
Articles were gathered on the basis of a random press clipping sample collected by the
Organization Q. These articles do not include a complete clipping of articles in print
media nor are they analyzed in their original form from the time of their publishing.
Analysis of published articles from the BiH print media is related to and concerns the
mentioning of key words and themes relevant for the LGBTTIQ community1 as well as
the general attitude which pertains to relevant themes and words and frequency of their
usage.
Additionally, this report also contains an in depth overview of certain topics such as
stereotypes in media, and examples of most negative and positive articles.
Homosexuality was decriminalized in the FBIH in 1996 and in the RS in 1998. The first
positive step forward occurred in early 2003 with the adoption of the Gender Equality
Law enacted throughout the whole country. This law stipulates that each and every form
of discrimination based on sex/gender and sexual orientation is strictly forbidden and
punishable by law.
There are no provisions at the present time which would ban discrimination based on
gender identity and/expression and (inter)sexual characteristics or which address hate
speech and hate crimes on the basis of sexual orientation and/or gender identity and
expression. There are also no provisions calling for legal, social or health care for
transexual or intersexual individuals.
It is our hope that this report will help improve the way the media write about LGBTTIQ
population in BiH and LGBTTIQ human rights in general. Media plays a major role in
raising awareness among the general public and it is our hope that media houses will
start setting up professional standards which will not only promote human rights but
would partially assist in building BiH into a truly democratic society.
It is our intention for this report and other similar reports to raise awareness for and
understanding of LGBTTIQ issues and human rights as well as to make concrete steps
to create a BiH society which finds virtue in its own diversity.
Organization Q
Sarajevo, BiH
1
Please see Terminology.
3
1. MEDIA IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
Media in Bosnia and Herzegovina are mostly still underdeveloped and tend to disregard
the European and international standards of media practices in journalism and
information treatment. Some of the reasons why media in this country is underdeveloped
are historically understandable (war from 1992-95, post conflict transition and slow
democratization, outdated skills, methods and equipment), but obstacles in producing
good quality media go beyond professional standards offered by the journalists, editors
in chief, directors and owners, and are in fact also partially due to bad financial situation.
After the war, new journalists were not trained properly for the job of a journalist.
Transition period is very slow in the entire state as it is also visible in democratization of
the media. As in the most of the world, TV, radio media, and electronic media are the
most powerful media in BiH.
The main regulating body for all telecommunications in BiH is the Communication
Regulatory Agency (CRA - www.cra.ba) that used to be under the management of the
international community in BiH. It is now managed by BH professionals and operates
under domestic budget. It monitors/regulates solely the electronic media, and thus has
no impact on the printed media in the country.
BH Press Council (PC - www.vzs.ba) regulates the printed media. PC has no authority
to give penalties in fees if the reported published irregularities are proven to be a breach
in the Press Code of BiH2, but uses only journalistic remedies, such as rights to reply,
publishing of retraction, apology or denial. It has no right to fine, suspend, close down or
license newspapers or magazines. The actual impact of this body is not greatly visible.
In the past two years, Freedom to Access Information Act has become increasingly
important. American Bar Association Central Eastern and Eurasia Law Initiative (ABA
CEELI), supported by the USAID, took upon itself to familiarize and educate the public
about its importance. In 2004, a Center for Freedom to Access Information
(www.cspi.ba) was opened in Sarajevo. It now operates as an independent center
managed by the local/domestic experts. These experts provide services and aim to
mobilize people in actualizing their right to know. This is especially important so that
media houses can learn some of the mechanisms for tracking and monitoring stories,
and what to do when real information is not accessible from government bodies. A legal
right to know or to access public information can and should be a significant tool/partner
in informing the public about important processes and/or issues.
There are is no exact statistical information on printed media in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The publishers themselves do not give exact percentages or do give unrealistically
overestimated numbers on the circulation of their newspapers and magazines. There
were earlier efforts from international organizations in BiH to regulate circulation in order
to have transparent media picture, and this is when the Audit Bureau of Circulation
(ABC) was presented. However, the attempt to bring in the ABC remained unsuccessful
in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
2
Press Code of BiH includes sexual orientation in its antidiscriminatory clause.
4
2. ANALYSIS OF ARTICLES
Analysis of the printed media from BiH includes a period of over sixteen months of
clipping/monitoring (June 29th, 2003 – November 19th, 2004) and a total of 36 articles.3
Articles were printed in the following daily, weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly newspapers
and magazines:
Daily:
- Dnevni Avaz
- Oslobođenje
Weekly:
- Azra
- BH Dani
- Slobodna
Bosna
- Max
- Express
Bi-weekly:
- Start BH
- Walter
Monthly:
- Buka4
Number of Articles
5
4
2
8
1
2
2
6
5
1
Out of total 36 articles, 9 were printed in daily newspapers, 15 in weekly
newspapers/magazines, 11 in bi-weekly newspapers/magazines, and 1 in a monthly
magazine.5
3
Breakdown and summary of analyzed articles is offered in Annex 1.
Short review of newspapers presented in this analysis is offered in Annex 2.
Organization Q participated in a 5 day free trial press clipping. Out of 10 articles (9 media houses) 7 were printed in daily
and 2 in weekly media. Eight articles dealt with LGBTTQ issues outside of BiH (Israel, USA, Croatia, Canada, Romania,
Germany, Serbia and Montenegro), and only two within BiH. For more information see Annex 3.
4
5
5
Frequency of media writing about
LGBTTIQ topics
3%
25%
31%
daily
weekly
bi-weekly
monthly
41%
Articles were analyzed in regards to general attitude and were categorized as favorable,
neutral, and unfavorable.6 Issues that were considered in such analysis were: terms that
were used, derogatory meanings of terms, objectivity, news reporting, and gender
balance in the used language. Given that photographs were not available for all articles,
they were not considered for the purposes of this analysis. However, comments
regarding photographs, where applicable, are listed in Annex 1.
In this regard, out of 36 articles, 13 of them are analyzed as favorable, 11 as neutral,
and 12 as unfavorable.
General Attitude
33%
36%
favorable
neutral
unfavorable
31%
Going into more specific detail, out of 9 articles printed in daily media, 0 were favorable,
6 were neutral, and 3 were unfavorable.
6
Favorable – articles that provide an objective / affirmative view on the queer community, LGBTTIQ human rights and the
topics that directly concern it; Unfavorable – articles that express a negative approach to the LGBTTIQ community or
particular groups belonging to it; Neutral – texts that take no stand in regards to the LGBTTIQ community and the related
issues but seem to take a news oriented approach.
6
General attitude in daily media
0%
33%
favorable
neutral
unfavorable
67%
Out of 15 articles printed in weekly magazines, 9 were favorable, 3 were neutral, and 3
were found to be unfavorable.
General attitude in weekly media
20%
favorable
neutral
20%
60%
unfavorable
Out of 11 articles printed in bi-weekly printed media, 3 were favorable, 2 were neutral,
and 6 were unfavorable. The one article printed in a monthly magazine was analyzed as
favorable.
7
General attitude in bi-weekly media
27%
favorable
neutral
55%
unfavorable
18%
Below is a table with an outline of all 36 articles as categorized by general attitude in the
printed media.
Media
Title
Total articles
Favorable
Neutral
Unfavorable
Daily
Dnevni avaz
Oslobođenje
5
4
0
0
3
3
2
1
2
8
2
5
0
2
0
1
Weekly
Azra
BH Dani
Slobodna
Bosna
Max
Express
1
2
2
1
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
2
Bi-weekly
Start BH
Walter
6
5
3
0
2
0
1
5
Buka
1
36
1
13
0
11
0
12
Monthly
TOTAL
8
A review of articles as categorised per media
100%
80%
60%
40%
unfavorable
20%
favorable
Buka
Walter
Start BH
Express
Max
Slobodna
BH Dani
Azra
Oslobođenje
Avaz
0%
neutral
From the total of 36 articles, 26 refer to LGBTTIQ issues and themes in Bosnia and
Herzegovina. The remaining eleven articles refer to LGBTIQ issues and themes as
addressed internationally, that is Croatia, Slovenia, ex-Yugoslav region, Macedonia,
USA, Thailand, Serbia and Montenegro, Israel/Palestine, China, region and Europe in
general.
LGBTTIQ topics in relation to BiH and
abroad
31%
BH
Abroad
69%
9
What is in a title?
Words that are used in the titles of the articles have been classified in the following way.
Words used in the title
Gay pride
Homosexuals (m)7
Gay(s)
Gay lobby
Homosexuality
Homosexual spouses (m)
Lesbians
Student transvestites (m)
Gay couples
Same sex
Faggots
Homophobia
TOTAL
Frequency
5
3
3
3
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
23
Out of 36 articles, 23 articles (63 %) contain one of the above words in their titles. Some
other titles could be indicative and telling, such as “I am afraid to walk through Sarajevo
with my boyfriend” or “Because they were ridiculed, some tried to kill themselves”. Some
titles, however, do not seem to make any connection, such as “White House pulls out a
US ambassador from Skopje before time”.
Article titles by words and frequency
gay pride
homosexuals (m)
13%
9%
4%
4%
gay(s)
4%
4%
13%
gay lobby
homophobia
homosexuality
gay couples
4%
14%
4%
23%
4%
students transvestites (m)
same sex
lesbians
faggots
homosexual spouses
Some titles are very provocative, while some seem to be news oriented. It is interesting
to notice that the titles that mentioned gay pride referred to Zagreb/Croatia (2) where a
Pride was organized at the time the article was published, and BiH (2) where Pride has
7
M for masculine, F for feminine, and N for neutral gender language. Homosexual (m) refers to a male homosexual.
10
not yet been organized. Also, gay lobby is mentioned in a general (1), worldly (1), and
BiH (1) context.
Out of 36 titles, 14 contained a regional indicator. BiH was mentioned 3 times, not
including Sarajevo (3) and Banja Luka (2). Zagreb, Croatia, was mentioned twice, both
times in the context of Zagreb Pride.
Regional indicator
Bosnia and
Herzegovina
Zagreb
US/Macedonia
Balkan
West
World
TOTAL
Frequency
3
Sarajevo (3)
Banja Luka (2)
2
1
1
1
1
14
Total
8
2
1
1
1
1
14
Out of 8 article where BiH is mentioned or referred to, 3 of them address (in the title)
issues such as gay pride and gay lobby, neither which has taken place or exists in BiH.
Not mentioned in the tables, but still an interesting observation, is that 4 articles
mentioned marriage in their titles, implying gay/lesbian/same sex marriages and
homosexual spouses.
It appears that the focus, as titles indicate, is on gay prides, marriages, gay lobby, and
mostly in the BiH context.
Power of language
Bosnian language, as well as other local languages in the region, is marked by gender
indicators such as masculine, feminine and neutral. Each noun has its own gender (m),
(f) and (n), which carries over into adjectives and verbs that are used.
Public and official communication, when presented in plural is always stated in male
gender. For example, homoseksualac is male homosexual, while homoseksualka is
female homosexual, and the term that is used in plural is homoseksualci for male
homosexuals and homoseksualke for female homosexuals. However, most often media
use only the term homoseksualac and homoseksualci, excluding female homosexuals
and making them invisible, even when it is supposed to include them.
This report looked at the language that was used in the articles given that there are
variations in such usage. Some articles attempt to use neutral language (homosexual
persons instead of homosexual) or to use balanced gendered language that is both
female and male when applicable. However, it is visible that predominant gender of the
articles is most often masculine.
11
Out of 36 articles, 2 were excluded from the analysis given that the authors never used
gendered nouns pertaining to LGBTTIQ persons. Categories that were used are: M masculine (even if female persons are concerned), B - balanced (masculine terms used
for male persons and feminine for female persons), M/B – masculine/balanced
(combination of “masculine” and “balanced”), M/N - masculine/neutral (combination of
“masculine” and neutral language/words such as person/s), M/N/B masculine/neutral/balanced (combination of “masculine”, “neutral”, and “balanced”), and
N/B - neutral/balanced (combination of “neutral” and “balanced”, which seems to be the
most appropriate and all inclusive).
The analysis shows that 44% of all articles (out of 34) are written only in male gender
even when the text refers to female persons. All together, masculine language is
represented by 91%, while balanced and neutral/balanced language are used only in 3
articles (9%).
Usage of Gender Sensitive Language
6%
9%
3%
M
MB
44%
12%
MN
MNB
B
NB
26%
As far as individual newspapers are concerned, weekly newspapers used balanced and
neutral/balanced language, while most articles that were written solely in male gender
were published in daily newspapers.
Below is the breakdown of categories per newspaper.
Media
Daily
Weekly
Title
Total
M
MB
MN
MNB
B
NB
NA
Dnevni avaz
Oslobođenje
5
4
3
4
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
Azra
BH Dani
Slobodna
Bosna
Max
2
8
1
2
0
3
1
1
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
1
2
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
12
Express
2
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
Bi-weekly
Start BH
Walter
6
5
1
3
2
2
1
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Monthly
Buka
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
36
15
9
4
3
2
1
2
TOTAL
Use of Gender Sensitive Language per Media
100%
80%
NB
60%
B
40%
MNB
20%
MN
Buka
Walter
Start BH
Express
Max
Slobodna
BH Dani
Azra
Oslobođenje
Avaz
0%
MB
M
Correlating this observation of male gendered language with the fact that homophobia in
BiH is mostly directed toward men, and that women regardless of their sexual orientation
are rendered invisible not only because of the language through which they are
portrayed but because of other factors as well, it is considered that this issue is
something that needs to be seriously considered by journalists and media houses.
Power of the words
Mostly used word(s) in analyzed articles is with the prefix of homo, be it homosexuals
(m), homosexuality or something else.8 Bosnian language is gendered in a way that
each word carries masculine, feminine or neutral indicator which carries over to
adjectives and verbs as well. In this regard, word homosexual mostly pertains to male
homosexuals (29 counts) while only one is stated neutrally (homosexual persons)
pertaining to persons of both genders.
Next to homosexuals (m), sexual orientation appears 25 times, 7 of which pertain to
homosexual or same sex orientation while 2 pertain to heterosexual orientation.
Homosexuality is mentioned 20 times, be it in a neutral or derogative way.
Heterosexuals are mentioned 16 times, 10 of which are in male gender. LGBT
8
Detailed list of the key words and meaning used in the articles as well as their diversification can be found in Annex 4.
13
organizations, and variations of it, are mentioned 15 times. Organization Q is not
included in this list, but out of 36 articles, it is mentioned in 6 of them. List of
organizations mostly refers to lesbian and gay associations, and geographically it
includes three organizations from Croatia and one from Serbia, while two of them (ILGA
and IGLYO) are specified as international.
Key words used in articles
Homosexuals
Sexual orientation
3%
Homosexuality
3%
Heterosexuals
3%
Organizations
27%
4%
Lesbians
5%
Human rights
Trans persons
5%
20%
5%
7%
5%
Bisexuals
Pride
7%
LGBTTIQ
Queer
6%
Others
Lesbians are mentioned 14 times, followed by Human Rights (13), Transgender persons
(13), Bisexual persons (12), Pride (9), LGBTTIQ (9), Queer (8), and others (76).9
Most terms, when pertaining to LGBTTIQ persons in general are stated in male gender.
In this regard, male bisexuals appear in text 8 times, while the term “bisexual persons or
bi” appears only 3 times. Bisexual woman (biseksualka) appears only once.
It is the same case with the terms pertaining to transgender persons. Out of 13 words,
transexuals (male) are mentioned 5 times. Six of them altogether refer to transexuality10,
while 4 refer to transgender persons, which seems to be a nice addition to media’s
terminology when writing about LGBTTIQ issues.11
9
Please see Annex 4 for a complete list.
Terms transsexual and transexual are used interchangibly.
11
Organization Q is responsible for introducing a wider spectar of terms some of which end up being published and some
not. These words are: queer, transgender, intersex, gender identity and expression, intersex characteristics, etc.
10
14
Terminology used to refer to transgender persons
8%
Transexual males
17%
42%
Transexual persons
Transgender persons
Transvestites
25%
Transies
8%
Although word homosexual (m) and homosexuality are often used by the media, in most
cases these terms carry derogatory meanings or the meaning of the same sex is
expressed by a derogatory word such as faggot.
Terminology used to refer to homosexual
persons
2%
2%
2%
Homosexual males
15%
Faggots
Gay
25%
54%
Homosexual persons
Pederasts
Gay men
Word homosexual (m) appears in 29 articles, while word faggot appears 13 times. Word
gay appears 8 times, and pederast appears once. Although word faggot appears 13
times and its 18 different variations appear 23 times collectively, most of them are a
contribution of only a few articles and magazines.12 Contrary to “faggot”, word “homo”
and “homosexual” shows up in 21 variations and appears 50 times collectively. While
most “homosexual” variations have a neutral or positive meaning, most “faggot”
variations have a derogatory meaning (fuck their faggot grandpa), some of which could
be made neutral if it were not for word faggot in them, such as faggot rights.
12
Walter.
15
Furthermore, out of 20 terms which refer to homosexuality, 5 are stated as Faggotism
and Pederasty. Homosexualism (incorrect version of the term homosexuality) appears 6
times, while same sex orientation (5) and homosexuality (9) appear 14 times.
Homosexuality: Different usage, meanings, and
implications
4%
16%
36%
Homosexuality
Homosexualism
Same sex orientation
Faggotism
20%
Pederasty
24%
In terms of key LGBTTIQ words, it is apparent once again, which words appear in the
media the most and what seems to draw the most interest for journalists, media houses
and perhaps the public as well.
LGBTTIQ terms
Lesbians
5%
7%
1%
10%
11%
14%
Gay men
Bisexual persons
Transgender persons
17%
35%
Transexual persons
Intersexual persons
Queer persons
LGBTTIQ
Out of 83 terms taken collectively from each article, 29 of them refer to gay men, 14 to
lesbians, 12 to bisexual persons, 4 to transgender persons, 6 to transexual persons, 1 to
intersexual person, 8 to queer persons, and 9 to LGBTTIQ (this term appears as LGBT,
LGBTIQ, LGBTTIQ and refers to persons, community, lifestyle, a regional meeting that
took place in Sarajevo, and it appears once in a long version and not just as
abbreviation).
16
Intersexual person as a term is mentioned only once while gay men are represented by
35%. It must be noted, as previously mentioned, that terms bisexual and transexual
mostly appear in male gender.
Some other words that appear in the printed media are: marriages (same
sex/homosexual marriages appear 8 times, and heterosexual marriage appears once),
sexual and gender and queer minorities (6 times), homophobia/biphobia/transphobia
(total of 7 times), lobby (5 times), different laws (6 times) and decriminalization of
homosexuality (3 times).
Organization Q promotes human rights in regards to sexual orientation, gender identity
and expression, and (inter)sexual characteristics. In the printed media, sexual orientation
(be it homosexual or heterosexual) appears 21 times while gender identity appears only
once. (Inter)sexual characteristics are not mentioned at all, while intersexuality is
included in the abbreviation and is stated along with the other terminology. Word
intersex independently appears only once.
Conclusion about qualitative analysis
Looking at printed media and how they covered the LGBTTIQ themes, it could be
concluded that Dnevni Avaz wrote in a neutral way (one unfavorable article, as well),
Oslobođenje wrote neutral texts most of all, Azra always favorably, BH Dani most
frequently favorably, Slobodna Bosna as well. Max wrote favorably equally as much as
neutrally, Express always unfavorably. Start BH is the only media that treated LGBTTIQ
themes through all three ways, and Walter wrote unfavorably in 100% cases, while Buka
did so favorably.
From the total of 36 articles subject of this Analysis, we found and can conclude that:
•
•
•
Printed media mostly write about homosexuals (m) and homosexual relationships
(in 26 out of 36 articles), and second most often mentioned are lesbians and
lesbian relationship (14). Transgender persons are third on the list of the most
mentioned (13), followed by offensive names due to overall negative context
given in an article, in our Analysis it is the word for gays “faggots” (13), and then
in order we find bisexual persons mentioned (12), and finally the word queer
persons (7). The only time when the LGBTTIQ terms are used correctly and in
full length is in interviews with Svetlana Đurković of the Organization Q, or
through writing about queer activism, events and/or activities (such as various
Gay Pride Parades).
When printed media write themselves or transfer news from other countries and
media (or when it is not an interview or a report directly from one or more
LGBTTIQ activist/s), they most often use unequally terms pertaining to all
LGBTTIQ persons or sexual orientations, and almost always they use unsensitized language towards the terms of LGBTTIQ and/or gender.
The language used in print media is additionally un-sensitized in writing about
LGBTTIQ themes because even when they write about all LGBTTIQ themes, and
not exclusively about homosexual relationships, it is by rule in masculine
language.
17
•
Printed media staff and teams do not have the knowledge and complete
information to communicate information/news and to help educate the targeted
audiences about the LGBTTIQ issues and/or stories, people and communities.
Generally speaking, this is characteristic of BH media, and recently we could use
the same formulation to describe the coverage of economy topics (journalists do
not grow within a branch in journalism – theme, areas such as the arts, politics,
finances, economy, human rights, sexual minorities, women human rights, and
other).
It could be concluded once more that journalists in printed media in Bosnia and
Herzegovina are not sensitized and sufficiently informed/educated to write about
LGBTTIQ themes. Moreover, especially visible is the lack of equal representation of all
terms (LGBTTIQ), because texts are mostly focusing on males – homosexuals. At the
same time, it is apparent that in writing texts relevant to our Analysis, journalists/authors
with visible knowledge, dedication, confidence and educational angle are rarely seen
writing short LGBTTIQ news, interviews or features in the BH print media.
18
3. STEREOTYPES IN MEDIA
Although most BH media write positively or neutrally about LGBTTIQ community, the
newspaper articles are still full of stereotypes which are mostly caused by several
factors. These are opinions stemming from the hetero-patriarchal norms, ignorance,
amateurism, lack of professionalism, and, in rare occasions, open hatred and
intolerance. On one side, such stereotypes in writing could be understood since these
and similar issues have been addressed for the first time in post war BiH journalism, but
on the other hand, such writing reveals the superficiality when addressing the unknown
topics. Such approach only reinforces the stigmatization and bias towards the LGBTTIQ
community.
During the period in which BH press writing was observed, ten standard stereotypes
were noticed. Most of them refered to homosexual population and homosexuality, which
seems to be the biggest stereotype given that it is in line with the strict patriarchal norms
and given that homophobia is the strongest toward men and most often is raised by
other men. Additionally, language used in these articles also almost always refers to
men.
Within the topic of homosexuality, it was observed that most articles treated the subject
in a superficial way and through the prism of the journalists themselves, rather than
through a professional treatment of the topic, offering the correct information to the
public not necessarily conditioned by the social norms and mentality. Therefore, the
scope of interest of journalists was extremely limited to “easy news” presented in a
sensational way.
1. Violation / Claiming the Rights
Most of the media based their texts on the fact that human rights of LGBTTIQ persons
are violated and that they do not have them at all. These texts stressed that the
essential meaning of the LGBTTIQ fight is based on equality and acceptance by the
society. It is important to note that there is no basic knowledge regarding the human
rights, and yet the LGBTTIQ topics are most often mentioned in regards to human rights
where there is no proper reference and context set up in advance.
2. Searching for the Causes of Homosexuality
Also, some news articles presented quick review of the theories regarding the origin of
homosexuality, offering short summaries which at the end resulted in a more formal
rather than essential approach to the subject, taking into account that even the modern
science did not find an answer to this question. Furthermore, some articles quoted
individuals who delivered strict hetero-patriarchal statements. When presented in such a
way, these publicly published statements sound like the opinion of the majority.
19
3. Homosexuality as a Personal Choice / Determination
Some articles address homosexuality as a choice or determination, alluding that persons
of homosexual or bisexual orientation choose to be what and who they are, in spite of
the difficult life conditions that surround them. In these situations, the authors did not pay
any attention to the question: “How is it, in fact, possible to choose sexual orientation,
and why is this a choice and not the natural phenomenon?”
4. Homosexual Marriages
This topic seems very attractive and exotic to the media. Regardless of the fact that
there are some other more serious topics and issues which LGBTTIQ persons face in
BiH, question of marriage seems to also raise some threat to the heterosexual society in
regards to “natural reproduction” and “social reproduction” of the BiH society.
5. Particularity / Social Separation
Some articles write about LGBTTIQ persons as if they are a separate group of human
beings and not people who (although, mostly invisible) are still an integral part of the BiH
community. Words that are used are “them”, “they”, which only create further
stigmatization of the LGBTTIQ community as it mistifies them further.
6. Gay Parade
Mostly used illustration and example in writing about the LGBTTIQ community is about
the Gay Parade/Pride. The most and foremost visual concept of the queer community is
addressed through the texts and photos of the Gay Prides worldwide. Furthermore,
issue of Gay Pride in BiH is raised in few occassions, although Organization Q has
never announced plans to organize a Queer Pride in BiH in the near future. The topic of
Pride seems to be extremely sensational, addressing more the clothing people wear and
not the motives, messages, and history behind each organized Pride.
7. Photography
Due to personal prejudice and sensational context in which articles are placed on
purpose, media houses most often decide to use erotic photographs of two women or
men kissing, or exotic and “hot” photos from Gay Prides. By doing this, directly and very
tangibly, media passes the message to public that LGBTTIQ persons, unlike the
“normal” people, care only about sex. This has only reinforced the stereotype of
reducing the personality of LGBTTIQ individuals to one sole characteristics, that of sex
and sexuality.
8. Uniformity of Appearance
In regards to the public appearance of LGBTTIQ individuals, the description that is used
seems to represent mostly gay men as feminine, refined, and perfumed individuals who
20
are leading very tidy, interesting, perfect, and adventurous kind of life. On the other
hand, Gay Pride participants are presented as if they have no moral standards. The
stereotype that is stressed here is that it is possible to label people as queer solely by
their visual appearance and the type of clothes they wear.
9. Homosexuality as a Phenomenon
In most cases, homosexuality is presented in the media as if it is the most recent
phenomenon which “seized” BiH as a part of the trend of the modern western society.
Homosexuality is not presented in the media as something that is a part of human
sexuality and sexual identity, going back to Old Greece. Walter writes that
homosexuality appeared in BiH only because BiH wants “to act” as a part of Europe, and
that homosexuality is a modern European disease. The message is that homosexuality
is part of a trend and not part of something that has always existed.
10. Marginal / Non Important Matter
Out of all the media who wrote about homosexuality, magazine Walter contributed the
most in further marginalizing homosexual population, in particular. Walter describes
homosexuality as a disease and perversion, and, something that should be entirely
ignored while homosexual population should be re-educated and put back on the right
path. This topic, according to Walter, is not important at all and should not be addressed
in the media.
4. TERMINOLOGY USED IN WRITTEN MEDIA
The journalist language used in printed media in regards to the LGBTTIQ issues is very
limited in mentioning rather complicated terminology. From a long list of terminology,
only several terms were used in an attempt to describe the whole LGBTTIQ community,
so another spectrum of questions which the terminology carries along was completely
neglected.
For the detailed figures on the language and used words in the articles that are the
subject of this Analysis, please consult the sections Power of language and Power of the
words.
Most of the journalists who contacted and made interviews with the representatives of
the Organization Q, were better at interpreting and using the terminology given that it
was explained to them. Clear example is the usage of abbreviation LGBT, LGBTIQ or
LGBTTIQ, which in local language was fairly unknown. Only several journalists decided
to give full explanation to their readers about what LGBTTIQ actually means and the full
spectrum of sexual and gender identities and expressions that it represents.
21
5. EXAMPLE OF WALTER
Media in BiH sporadically write about homosexuality. However, in September 2004, TV
Hayat aired a talk show “Arduana”, which raised a question of accepting homosexuals in
BiH. This show was a major benchmark given that this whole topic was presented
through the prism of yet unfinished movie of the BH Director Ahmed Imamović, 'Go
West'.13 The show started the whole avalanche of newspaper article which criticized the
host and the editor of the show. On the other hand, columnist of the Magazine Walter,
Fatmir Alispahić, who also participated in the show, published a series of articles
campaigning directly agains homosexuals (m). Media war started instantly, and most
newspapers started once again addressing the topic of homosexuality in BiH. Further in
this review, the whole serial from Walter will be discussed, serving as the most negative
example of media writing in the observed period.
In the edition of Walter from 14th September, 2004, three articles were published about
homosexuality in general and in regards to the “Arduana Show”:
•
•
•
“Diary of Revolution: Everything is Full of Drugged Faggots”, written by Fatmir
Alispahić
“Woman under Veil Declared as a Dog”, written by Alisa Lekić-Mehičević
“Foreign Donations, Free Vaseline and Ticket for 'Go West'”, author unknown
Diary of Revolution: Everything is Full of Drugged Faggots
By Fatmir Alispahić
Fatmir Alispahić, in his regular column, described his experiences before, during and
after being a guest in “Adruana” talk show. He writes how about his experience and
states how he saw for the first time in his life a homosexual (m). Alispahić’s article is
characterized by several things typical for people who are uninformed, ignorant and
scared of unknown. He thinks about homosexuality as an abnormality, illness, deviation,
psychological disturbance, etc. All of his writing resembles pure prejudice and hatred
toward homosexuals (m), as well as intolerance and provocation.
Prejudice and Stereotypes
The title of Alispahić’s article by itself suggests one kind of prejudice towards
homosexuals (m). Everything is Full of Drugged Faggots is a sentence with a message
to readers that homosexuals (m) are drug addicts, carriers of HIV, dirty and abnormal
people, sick individuals and trash of BiH society.
The author begins his text with some kind of delight that he had an opportunity to meet a
homosexual (m), as if the homosexual in his text/mind is a fantasy creature who has
been incarnated, and so he is exotic but not completely normal human being who is just
slightly different than others. Therefore, Alispahić writes: “I saw a homosexual in live!”
Further he writes: “I did not look at him thoroughly because I did not want him to think of
me as potential customer, so help me God!” His sentence is a stereotype which talks
13
This film, among other things, addresses a love story between two men of different ethnic backgrounds during the war
in BiH and their struggle to “go west”.
22
about homosexuals solely as a sexual person to whom each man is a sexual subject
and possible sexual partner. He describes him further, placing him within certain
“feminine” norms: “As I could see, discretely, he had dazzling blue shirt with female
sleeves. He had a light skin, surely powdered. I think I saw he had that ‘thing’ on his
eyelashes.” Namely, he brings up a picture of feminine male, dressed in garish colors
and shirt with female sleeves, with make up, what makes an impression to the readers
that homosexuals look like that and that it is the way to recognize them, considering that
author, according to his own statement, for the first time in his life saw a homosexual.
-“There, in the corner, sits it, not a man nor a woman. There is just one free table close
to him. I sat down. I could smell a hard female perfume. He must have put on a female
perfume to appear more beautiful to us.”
In this couple of sentences, Alispahić repeats the same bias and same stereotype about
homosexuals as feminine men, further naming the same person something in-between
man and woman, just because of intensity of the perfume that he wore, even though it is
clear that a person is male.
-“The waitress brought him a piece of cake, and he started to champ. The waitress
asked me do I want a peace of cake, it is cheap… No thanks, I said. The faggot can
think that it is a sign of recognition if I eat the cake.”
From this paragraph as well, it is implied that homosexuals watch for every chance to
emphasize their sexuality and meet other men if given a chance.
'Metro golding sanitarny Chmar' (in Bosnian) is one of the paragraphs. Obviously, here
he wants to identify homosexuals (m) only with anal sex and sex in general, as the only
meaning of their existence.
Hatred
In his text, unambiguously and very clearly, Fatmir Alispahić suggests hatred towards
homosexuals. He writes: “I feel scabby, I wanted to leave.” With this short sentence,
Fatmir addresses his hatred and disgust towards homosexuals. And just by being close
to one homosexual, it nauseates him, and he shares this feeling with the whole
readership.
-“…Yes, we do not accept those abnormalities… “
This is one part of the sentence where Alispahić is showing his personal hostility and
hate toward homosexuals, marking their lives with their sexual “abnormality.”
-“.. And I could, for example, joke about the connection between the film industry and
sanitariums, filth of faggots and hygiene etc...”
The author here directly sends a message that homosexuals are repulsive and dirty just
like toilets, alluding again to the male anal sex, regardless of the fact that all people,
including homosexuals, are not one and the same, and not only in regards to sexuality
and sexual orienation but many other things as well.
23
Prejudice and Provocations
The whole article written by Alispahić is very provocative, re-establishing the same
prejudice and steretypes that exist in the BiH dominant hetero-patriarchal social system.
This article is written with the clear goal to defend those “right” moral and other values.
The author furthermore writes with the tone which directly treates homosexuals as
inferior “creatures” who are destroying the BiH society and culture. The author, himself,
serves as the savior of his “country and people” against the abnormality which is the
result of the sick western culture. Fatmir’s article is also a kind of the invitation to others
to stand in defense of the traditional values that by default do not recognize the
existence of diversity in terms of sexual orientation.
Woman under Veil Declared as a Dog
by Alisa Lekić-Mehičević
In this article the author took a side of the “Arduana” show editor Ms. Arduana PribinjaKurić. Although the lack of information and ignorance of the mentioned editor resulted
with range of faults, the author of the article is defending her from the critics who wrote in
two weekly magazines, Dani and Slobodna Bosna. Lekić-Mehičević already in the first
paragraph of her article shows her shock by the fact that one out of many movies that
talks about the war in BiH, tells the story through the personal tragedy of two
homosexuals (who also were war victims, as others, while their sexuality remained the
secret during their suffering).
The author, due to her personal unfamiliarity with the subject, writes about directly
manifested own prejudice, stereotypes and discrimination toward people who are
different from the majority.
Prejudice
-“The veil on woman is what came from customs and tradition of Islam, and
homosexuality is what comes out of the unnatural promiscuity.”
Lekić-Mehičević by this sentence shows her own conclusions which are not supported
by any valid facts. She is biased towards homosexuality so she calls it “unnatural
promiscuity”, most probably from the traditional instead of scientific bases, forgetting that
the moral, not the scientific fact, is an unstable category. Homosexuality therefore has
been simply described to the public as unnatural promiscuity.
Stereotypes
-“Whatever might be, so called independent intellectuals did not know how to answer the
fact that imposing the homosexuality to BiH society is actually the result of provincial and
rural complex, due to whom we want by the faggot story to act as a part of Europe.”
24
The author reduced the human rights of people of other sexual orientation to someone’s
provincial complexes, and a tool which will allegedly help BiH, according to her
understanding, to faster become a part of Europe. This is a typical stereotype which
exists in BiH society, where Europe is declared as “faggotic” and “sick”, and if that is
what is expecting our country once it becomes a part of Europe than it is better for the
the BiH membership to wait. Although mentioning human rights, this article directly
negates right to personal private life, in which there is an urge not to be discriminated
and become an object for the amusement of public and for achievement of certain goals.
Discrimination
-“There is one question that remains unclear: Why Jews have made hundreds of movies
about the Holocaust, and still none of them shows gay love in Auschwitz?! All has been
reduced to empty chase, allegedly, in the name of the protection of the progressive
ideas, which, alas, turned out to be – homosexuality, too!”
The author here demonstrated her own superficial understanding and quite poor
journalistic skill, quoting wrong facts that she even did not check, such as that films have
not been made in regards to the sufferings of the homosexuals in Nazi concentration
camps.
Furthermore, she calls any kind of fight for human rights and rights of sexual and gender
minorities as “alleged protection of the progressive ideas”, as if it is not the humans we
are talking about but rather physical objects that can be increased or reduced by the
level of progress. The author calls “faggotism” an “idea” as if someone’s nature or
sexuality is a created and made up idea and as if homosexuals have not existed in the
world and BiH before we started talking about their human rights. The author reduced
the real problems and sufferings of homosexuals to progressive fashionable trend which
has no meaning by itself, and therefore, actually no human rights to be addressed.
Foreign donations, free Vaseline and ticket for “Go West”
by unsigned author14
This article has been written in a form of a search warrant that Walter regularly publishes
targeting certain individuals and groups in BiH. This section uses deragatory terms and
insults, featuring what the editorial office of this magazine dislikes. The topic of this
issue’s “Wanted” was the so called BiH gay lobby, subsequently using this warrant to
harass complete homosexual community in BiH. Also, there are obvious examples of
14
Organization Q publicly reacted on this serial of discriminatory texts, by sending its protests primarily to the Editorial of
Magazine Walter and then to the BiH Press Council. Magazine Walter never published the reaction of the Organization Q
and it did not respond to it in any way. BiH Press Council, as an independent monitoring body in regards to the
implementation of the Press Codex in BiH, responded to the letter from Organization Q, and furthermore tried to act as a
mediator between the Organization and the Magazine Walter. Walter Editorial does not feel guilty by any charge. This
case is still in the process at the Press Council, and it is believed that this body will – as a final act within its mandatory
regulations – publicly present the case, and call for legal and Codex based measures to be undertaken by the respective
authorities.
25
discrimination in the text, as well as an attempt to present homosexuals as inferior
human beings only due to their sexual orientation. Moreover, Walter reduces
homosexuals only to their sexuality, while other human potentials are equal to zero.
Below is the list of some disriminatory statements.
-“Because they will embrace this article more than any democratic pamphlet, in the glory
of those on the other side, we shall fuck them all.”
-“When we swear them they sigh and scream: ‘Ah, nothing but the empty promises!’”
-“Even Vuk15 tricked them – write as you speak - you do not say homosexual, you say
faggot, faggie, kekez, derpe.”16
-“Because they are the most interesting with their mouth full of it, then they do not speak,
they just suck.”
-“Their intellectual engagement is not measured by the size of their brain but by the size
of their cock.”
-“Because in the occupied BiH society today they appreciate gay hookers who are ready
to get fucked according to the international mandate, depending on whose dick will pay
better.”
-“Because the faggotism, beside the drugs, is just another way to destroy Bosniac
society for the interests of Belgrade and Zagreb.”
-“Because they just love that Montenegrin saying: ‘I’ll fuck your father!’”
6. MOST POSITIVE EXAMPLE OF WRITING ABOUT LGBTTIQ ISSUES
BH Magazine Dani
BH Magazine Dani within the period of the observation was a newspaper that has
published the most positive views in regards to the LGBTTIQ issues in BH. Even when
there was no concrete reason for it, this magazine showed its determination to support
diversity in BiH, for full fulfillment of human rights and freedom of those who are invisible
in BiH society.
Magazine Dani is among few of those who publicly defended BiH homosexual
population against public offences of religious officials, and writings in other printed
media who publicly provoked and created hostility against it. It is the only print media
that in its article about the Federation of BiH Family Law indicated the fact that
homosexuals, in terms of their officially and legally recognized relationships, are not
15
th
Vuk Stefanović Karadžić standardized the SerboCroatian-CroatoSerbian language in the 19 century, promoting the
phonetic rule of “write as you speak”.
16
Kekez and derpe are extremely derogatory terms for gay men in local languages that can not be translated into English
properly.
26
mentioned in any segment of the Law. Magazine Dani was the only media in BiH that
published the information that the Organization Q opened its office in Sarajevo.
During the period of observation of this analysis, Dani published eight articles, far more
than the rest of the printed media, and only one of them has been analyzed as
unfavorable.
Dani remains committed to the fight for civil rights and freedoms, wherein they openly
included queer population as well. Most of its articles actually tried to convince their
readership why such a minority group should be accepted and protected in the country
that is proud of its old-rooted diversity and tolerance. This magazine also published
reactions of the readers to its one and only column with unfavorable attitude towards the
homosexuals.
These examples confirm Dani as one of the rare supportive media, when the activities of
the Organization Q are concerned, whose content helps in raising awareness on the
wide acceptance of (even invisible) diversity in BiH society.
27
7. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF PRINTED MEDIA
Most authors whose articles have been analyzed in this report are a mix of affirmed
journalists who are well known and respected in BiH, and who have their own loyal
audience/readership. Also, there are journalists who are well known for the negative
and accousatory tone in their writing.
It should not be forgotten that the owners and directors of the media houses, whether
they be electronic and/or printed, are businesspersons. As an industry, media houses
are closely related to its readership and in a way are dependent on them. In such a way,
media’s politics, strategy, and/or planning are affected, even conditioned by industries
that buy ad space and article space in the printed media. These industries and their
allies have visible impact on the overall picture particular media presents to the public.
As the end result, the public remains easily “converted” to believe and further convey
messages that have been communicated to it via media.
Media are a strong channel in making and unmaking stereotypes. Printed media do
affect minds and thinkging of many people, regardless of their educational, professional,
intellectual, social, or any other profile. As such, the printed media must operate and
complete its tasks professionally, while remaining aware of the responsibility it has
towards its readership. The public needs to be provided with as much diverse
information in order to be able to make its own choices and viewpoints about LGBTTIQ
issues, and any other relevant/important issue.
At the same time, readers as individuals also have the responsibility (and a right) to keep
in mind that their own opinion and/or demand for evidence, facts and critical opinions
about articles is imperative as well as their own contributions and participation in the
creation of the public opinion.
It is of outmost urgency for media teams and their managers to become more apt and
educated in terminology, and LGBTTIQ issues on as many levels as possible, so as to
ensure their confidence in writing quality articles without misguiding the public with what
they publish.
What the media representatives need in order to provide qualitative, exact and
thorough information to the public?
Based on current observations and experiences, it is recommended to the media to do
the following:
•
•
•
•
have a structured review of “dos” and “do nots” before submitting and
publishing a story about LGBTTIQ issues and human rights,
be provided with education (alternative trainings) with supporting materials
that include manuals, forms and guidelines for interview techniques, lists of
laws and regulations from BiH, EU, and beyond;
obtain knowledge and exchange good practices from entire BiH and beyond;
and
work and cooperate with human rights and LGBTTIQ organizations in BiH.
28
BiH media need to improve in quality of writing and presented imagery, and its approach
needs to be more human rights oriented. Here are some suggested guidelines:
•
Operate according to standards and ethics of journalist writing and in
compliance with laws and professional codes of journalism worldwide.
•
Become more informed about human rights issues and LGBTTIQ terms and
meanings, as well as explore culture and existence of queer communities
organized worldwide.
•
Work on developing and nourishing accurate information, high standards and
responsibility mass media have towards BiH residents and society.
•
Constantly take into consideration the impact respective media’s writing has
on our communities, especially the LGBTTIQ community and its image in
public.
There appears to be a strong need for a profesional manual (on human rights, criteria,
and language, among other things) in regards to professional writing guidelines with the
main aim of educating the media workers on all levels, and here including not only all of
the terms and contexts of the LGBTTIQ terminology and facts, but also including gender
balance that will not excludes the feminine and accuracy our language holds. Gender
balance in writing should be used whenever possible, as it is the manifestation of the
wealth consisted in the Bosnian language and all languages used in Bosnia and
Herzegovina. Furthermore, equality is guaranteed by laws ratified by the BiH
government.
This manual is something the Association of the Journalists from both BiH entities
should develop. Initiating change and the implementation of existing laws should be the
guiding light for media workers on all levels.
29
Terminology
Gender – the social construct based on biological sex that by definition defines the
social roles of men and women. It is also an individual construct of self
identity/expression that confirms, denies and/or transgresses socially imposed and
constructed sexual and gender roles of “men” and “women”, as well as the overall binary
code of “masculine” and “feminine”.
Sex – biological classification based on reproductive organs/functions and genitals.
Sexes are classified as female, intersex, and male.
Gender identity – individual sense of self (being male or female or something else)
which may or may not be in adherence with socially accepted norms and roles.
Gender expression – visual and outward manifestation of gender through clothing, hair
style, behavior and body language.
(Inter)sexual characteristics – sexual body characteristics which define one’s sex
(genitals and reproductive organs) and gender characteristics such as facial/body hair.
In addition to the male/female “standards”, other standards need to be recognized in
securing the individual right of each person to the physical integrity of their body
(including possibility to change it), and sexual/gender identity and expression.
Sexuality – overall discourse of each individual which includes, inter alia, gender identity
and/or expression, sexual orientation, fantasies and desires, values, behavior and
emotions. Sexuality is conditioned by physical, emotional and social experiences, as well
as social norms and the innate nature of each individual.
Sexual orientation17 – emotional and/or physical attraction towards persons of the
same and/or opposite sex/gender.
Transgenderism – transgression of the imposed social binary discourse and
constructed gender roles. It is an umbrella term that includes persons who are
transgender, transsexual, transvestites, bigender, drag kings, drag queens, etc, who
transgress social gender roles through their own construct of identity / expression.
Homosexuality – emotional and/or physical attraction towards persons of the same
sex/gender.
Bisexuality – emotional and/or physical attraction towards persons of both, same and
opposite, sexes/genders.
Heterosexuality – emotional and/or physical attraction towards persons of the opposite
sex/gender.
Gay – emotional and/or physical attraction towards persons of the same sex/gender
(although all encompassing, this term refers mostly to men).
Lesbian – a woman who is emotionally and/or physically attracted to women.
17
Also, sexual orientation, sexual inclination, sexual tendency.
30
Bisexual person – a person who is emotionally and/or physically attracted to persons of
both the same and opposite sex/gender.
Transgender person – a person whose gender identity and/or expression is not in
accordance with socially confirmed traditional gender roles and norms.
Transsexual person – a person who desires and intends to change his/her sex, as well
as a person who has either partly or completely modified (including hormone therapy
and medical surgeries) his/her body and representation, expressing his/her gender
and/or sexual identity and sense of self.
Transvestite – a person who enjoys dressing in clothing of the “opposite” gender. This
term is rather old-fashioned.
Intersexuality – biological ambiguity of sexual and reproductive organs in regards to
what is strictly defined as a “standard” “male” or “female” sex/gender.
Intersexual person – a person born with genitals and reproductive organs that are
considered ambiguous and not standard “female” or “male”. Most intersexual persons
are victims of unnecessary medical surgeries, hormonal therapies, and stigmatized lives.
In the past, intersexual persons were referred to as hermaphrodites.
Queer – transgression of hetero-patriarchal standards and norms. Queer refers to the
LGBTTI as well as heterosexual persons who live outside of hetero-patriarchal norms.
Sexism – discrimination, attitudes, and behavior that promote stereotypes and
repressive social roles and norms based on one's sex/gender.
Homo/biphobia – irrational fear, hate, prejudice and/or discrimination towards persons
of homo/bisexual orientation.
Transphobia – irrational fear, hate, prejudice and/or discrimination towards transgender
persons.
Genderphobia – prejudice and discrimination towards persons who transcend and
transgress narrow social sex/gender roles, norms, and stereotypes.
LGBTTIQ - Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transgender, Transsexual, Intersexual and
Queer individuals/community/issues.
31
ANNEX 1: Breakdown and Summaries of Analyzed Articles
Below is the list of all articles used for the Analysis, a review of each respective article from the
clipping sample and for the defined period. It is important to note that the articles used for this
Analysis are in fact incomplete, as most of them were not in their original form from the time of
publishing. Further, there is a review of photographs from the articles of the Analysis where
available, while in all other cases it will be specified as Not Applicable (N/A), whether there were
photos in a given article, or not.
Each article listing includes information from title to the overall article content, whether and why a
particular article is favorable, neutral or unfavorable, but also whether the language used in the
relevant text is or is not gender sensitive.
Gender related qualifications applied in this case are as follows:
M-
The author writes in masculine terms only, even if female person(s) is/are
concerned.
FThe author uses only feminine terms, even if male person(s) is/are concerned.
(no example has been found in the articles)
NThe author uses neutral terms, where no gender is determined (as if saying
“queer persons”). (no example has been found in the articles)
BBalanced language is applied – for male person(s) the masculine terms are
used, while the female person(s) are addressed in feminine terms.
M/B - Combined masculine and gender balanced language is used (e.g. “president
(f) Svetlana,” but, in the same text, also “homosexuals (m)” only).
M/N - Marks the articles that masculine and neutral languages are both used.
M/N/B -Combination of male, neutral and gender balanced language.
F/B - Feminine and gender balanced language. (no example has been found in
the articles)
F/N - Feminine and neutral language. (no example has been found in the
articles)
F/N/B - Feminine, neutral and gender balanced languages combined. (no
example has been found in the articles)
N/B - Neutral and gender balanced languages used in the text.
N/A - For “not applicable,” where the analyzed article does not reveal the author’s
intention to use any of the above mentioned categories.
At the same time, there is an additional prism for viewing and analyzing the articles, Industry
Prism (IP) around which article revolves or rather industry that is the context of article and
treatment of key words/issues. IP will also be used in cases where the section of the printed
media of a relevant article is available (pages are not available for many articles, and are not
included here). The used words in the articles related to the LGBTIQ community are also given.
Summaries also specify what geographic locations are the focus or theme of the article. For each
of the articles, the printed media will be listed by name, frequency of publishing – availability to
public, and place the respective media house originates from. The date is included, in the order of
date, month, year.
32
1 l Name and description: Oslobođenje, daily, Sarajevo (BiH)
Article title: “Gay Pride in the downtown Zagreb, encircled by the police”
Date of publishing: 29.06.2003
Author: D. Zadravec
Photo(s): N/A
Location: Zagreb, Croatia
IP: Human rights, sexual freedoms and identities
Category: News
Used words: Homosexuals (m), lesbians, gay, bisexuals(m), transsexuals(m), same-sex,
Lesbian organization Kontra, Iskorak, Law on same-sex partnerships, homosexual couples
Gender related qualification: M
General attitude: Neutral
Summary:
This article offers information about the Gay Pride Parade for the rights of homosexual, lesbian,
bisexual and transgender persons, and that was held in Zagreb. In this article, the author reports
news about what took place in this event, without his own opinion or stand on it. That is why the
article is neutral.
2 l Name and description: BUKA, monthly magazine, Banja Luka (BiH)
Article title: “Thoughts on homosexuals in Banja Luka”
Date of publishing: August 2003
Author: Radmila Vukomanović
Photo(s): Yes
Location: Banja Luka, BiH
IP: Section Society
Category: Column
Used words: Homosexuality, homosexualism, homosexuals (m), sodomites (m), pederasts (m),
faggots, lesbians, homosexual orientation, heterosexual, bisexual (m), heterosexual orientation,
sexual orientation, heterosexual group
Gender related qualification: M/B
General attitude: Favorable
Summary:
In this article, the author offers a short historical review of how the term homosexuality came to
be, as well as the results of her own research done in the domain of tolerance towards sexual
freedoms in the town of Banja Luka. Language used in writing this article primarily refers to
“minority groups” when referring to sexual freedoms and identities, but immediately following
concrete focus on exclusively homosexuals (thus excluding all other queer persons). At the same
time, the author states that there is a phobia with the majority of citizenship towards homosexual
persons, but the claim is not supported by facts how she came to this conclusion. The above
mentioned research done by article author herself, shows that tolerance towards homosexual
persons is in decline, and that the main root of it lies in not having the right, or any information
about “other” sexual orientations, concluding that there is a fear from the “unknown”. The
photograph that illustrates this article is that of two women who are turned face to face and with
bare shoulders. This article is favorable as it tells that the main reasons of phobia against
homosexual persons are lack of information and prejudice that is a result of fear from the
“unknown”.
3 l Name and description: Slobodna Bosna, weekly magazine, Sarajevo (BiH)
Article title: “It is still not time to organize the Gay Parade in BiH”
Author: Mirha Dedić
Photo(s): Yes
Location: BiH, ex-Yu region
33
IP: Life of gay men and lesbians in the Balkans; interview
Category: Interview
Used words: lesbian organization Labris, homosexuals (m.), gay men, lesbians, lesbian group,
homosexual relationships, organizations of homosexuals (m.), same sex couples, Balkan lesbian
conference, bisexuals (m.), Organization Q, homosexual pride, lesbian or gay existence,
homosexual orientation, gay pride, sexual orientation, gay and lesbian film festival, Law on
gender equality, same sex marriage (additional in the insert: homosexualism, Sappho, Lesbos)
Summary:
In this article, Lepa Mlađenović, president of the Anti–war Association “Women in Black” and the
Lesbian Association “Labris” from Belgrade is interviewed. Article addresses gays, lesbian and
bisexual persons. Article is a review of the social and legal image in regard to discrimination
against sexual freedoms and freedom to sexual orientation, and includes the countries of former
Yugoslavia – Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Photographs that illustrate this article are two, one of Lepa Mlađenović, and the other of two
nude women in romantic but vulgar rapture. The article is educational and provides information
that is seldom distributed to the public – regarding queer community and living realities, and as
such is perceived as favorable, although a photography being used here is questionable in its
intentions.
Article title: “Gays and lesbians soon to be wed”
Author: Darko Švarc
Photo(s): N/A
Location: Ljubljana, Slovenia (+ Europe)
IP: Legal status of same sex relationships in Slovenia; section Views
Category: Comment
Used words: registration of same-sex partnerships, homosexual issues, gay and lesbian clubs,
homosexuals (m), sexual democracy, “distorted”, same-sex oriented, same-sex partners,
heterosexual marriage
General attitude: Unfavorable
Summary:
This article gives readers an overview of the legal system in Slovenia towards the same-sex
marriages, and compares it to the European Union (EU) system. Here we learn how the left
political parties support legal rights for same-sex marriages, while the right ones do not. However,
this article points out how the parties oriented to the right do not have much choice but to agree,
since there is pressure from the EU and the entire frame of the European standards, and that are
all relevant to Slovenia. There is an occasional usage/mentioning of discriminatory words such as
“distorted”, that are pointed to homosexual persons from the perspective of the homophobic
hetero majority. The photograph that serves as an illustration to this article is of two mature men
in suits and kissing on the mouth. Vatican pressure in putting forward its own agenda on this
topic is also mentioned, where it is described as a force that can be extremely hardly opposed.
5 l Name and description: Express, weekly, Sarajevo (BiH)
Article title: “Gay parade is kids’ story”
Author: B. Mujezinović
Photo(s): Yes
Location: BiH
IP: Sexual freedoms; debate on gay pride at web portal info
34
Category: Interview / column
Used words: Same-sex contacts, gay pride, homosexual (m), gay or lesbian organisation, lesbo
organisation, gay and lesbian citizens
Gender related qualification: M/N
Summary:
In order to illustrate a debate from the web portal sarajevo-x.com on possible gay pride in
Sarajevo, the author quotes a “celebrity-homosexual from Sarajevo”, providing the readership
with a false information on gay community in BiH, saying it is impossible to organize any public
gay event in BiH as the community is not organized and there is not an association that could
represent its interests (thus neglecting existence of the Organization Q, based in BiH). The photo
to illustrate this article was made at the Gay Pride Parade in Zagreb, year 2002. This article does
not provide reliable and sensitized information on respective issues, and as such is graded
unfavorable.
6 l Name and description: Express, weekly, Sarajevo (BiH)
Article title: “I am afraid to walk through Sarajevo with my boyfriend”
Author: B. Mujezinović
Photo(s): Yes
Location: BiH
IP: Article on gay issues as a follow up on web portal discussion
Category: Column / interview
Used words: Gay pride, homosexual (m), faggot, gay community, heterosexual (m), Stonewall,
lesbian, rights, bisexual (m), transexual (m), sexual orientation
Summary:
In this article is a reaction on a debate from the web portal sarajevo-x.com in regards to living and
the realities of queer persons in Bosnia and Herzegovina (gay men in particular) and a possibility
of organizing the gay pride in Sarajevo. In the latter, there is a quote of a homosexual man who
says “I am afraid to walk through Sarajevo with my boyfriend”. There is also the following quote: “I
know some people that say they would rather see their son being a criminal or murderer then a
faggot.” A special problem emphasized by the persons from the portal is the fact that there is
neither an organization that would work on queer/gay issues, nor a place/cafe where gay men
could meet. The photo to illustrate this article shows two model looking men in boxers with one
lying on his stomach with the other on his back. This article does not provide a sensitized
approach to addressing the issues that are its topic and with inappropriate photography it does
paint a somewhat distorted picture of the queer community (gay men in particular) and as such it
is graded as unfavorable.
Article title: “White House pulls out a US ambassador from Skopje before time”
Author: D. Jokšić
Photo(s): N/A
Location: Macedonia, USA
IP: Government of the USA and the politics of G. W. Bush
Category: News
Used words: Homosexuals
Summary:
35
The article reports about how the White House directly discriminates or rather treats
discriminatory the rights of homosexual persons, as was manifested in the event of early transfer
of the USA Ambassador to Macedonia located in the capital of Skopje, and because he
sponsored a billboard that was part of a campaign for promoting the rights of homosexuals.
Queer-related issues in this article are mentioned almost indirectly, and are limited to
homosexuality.
8 l Name and description: Dnevni Avaz, daily, Sarajevo (BiH)
Article title: “War for marriages”
Author: N/A
Photo(s): N/A
Location: USA
IP: Legal status of the same sex marital communities in California, USA
Category: News
Used words: same-sex marriages, homosexual marriages
Gender sensitized: N/A
Summary:
Article reports about how a judge refused to issue a temporary limitation to same sex marriages,
and as was requested by a conservative organization in California. The explanation offered by the
judge is that the group that issued the request did not offer evidence to show that homosexual
marriages would not suffer irreversible damage had he ruled otherwise.
Article title: “Think over the attitude towards rights of homosexual spouses” (m)
Author: N/A
Photo(s): N/A
Location: USA, UN
IP: Legal status of the same sex marriages of the employees within the United Nations
Category: News
Used words: Homosexual spouses (m), homosexual couples, homosexuals (m)
Summary:
End of January 2004, the UN General Secretary Kofi Annan approved same rights for all married
persons employed at the UN. Many countries condemned this freedom, and today the UN has
barely ten persons/staff members from the same sex marriages asked to use this right. The UN
has around 9000 staff members. It is the alarming large number of countries that oppose such
rights that acts unfavorably towards the freedom of any individual to choose their sexual
orientation.
10 l Name and description: Azra, weekly, Sarajevo (BiH)
Article title: “Because they were ridiculed, some tried to kill themselves”
Author: Najda Vranić
Photo(s): N/A
Location: Sarajevo, BiH (Organization Q)
IP: Queer community in BiH
Category: Interview
Used words: “different” sexual orientation, queer; homosexual, bisexual, transgender, transexual
36
life style; hetero-patriarchal norms, Organization Q, queer persons, LGBTTIQ persons, Law on
Gender Equality, bisexual person, transexual person
Summary:
Article talks about the LGBTIQ community, Svetlana Đurković from the Organization Q gave a
few statements about the Organization and the queer community in BiH.
11 l Name and description: Azra, weekly, Sarajevo (BiH)
Article title: “Gay couples have more fun”
Author: N/A
Photo(s): Yes
Location: USA, Europe
IP: Section “Under scientific magnifier”
Category: Column
Used words: gay, homosexuals (m), heterosexuals (m), gay couples, gay scene, gay tourism,
hetero
Summary:
The title itself reveals the main information given in this brief article. The photograph is of a
young, handsome and stylishly dressed young man, and the focus of the article is strictly on gay
men. It explains trends and states how it seems that gay man generally have more fun and taste
as opposed to hetero men.
12 l Name and description: START BH, biweekly, Sarajevo (BiH)
Article title: “Gay Pride Parade soon to come to Sarajevo as well”
Author: Almir Panjeta
Photo(s): Yes
Location: BiH
IP: Organization Q, queer terminology, activism, interview
Category: Interview
Used words: Gay pride, queer persons, queerians, gay, lesbo, transsexuals (m), LGBT,
homosexuality, homosexual cattle, sexual orientation, intersex persons, lesbians, gender identity,
LGBTIQ community, Organization Q, human rights, regional LGBT meeting; lesbian, bisexual,
transgender, queer, intersexual population; homosexual relations, queer activists,
decriminalization of homosexuality, Law on Gender Equality, International lesbian and gay
associations, ILGA, IGLYO, heterosexual (m), straight, bi, transvestites (m), Croatian organization
Pride, transgender persons, queer movement, heteropatriarchal norms, queer festival, gay club,
queer pride
Gender related qualification: M/N/B
Summary: Article is an interview with Svetlana Đurković from Organization Q. It provides
information related to some queer terminology and the Movement in general. Photos in the article
are numerous, and include a picture from a gay parade, then two nude women in an erotic pose,
a picture of a gay man or a transvestite at a party, Madonna and Britney Spears while kissing on
stage, two women kissing, and finally a man with a cowboy hat. Even though the interview portion
of the article is educational, the pictures presented as an illustration are inappropriate and
suggest support to stereotypical understanding of the LGBTTIQ community. Also, some of the
provided information is false.
37
13 l Name and description: BH DANI, weekly magazine, Sarajevo (BiH)
Article title: “Our (representatives) on Eurosong”
Author: Miljenko Jergović
Photo(s): N/A
Location: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro, Europe
IP: Eurosong; gay/queer person
Category: Column
Used words: Gay, hetero, faggot, homosexuals (m), gay audience, hetero escentrics, sexual
freedom, gay population
Summary:
A well known literary author writes about representatives of countries of Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Croatia and Serbia and Montenegro at the European competition Eurosong, antagonistically
describing and passing on a discriminatory judgment onto the BH representative – Deen. In his
column he often uses word “gay” and this word is at the same time second focus theme of this
article. The tone in which this text is written analyzes and ridicules Eurosong as an event, and
persons who compete in it as well. Author talks about how it is honorable to be gay, and further
categorizes that it is not honorable to be a nationalist - all in the same sentence. In describing
how Deen dances, calling it “ass wiggling” and implying that Deen is gay, author groups the entire
gay/queer population into a stereotype.
14 l Name and description: BH DANI, weekly magazine, Sarajevo (BiH)
Article title: “Reactions: Deen, homosexuality (in our country), citizenship & homeland”
Author: Bojana Božović
Photo(s): N/A
Location: BiH
IP: Section Reactions, a response to the previous article
Category: Reaction
Used words: homosexual (m), homosexuality, sexuality, sexual orientation
Gender related qualification: B
Summary:
A woman reader reacts on the text by Miljenko Jergović, criticizing him for his homophobic and
unfair writing, and she asks “why is it important if someone is a homosexual person?” and goes
on to say how, in essence, it is very important as Bosnia and Herzegovina is still behind in the
context of European standards (that guarantees all personal freedoms so long as they do not
harm or jeopardize anyone else's rights).
Article title: “A claim by Rabbi David Basri (sp? – original source unavailable): Homo-sexuals
(m) reincarnate into rabbits”
Author: N/A
Photo(s): N/A
Location: Jerusalem
IP: Beliefs of a religious leader towards homosexuals
Category: News
Used words: Homosexual (m), bisexuality, bisexual (m), parade, legalization of homosexuality
38
Summary:
Above noted rabbi states, or claims that homosexuals become rabbits once reincarnated. He
adds that homosexuals are worse than animals.
Article title: “Woman left her same-sex husband”
Author: N/A
Photo(s): N/A
Location: China
IP: Information about a queer relationship story
Category: News
Used words: Same-sex husband, sex change operation
Gender related qualification: N/A
Summary:
Article informs about how in China a married man changed his sex to female, and his wife, after
an attempt to preserve sisterly relations, decided to divorce him/her as the previous husband
became an “old lady” after the sex change.
Article title: “A separate bathroom opened for transvestite students”
Author: N/A
Photo(s): N/A
Location: Thailand
IP: Human rights and sexual freedom in education
Category: News
Used words: Transvestites (m), homosexuals (m), transsexuals (m)
Summary:
At a campus of the High Tech School in Thailand, a separate bathroom was opened for 15
students – transvestites. This is what solved their problem of being exiled from both male and
female bathrooms up to then, reports the article.
Article title: “Zrinjevac in Zagreb hosts ‘Gay Pride 2004’ ”
Author: N/A
Photo(s): N/A
Location: Zagreb, Croatia
IP: Activism, Queer Movement
Category: News
Used words: Homosexuals (m), faggots, lesbians, transies, stinking whores, lousy faggots, gay
pride
Summary:
The subtitle of this article is discriminatory because it says “Zagreb residents recommended to
the homosexuals ‘purification’ in the Church”. Article notes down comments from the persons
39
present at the event and who had discriminatory comments against the Gay Pride Parade, or by
those who condemn the Parade and queer persons. Persons chosen by authors as
representatives of Parade's supporters are here described as “middle aged ladies who were
giving them a motherly wave”.
19 l Name and description: Max Magazine, weekly, Sarajevo (BiH)
Article title: “Homosexuality is (not) taboo”
Author: Sanela Begović
Photo(s): N/A
Location: BiH (Organization Q)
IP: Activism, interview
Category: Interview
Used words: Persons of different sexual orientation, heterosexual orientation, queer persons,
LGBTTIQ, homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, homosexual organizations, same-sex marriage,
transgender, queer, lesbian, gay, Law on Gender Equality, Organization Q, Human Rights,
lesbians; gay men; bisexual; transgender; transexual; intersex; queer persons, gay pride,
homosexual organizations, heterosexuals (m), sexual orientation, same sex marriage,
homosexual marriage, gaydar
Summary:
Article talks about the forming of the Organization Q, founder/president of the Organization,
Svetlana Đurković, situations with family and friends when coming out to them, and same-sex
marriages.
20 l Name and description: Max Magazine, weekly, Sarajevo (BiH)
Article title: “Hađi, gay from Banjaluka”
Author: B.J.
Photo(s): N/A
Location: Banja Luka, BiH
IP: Activism, personal experience in love life of a gay man in his hometown
Category: Interview
Used words: Homosexual (m), gay, heterosexual women, homosexual relations, sexual
orientation, homosexuality, gay circles, bisexuals (m), rights of gay population
Gender related qualification: B
Summary:
This is an interview with a young gay man from second biggest town in BiH, Banja Luka. His
sexual orientation and experiences with love life are the main focus of the text.
21 l Name and description: Start BH, biweekly, Sarajevo (BiH)
Article title: “Sexual secrecies”
Author: Marija Janković
Photo(s): Yes
Location: BiH, universal
IP: Sexual orientation, homophobia, show business and music industry; under section
Graphology
Category: Column
Used words: sexual deviations, sexual abnormalities, homosexuals (m.), homosexualism,
40
persons who are overall homosexual, bisexuals (m.), sexual perversities
Summary:
Author is a doctor, though it is not said what kind of a doctor, and she begins her discriminatory
tone of text in the subtitle by calling Elton John and his sexual choice as “twisted”. As sexually
abnormal states she places impotent men and frigid women, and then homosexuals. Right after,
she talks about how in some cases homosexuality can be treated with therapy. Photos in the
article show Elton John, famous musician, kissing on the mouth with George Michael, and there's
another picture of E. John with his husband David Furnish. Author pursues to call homosexuals
as “sexually handicapped” and here includes bisexual persons.
22 l Name and description: BH Dani, weekly magazine, Sarajevo (BiH)
Article title: “Ministry of truth”
Author: Emir Imamović
Photo(s): N/A
Location: Sarajevo, BiH
IP: TV broadcasting, ethics in journalism
Category: Comment
Used words: Homosexuals (m), sexual minorities, sexual preferences
Summary:
This is a column/response to attacks of a woman who hosts a TV talk show, and in regard to a
film shooting for a new film by a well known movie director, and all of this because the film
allegedly treats the “wartime fate of two Bosnians. But, what kind of Bosnians? Homosexuals –
can you imagine?” Author of this article directly criticizes the show hostess, and her performance
that is discriminatory, or as the author says “absolutely primitive and offensive”.
23 l Name and description: Walter, biweekly, Sarajevo (BiH)
Article title: “Gay lobby strikes back”
Author: Alisa Lekić-Mehičević
Photo(s): N/A
IP: TV broadcasting, homophobia and discrimination against sexual freedoms and rights and
propagated by the media and by journalists in BiH
Category: Comment
Used words: Homosexualism, faggots, faggotism, homosexuals (m)
Summary:
From the very title that infers antagonism towards gay men discriminatory context, here the
author uses incomplete arguments in claiming that all persons/journalists who judged the
discriminatory performance of Arduana Pribinja-Kurić (in the Arduana show for NTV Hayat
Sarajevo) are in fact “intolerable and rude”. It is in this TV show that homosexuals as a group
were essentially attacked and presented as a minority easy to disregard, and all caused by
homosexuality as a theme of a Bosnian film. Author writes in plural when speaking about her own
convictions, as opposed to stating clearly her beliefs, and she goes on to call homosexuality an
“unnatural sin”. Here, author also places judgment on all other journalists who disapproved the
relevant talk show (triggering topic for this article) and goes on to call them all homosexuals. To
illustrate how far she takes her phobia, ignorant and discriminatory writing we read on “one
41
question remains unclear – why did Jews/Hebrews make hundreds of films about the Holocaust,
but none about love between two Jewish faggots in Auschwitz?”
Article title: “It’s all full of drugged faggots”
Author: Fatmir Alispahić
Photo(s): N/A
IP: TV broadcasting, homophobia and discrimination by BH media representatives based on
sexual orientation of a person
Category: Column
Used words: Faggots, Human Rights, faggotism
Summary:
Author of the text was a guest in a TV show he is writing about, and the show's topics is film “Go
West”, film about love between two men in war zone Bosnia. Author uses offensive comparisons
between gay persons and homosexual prostitutes, and potential supporters of homosexual
persons, explicitly and repeatedly insulting another guest in the TV show, for whom he assumes
to be gay. Author is also inconsistently writing in the “I” and “we” form when expressing his views,
and is talking about himself as a fictitious super-hero. Author let his homophobia loose to the
point that this text contents is against the law.
Article title: “WANTED! – BiH gay lobby!”
Author: N/A
Photo(s): N/A
IP: Unprofessional journalism, homophobia and discrimination of homosexual persons; section
Wanted
Category: Column
Used words: anal wanted, faggot, faggie, jerk, homosexual (m), faggot-land, faggot-balls, faggot
courtesans, peasant and gipsy complexes, gay whores, dicks, legalization of anusology,
faggotism, normal hetero citizens, fuck their faggot grandpa, gay-gay mission, etc.
Summary:
Section Wanted of this magazine is characterized by picking a person and/or a person's work and
offenses or lists untruthful and unsupported claims against them. In this instance, the topics are
direct ways of how to hunt down homosexuals and how negative of an effect homosexuals have
on the overall society – “they destroy the Bosnian society”, they say. A directly ignorant and
fascist language used to write the lines of this article reflect the politics and convictions of this
media house in totality. Article consists of direct curses at gay population and a formed
stereotype and grouping of all homosexual male persons and supporters into generalizations that
reflect authors' views.
Article title: “Fascism and homophobia”
Author: A. Bosiočić-Dronjić
Photo(s): Yes
42
IP: Media, film, section: polemic on film “Go West”
Category: News, transcript of a show in focus and follow up radio shows, news articles
Used words: homophobia, homosexuality, homosexual (m./.n), gay, straight, heterosexuals (m.),
sexual minorities, homosexualism, organizations of homosexuals (m.), lobby of homosexual
persons, homosexual orientation, faggots, gay scene, faggot scene, faggot lobby, faggot web
sites, homosexual love, homosexual rights, pederasty, sexual orientation, homosexual minorities,
homosexual lobby, homosexual relations, faggot films, sexual freedom
Summary:
Article is a compilation of transcripts from the Arudana show and articles from printed media
(mostly weeklies) that wrote about the main theme of the show – film “Go West”. A clear review of
all that was written in the passed few weeks is given in this article and thus the reading audiences
can make their own conclusions about it all. Photos offered in this review include one of relevant
film acting crew, journalists who wrote about the themes and who were in the TV show.
Article title: “You are helping homophobia grow”
Author: Organization Q
Photo(s): Yes
IP: Reactions, homophobia and discrimination of homosexuals
Category: Reaction
Used words: homophobia, LGBTIQ community, homosexual population in BiH, queer persons,
queer community, homosexuals (m./n.), sexual abnormality, sexual handicap, homosexuality,
bisexuals (m.), homosexual orientation, sexual orientation, queer culture
Summary:
Organization Q reacted to the previous article of the doctor who enhances homophobia and
ignorance by providing incorrect information about homosexual and queer persons, and makes
public intolerant attitudes that do not acknowledge human freedom, here relevant – the freedom
to sexual orientation (see summary No. 21). Organization Q gives thorough and educational
statements that are credible and thus out shadow those of the doctor. The photo is that from the
original article, only in a minimum size.
Article title: “How perverse are we”
Author: Dženana Alađuz
Photo(s): N/A
IP: Difference between normal and perverse sex? Sexual freedoms, fetish, anonymous interviews
about kinky experiences in sex
Category: Column
Used words: Gay and lesbian communities, homosexualism, gay, gay and bi population, hetero,
heterosexuals (m), bisexual (f)
Summary:
Text reports about experiences of some anonymous homosexual, bisexual, lesbian and
43
heterosexual persons from the intimacy of their bedrooms. Author especially stresses that she
had a surprising experience, as it was hard to find persons to cooperate in writing/making the
article.
Article title: “Exiled homosexuals (m) and adulterers (m) in camp”
Author: Saida Mustajbegović
Photo(s): N/A
Location: BiH
IP: Legislation, family law in BiH
Category: Column
Used words: Homosexuals (m), cast away people, out of wedlock relationship, homosexual
marriages, marriage for persons of same sex, Draft of Family Law, human rights, out of wedlock
partnership
Summary:
Author offers a few real scenarios in regard to how law is (not) practiced, sometimes it is unjust
and sometimes it is random circumstance that sparks a just decision-making in court. She pointed
out the lack of institutional mechanisms that would prevent a person being left to the
circumstance or chance, and aiming to ensure that persons do not become double or multiple
victims of the crimes done against them (example from article is the 14 yr. old survivor of incest
violence). In relation to same sex marriages in particular, the Draft of the law states that marriage
is exclusively for opposite sex persons.
30 l Name and description: BH Dani, weekly, Sarajevo (BiH)
Article title: “Reasons why a majority should accept minority”
Author: Miljenko Jergović
Photo(s): N/A
Location: BiH
IP: TV broadcasting, media and film in the context of homophobia and queer freedoms
Category: Column
Used words: homosexuals (m), heterosexuals (m), faggot, lesbians, male same-sex love,
(sexual) minority, (sexual) majority, sexual orientation, human rights, homoerotic
Summary:
A well known author whose attitude we had an opportunity to read about earlier in the Analysis,
writes about queer and homosexuality themes once more, however now does so favorably.
Namely, going back to the talk show Arduana and her antagonistic stands towards homosexual
persons, Jergović here condemns the show and along the way beats down some other
arguments from media texts that are negative in writing about homosexuals, but also to freedom
to choose one's sexual orientation in general.
Article title: “World gay lobby released a Wanted warrant for commissar Fatmir”
Author: Mehmed Bošnjak
Photo(s): Yes
44
IP: À la talk of the week
Category: Column
Used words: Faggot, faggotism, Sarajevo-faggots, hot brothers, world faggot organization,
destroyed asses, world faggots, world faggot lobby, homophobe, faggot rights, faggot internet
sites, ex-Yu faggot organizations, faggot lobby
Summary:
Author of this article writes about the already mentioned theme of the making of film “Go West”,
and initiated by a great deal by columnist Fatmir Alispahić (whose style is defined by offending
and cursing those he disagrees with, here relevant – homosexuals in general, see earlier
summaries). This time, he is attacking the websites from the region that have put up the news
and reactions to his text where he openly curses gays and queer persons, and the web portals
name him a homophobe, and this online media spaces condemn such approaches and writing
that is contradictory to freedoms to chose as guaranteed by law. With an utterly weak and low,
but offensive vocabulary, author here makes an attempt to communicate a fabricated version of
what it was the actual Fatmir Alispahić's intent in previous writing was, while author pursues
offending homosexuals throughout the text. It appears as though deepening offensive “attempts
to humiliate the homosexual type of language” really presents a basis for further attempts of the
author to actually glorify the alleged just cause of the Alispahić writings. This is another text that
breaches the laws of BiH as far as publicly distributed information through print media. Photo is a
window of the web site www.queer.ba.
Article title: “Abu Fatolf Bin Hitlerspahić” / “Wanted: Fatmir Alispahić”
Author: N/A
Photo(s): Yes
IP: Section Wanted
Category:
Used words: faggots, faggot itnernet sites, faggot lobby, vibrator filled with explosive ?
Summary:
Front picture is photo of Fatmir Alispahić with a turban on his head, a sledge and communist
markings (hammer and a sickle), then Hitler mustache, and a militant coat of arms on his left arm
with male and female biological signs, while the right one has two pairs of bare feet, illustrating
that one person is lying on top the other. The text itself is a series of really low offensive
descriptions and shout-outs to homosexuals, but also including persons, events, cases that
frustrate Alispahić, as is openly stated. Even though author's name is unlisted, it appears that
Fatmir Alispahić is the author of this article (usage of the “I” form).
Article title: “Go West, dear Bosniaks, go West!”
Author: Ozren Kebo
Photo(s): N/A
Location: BiH
IP: Analysis of BH media “crossroads”, reasons and essence of the current Bosniak
confrontations
Category: Comment
Used words: Homosexuals (m), homosexuality, different sexual love, anti-homosexual lobby,
45
Human Rights and freedoms
Summary:
A well known author gives ten points about why are there always ideological wars in BiH
specifically prior to elections, what awaits us in the European Union, what did the Muslim religious
leader in BiH (Cerić) say, and what is a test of a contemporary society. Author reminds reis-ululema Cerić that there are more demands BiH has to fulfill towards the EU than the five he listed
to his followers and listeners in his public speeches. Primarily, relevant here is the freedom to
choose one's sexual orientation, but also right to atheism. Author points out that the TV talk show
that was subject of the Analysis earlier initiated an entire lava of public dialogue about the
freedom to choose one’s sexual orientation. One last reminder from author Kebo in regard to the
show is about how the Bosniak right wing acted in a fascist–executioner–hunter manner towards
persons in same sex relationships.
Article title: “What is the sex of love?”
Author: Belma Bećirbašić
Photo(s): N/A
IP: Section Organization Q, queer community in BiH
Category: Comment
Used words: Queer persons, sexual and gender minorities, outcast groups, gay community,
sexual orientation, gender identity, gay scene, lesbians, gay dar, bi, transsexuals, sexual, gender,
transgender persons, same-sex orientation, queer minorities, homosexuality, same-sex attraction,
homosexual, gay parade, out, faggots, hetero-patriarchal norm, Organization Q, human rights,
queer person, sexual and gender minorities.
Summary:
Through work experiences of the Organization Q, given is a review of the queer community in
BiH, and additionally available are experiences of persons that were interviewed and are
transgender, lesbian, and bisexual, but also in situations with coming out to family, and with
statistics also.
Article title: “Prison secrets of the Balkan right wing”
Author: Boris Dežulović
Photo(s): N/A
Location: BiH, Croatia
IP: Commercial TV and what do celebrities/famous individuals have to say about various topics,
an analysis
Category: Comment
Used words: Homosexuals (m), metrosexuals (m), sissies, faggots, butch, lesbians, greenhorns,
homophobic statements, little faggots, big faggots, pink panthers, gay organization,
homosexuality, human rights, pederasty, homosexuals (in the Army), homosexual Europe,
metrosexual intelectual (m), heterosexual Croatian husbands, heterosexual Croatia
Summary:
In this article author does not support the guests/famous individuals of a talk show on commercial
46
Croatian TV and points out lack of credibility of speakers on the show. He categorizes them all,
with focus on Ante Kovačević - one of the candidates for the president of Croatia, as chauvinistic,
nationalistic, and homophobic. Chronologically (war in the ex-Yu, politics in Croatia, etc.) author
deconstructs given arguments of Kovačević, analyzes him and relates his phobia to
discriminatory comments given by TV show host from BiH (see earlier clip analysis) Arduana
Pribinja about the film “Go West”.
Article title: “Gay on permanent address”
Author: Belma Bećirbašić
Photo(s): N/A
Location: BiH
IP: BiH, Organization Q
Category: News
Used words: Gay population, gay community, sexual orientation, homosexuals (m), lesbians,
transgender persons, so called queer community, Organization Q
Gender related qualification: N/B
Summary:
Article provides information about the Organization Q in Sarajevo, and areas of its work, and
president of the Organization, Đurković, answers about what it actually means for their work to
have space for the queer community in BiH, but also what are the current activities of the
Organization.
47
ANNEX 2: A Review of the Ten Media Analyzed in this Report
Dnevni Avaz
This is the main daily newspaper in BiH. It has the highest circulation and most influence and is
of very good quality. Dnevni Avaz covers all of Federation, but is also available across Republika
Srpska. It is considered to be the leading and best newspaper in BiH. In comparison to other
media, Avaz has a more qualitative print, solid columns and articles, best marketing, and more
color than any other daily. Dnevni Avaz I privately owned by Fahrudin Radoncic. This media
house has its own print house that was acquired during privatization process, as well as a
business center building. Estimated circulation is 50 000-70 000. Weekly segment of Avaz is
available.
Express
Express is categorized as yellow press and a magazine.
Azra (www.avaz.ba)
Azra is categorized as a magazine for women. It is not highly qualitative visually and content
wise. It has a publication Sport that comes out several times a week along with others
(magazines for health, astrology, youth, coloring books, and books).
Oslobođenje (www.oslobodjenje.com.ba)
Second biggest publisher in BiH is Oslobođenje. It has a daily newspaper carrying the same
name, but it also publishes a weekly magazine
Oslobođenje was once daily paper of the year. During the war it came out every day, and
became a symbol of survival of human dignity, culture and arts in Sarajevo under the siege.
However, today Oslobođenje struggles with great crisis (finances, quality, ownership). Even
though slow in changing the predictable graphic look and concept layout, Oslobođenje now
employes younger journalists and columnists. Circulation is estimated to be approximately 10
000 copies. Editor in chief is Senka Kurtović, while the media house is owned by the Kmečka
družba.
Max
Max magazine is published by Oslobođenje printing house. It covers themes and persons who
are celebrities, charismatic, jet set, and from areas of culture and arts. It is moderately qualitative
in writing, color print and paper.
Slobodna Bosna (www.slobodna-bosna.ba)
Slobodna Bosna is one of the two leading political magazines in BiH. Earlier it was the leading
weekly by circulation. This magazine is known by research and investigative journalism, politics,
economy, culture, with strong and well-known columnists. Always loudly criticizing the
government, Slobodna Bosna pursues its cases in sagas, and reveals biggest affairs in the
country. Circulation is approximately 25 000 copies.
BH Dani (www.bhdani.com)
In comparison to Slobodna Bosna, Dani holds the reputation and authority of second top
circulation weekly. Over a year ago, the paper got a new visual image, printed on more qualitative
paper and increased sharpness. Quality of writing is apparent. Circulation is estimated to stand
48
at 15 000. In 2004, Dani initiated a great project to improve sales and popularize the magazine by
publishing books by worldly classical authors.
Start BH (www.startBiH.info)
Today, this bi –weekly is the only qualitative newspaper in the country. Since the well-known
journalist Ozren Kebo took over the position of the editor in chief, magazine is better in quality
and structure, although inconsistent. Circulation is estimated to be 10 000.
Walter (www.walter.ba)
Walter is a bi–weekly political magazine, momentarily communicating ads via TV as «the
magazine you fear». They use antagonistic approach in writing texts (often ordered texts), and
they consistently use methods of defaming persons and offensive (while descriptive) language as
well. Circulation stands at approximately 3 000.
Buka
Buka is a magazine from Banjaluka (Republika Srpska), and is published by a non-governmental
organization Center for informational decontamination of youth. It represents youth issues in the
RS and beyond.
49
ANNEX 3: A Review of a 5 day free trial Professional Clipping
December 10-14, 2004
For the specified period, Organization Q received a total of ten articles from nine different print
media:
-
Jutarnje novine – daily (Sarajevo, 14.12.'04, pg. 35): article is about Israel and
legalization of the same sex marriage.
Dnevni List – daily (Mostar, 14.12.'04, pg. 51): celebrity Ellen DeGeneris broke up with
her girlfriend – news from Hollywood, USA.
Glas Srpske – daily (Banjaluka, 11.12.'04, pg. 12): news about a new film by Serbian
filmmaker, entitled «Šta je bre, pederi?» (What's up faggots?) that is to be shot in
Belgrade and in cooperation with a Croatian author.
Max magazine – weekly (Sarajevo, 10.12.'04, pg. 30): famous Bosnian actor Mario
Drmać claims he is not gay, gigolo nor pedophile.
Oslobođenje – daily (Sarajevo, 10.12.'04, pg. 64): Canada legalized same sex
marriages.
Dnevni avaz – daily (Sarajevo, 10.12.'04, pg. 6): Romanian Prime minister proves his
heterosexuality by offering Romanian women journalists and citizens to sleep with him,
as one media persists in calling him homosexual.
Nezavisne novine – daily (Banjaluka, 10.12.'04, pg. 37): Romanian Prime minister
proves his heterosexuality by offering Romanian women journalists and citizens to sleep
with him, as one media persists in calling him homosexual.
Dnevni avaz – daily (Sarajevo, 10.12.'04, pg. 25): Museum of Homosexuality from Berlin,
Germany, opened a permanent museum exhibition.
SAN – daily (Sarajevo, 09.12.'04, pg. 7): Jovan Ćirilov, well known theater critic says he
doesn't hide the fact that he is a homosexual.
Express – weekly (Sarajevo, 09.12.'04, pg. 13): A turbo folk Bosnian star Selma Bajrami
says there is nothing wrong with her kissing with gay men.
As it can be seen, articles about the LGBTTIQ themes and/or key words are often published and
surely do cover all pores of life and society. This sample shows that topics relevant to the
LGBTTIQ are mostly treating celebrities, famous persons and legislation, and at the same time
the LGBTTIQ themes are mostly concerning/coming from other countries (less often Bosnia and
Herzegovina).
50
ANNEX 4: Words and Phrases their Diversification in Printed Articles
No.
1
2
WORDS / PHRASES
Homosexuals (m)
Faggots
Gay
Homosexual persons
Same sex oriented
Homosexual population in BiH
Pederasts (m)
Gay men
Sexual orientation
Homosexual/same sex/different orientation
Heterosexual orientation
COUNT
29
13
8
1
1
1
1
1
12
7
2
TOTAL
55
21
3
Homosexuality
Homosexualism
Faggotism
Pederasty
9
6
4
1
20
4
Heterosexuals (m)
Heterosexual (f)
Straight
Hetero
Normal hetero citizens
9
1
2
3
1
16
5
Organization of homosexuals (m)
Homosexual organization
International lesbian and gay associations (ILGA, IGLYO)
Gay or lesbian organizations
Lesbo organization
Lesbian group
Croatian organization Pride
Lesbian organization Kontra (Croatia)
Iskorak (Croatia)
Lesbian organization Labris
Ex-Yu faggot organizations
World faggot organizations
Gay organization
Lesbians
Lesbo
Butch
3
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
12
1
1
15
7
Human rights (and freedoms)
Right of gay population
Faggot rights
Sexual freedom
9
1
1
2
13
7
Transexuals (m)
Transexual person
Transgender persons
Transvestites (m)
Transgender
Transies
5
1
3
2
1
1
13
6
51
14
8
Bisexuals (m)
Bi
Bisexual (f)
Bisexual persons
8
2
1
1
12
9
Gay pride/parade
Homosexual pride
Pride
Queer pride
6
1
1
1
9
9
LGBT/LGBTIQ/LGBTTIQ persons, community, lifestyle (short and long
versions)
Regional LGBT meeting
Queer persons
Queerians
Same sex marriages
Homosexual marriage
Sexual and gender minorities
Sexual minority
Queer minorities
Organization Q
Homophobia
Homophobe
Homophobic statements
Homosexual lobby
Lobby of homosexual persons
Antihomosexual lobby
Faggot lobby
Law on Gender Equality
Heteropatriarchal norms
Dicriminalization of homosexuality/legalization of homosexuality
Legalization of anusology
8
9
10
10
11
11
12
12
13
14
14
1
7
1
5
3
2
3
1
6
3
1
1
1
1
1
2
4
3
2
4
3
3
2
15
Gender identity
1
2
15
15
Gay dar
Out-of-wedlock partnership
Out-of-wedlock relationship
Outcast groups/castaway people
Sex change operations
Metrosexual (m)
Metrosexual intellectual (m)
Bisexuality
Heterosexual marriage
Balkan Lesbian conference
Sodomites (m)
Lesbos
Sappho
Stonewall
Different sexual love
Distroyed asses
Vibrator filled with explosive
Sissies
Greenhorns
Pink Panthers
2
1
1
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
15
15
15
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
52
8
8
6
6
5
5
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
Jerk
Dicks
Hot brothers
Peasant and gippsy complex
Anal wanted
Biphobia
Transphobia
Draft of the Family Law
Intersexs persons
Hetero escentrics
Law on same sex partnerships (Croatia)
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
Diversification of terms and meanings
Homosexuals (m)
Homosexual persons
Homosexual orientation
Homosexuality
Homosexualism
Homosexual organizations
Homosexual pride
Homosexual marriage
Homosexual lobby
Antihomosexual lobby
Decriminalization/legalization of homosexuality
Homophobia
Homophob
Homosexual love
Homosexual relations(hips)
Homosexual cattle
Homosexual couples
Homosexual spouses
Homosexual population
Homosexual issues
Homoerotic
Homosexual Europe
Faggots
Faggotism
Ex-Yu faggot organization
World faggot organization
Faggot rights
Faggot lobby
Lousy faggots
Faggot scene
Faggot web/internet sites
Faggotland
Faggot films
Faggot-balls
Faggot-courtisans
Fuck their faggot grandpa
Sarajevo faggots
World faggots
Little faggots
Big faggots
Faggie
53
Count
29
1
5
9
6
4
1
3
1
1
3
4
1
1
3
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
13
4
1
1
1
1
1
1
3
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Total
79
36
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
1
2
3
4
8
1
1
1
6
2
2
1
1
3
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
12
1
2
3
1
1
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
5
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
7
1
9
1
2
3
Gay
Gay men
Gay organization
Right of gay population
Gay pride/parade
Gay-dar
Gay community
Gay and bi population
Gay audience
Gay scene
Gay tourism
Gay couples
Gay clubs
Gay circles
Gay whores
Gay-gay mission
Gay population
Sexual
Sexuality
Sexual orienation
Sexual freedom
Sexual and gender minorities
Sexual minorities
Sexual majority
Sexual democracy
Sexual deviations
Sexual abnormality
Sexual perversity
Sexual handicap
Sexual preferences
Same sex
Same sex oriented
Same sex orientation
Same sex marriage
Law on same sex partnerships (Croatia)
same sex partners(hip)
same sex contacts
same sex relations
same sex couples
same sex husband
same sex love (male)
Queer
Queer community
Queer culture
Queer movement
Queer festivals
Queer activists
So called queer community
Queer pride
Queerians
Queer persons
Queer minorities
Heterosexual (m)
Heterosexual (f)
Heterosexual orientation
Hetero
54
34
29
16
18
21
5
6
7
8
9
10
1
2
3
4
5
6
Normal hetero citizens
Heterosexual marriage
Hetero excentrics
Heterosexual group
Heterosexual Croatia
Heterosexual Croatian husbands
Gay and lesbian clubs
Gay and lesbian citizens
Gay and lesbian assistance
Gay and lesbian film festival
Gay and lesbian community
Gay or lesbian organization
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
55
6

ANALIZA ŠTAMPANIH BH MEDIJA ZA LGBTTIQ TEME

Transcription

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