03/17/2009
A Violent Homophobe Croat Ex-Con Speaks of Hatred for Gays
Javno interviewed Josip Situm, who was recently released after spending 14 months in prison for throwing a Molotov cocktail at a group of Gay Pride participants in Zagreb in May 2007.
Said Josip:
"I did what 70 percent of Croats would do, if they had the courage to do so! I don`t remember anyone who did not congratulate me...If they believe that they can rape this city with their sexual
orientation in the spirit of democracy and freedom of life, why would
others not be able to display their objection in the spirit of the same
democracy? Well, do they expect us to throw confetti on them as they
strut in their parades?!...
"My goal was to end that procession by throwing Molotov cocktails and try to make an impact so that they are no longer held, because they represent a disgrace for this society. Even though it was not my intention to seriously injure anyone, the verdict was passed as a precedent, i.e. as an example to others...I grew up in a Catholic family where directions in life exclusively follow dignity and what can serve as an example for others. Being a homosexual, insisting on same-sex marriages and adopting children is something that does not suit my point of view or religious beliefs. I believe that nobody`s, not even my own child, should not be exposed to such immoral surroundings. Also, I am a patriot who knows how to appreciate the sacrifice of my father and other fathers who shed blood for our freedom, and I now that there are too many disempowered and desperate people on the brink of poverty whose live their life humbly, they don`t harass anyone or parade in the city for their rights...As far as gay activists are concerned – no. My position is still the same, except that today, after prison, I know that I can`t change the world. Still, I would like to apologise to all the people who were there by accident that day and who witnessed the incident."
Previously
Croatian Gays March Despite Taunts and Violence [tr]
Posted 7:49 AM EST by Andy Towle in Catholic Church, Croatia, Gay Pride, Gay Rights, News | Permalink
Like it?
Subscribe to FREE Towleroad daily headlines with our RSS feed!
RECENT STORIES:
Comments
You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.
"I grew up in a Catholic family where directions in life exclusively follow dignity and what can serve as an example for others"
Yes, Jesus was big on Molotov cocktails.
The man's a cretin of the highest order.
Posted by: protogenes | Mar 17, 2009 7:59:05 AM
It's sad that he only had to serve 14 months. That's not much of a deterrent to keep other homophobes from doing the same thing or worse.
"I grew up in a Catholic family where directions in life exclusively follow dignity and what can serve as an example for others."
It always amazes me how a supposedly religious 'dignified' person can rationalize doing violence to others. *sigh*
Posted by: David in Houston | Mar 17, 2009 8:08:30 AM
If this isn't the very definition of a man who longs to suck c*ck, I don't know what is. A closeted man hiding behind his religious dogma; his hatred for gays comes from deep within himself. Obvious to me.
Posted by: mepaul | Mar 17, 2009 8:13:43 AM
Religion has always been used to justify anti-religious behavior.
Posted by: Sean | Mar 17, 2009 8:14:48 AM
"Rape the city"...? Last time I checked, gays were responsible for rebuilding poverty-stricken areas and revitalizing small, local economies. Then heteros move in because it looks so nice and Starbucks and Target follow.
This guy is the poster child for idiots everywhere.
Posted by: johnny | Mar 17, 2009 8:15:10 AM
1) So, in his view throwing a molotov cocktail is in the same spirit as marching?
2) This guy thinks his sentence was only a set as an example - he still doesn't think what he did was wrong
3) He apologizes to anyone who witnessed his crime but not to his targets
Outrageous! Sometimes I forget the bubble of democracy I live in. Thanks for the reminder of the animals that are out there.
Posted by: Greg | Mar 17, 2009 8:22:10 AM
"I did what 70 percent of Croats would do..."
You mean, you'd star in a Bel Ami film?
Posted by: Michael | Mar 17, 2009 8:26:26 AM
I was going to post an incisive deconstruction of the fallacies in his argument, but couldn't really get past his nasty clothing, bad skin and awful hair. He may be out of jail, but he'll be in a prison of bad fashion choices for the rest of his life...
Posted by: Lubin Odana | Mar 17, 2009 8:42:51 AM
He clearly love the dick. I can tell he's aching for some cock as he's sitting there.
Posted by: Joe | Mar 17, 2009 8:59:17 AM
Michael: Good one! ROTMFFL
Posted by: CHRISTOPHER | Mar 17, 2009 9:15:22 AM
European white trash seems to be remarkably similar to the American version.
Posted by: Acolyte | Mar 17, 2009 9:29:29 AM
This man should put on a white dress and a pair of red slippers, then go audition for a job as Pope..........
Posted by: Troy | Mar 17, 2009 9:32:01 AM
Wait, I thought Europe was this wonderful paradise of acceptance for gays...
Posted by: noah | Mar 17, 2009 9:33:43 AM
It's the same "for God and country" argument that we hear on these shores. But what it really is about is oppression, resources and power. Instead of scapegoating, perhaps he should think about what and who are really holding down poor Croatians, because it isn't the gays.
Posted by: JTlvr | Mar 17, 2009 9:58:54 AM
He was also sentenced to 14 months of psychological treatment. Obviously that worked really well!
Why the hell did they give him this forum for his hatred, when it was the first hate-crime sentence for sexual orientation? If you recognize it as a hate crime, why allow him to spout hate?
Posted by: Kevinvt | Mar 17, 2009 10:01:38 AM
Yeah, there's as much homophobic pieces of shit over here as there is everywhere else. So it looks genetic, say one in ten ? What a tosser !
Posted by: Hephaistion | Mar 17, 2009 10:35:23 AM
"It always amazes me how a supposedly religious 'dignified' person can rationalize doing violence to others. *sigh*"
What do you mean "supposedly" religious. He IS religious, very much so, and this is what religion does to people. It is poison. I'm so sick of Christin apologists.
Posted by: JX | Mar 17, 2009 10:43:18 AM
I was in Croatia two years ago. It is a strikingly scenic country....really one of the most beautiful places I've been. Like a lot of Eastern Europe, the society is tainted with severe nationalism and a resurgence in religious zealotry, both of which lead to scapegoating of any group that doesn't fit the religio-ethnic ideal. I'm somewhat hopeful, though, that like in the West young Croats will move their society to embrace diversity. There's an observable difference among generations there. The older generations, who grew up in a more closed and repressive Communist society are often very cold and appear suspicious of outsiders; younger persons there embrace aspects of Western society (music, cell phones/txting, etc.) and are warmer and more open. This guy is clearly a total prick though. ;)
Posted by: Scotto | Mar 17, 2009 11:45:59 AM
Ah, yes, a Croat following proudly in the footsteps of his Nazi-loving grandfathers. Here's to hoping this proto-fascist gets caught sucking dick in Botanički Vrt and gets his own skull bashed in with a brick.
Posted by: Tread | Mar 17, 2009 1:32:07 PM
He's definitely misguided and ignorant. And certainly, a violent, hateful criminal. But unfortunately, there are plenty of people like him everywhere. I worry that too many people share his view, and find our parades too in-your-face and offensive. Frankly, I'm surprised there's not more reactions like his. I'm glad there's not, but I'm surprised there's not. But people like him are getting more angry as we push for more rights, which we deserve to have, just as they do. Most people are becoming more accepting, fortunately, but others like him are being pushed to the brink, in their minds anyway. When they see some of the behavior in our parades - which shocks me sometimes too - I'm not surprised by their anger. Maybe it's time we toned down the shock value, and showed that we're more like average people than they realize. (Because to a lot of people, the "face" of the gay population is the gay pride parade, and they find it outrageous and offensive. With a few changes, we could help improve this greatly. Not completely, but significantly.) We don't have to flaunt sex in their face anymore, they get it, we find hot guys attractive.
Posted by: Hank | Mar 17, 2009 1:47:11 PM
That's right, tread. The croats did actively participate in hunting down, torturing and killing jews, roma gypsies, homosexuals, and religious minorities in roving killing squads. ACTIVELY and ENTHUSIASTICALLY assisting their NAZI ALLIES. And before you people scream godwin's law, this isn't an example of it, and it's true. Big slavic empty head, too.
Posted by: TANK | Mar 17, 2009 1:59:33 PM
pig
Posted by: David T | Mar 17, 2009 2:08:21 PM
Hank, did you see this parade? Talk about blame the victim. These nationalist, stupid thugs beat gay people up because they hate us, not because we're flaunting sex in a parade. The parade merely gathers us together so they can find us easily. I'm guessing this parade was a lot less flamboyant than you're picturing it, and even so . . . the thugs did the beating!
Posted by: Ernie | Mar 18, 2009 9:48:01 AM
Ernie, I agree with everything you said. But I fear people like him maybe think of what goes on at more high-profile parades -- in NY, SF, Sydney, etc., and think "not in my town". I'm not excusing this creep, he's totally f'ed up. I'm just saying I wonder if our behavior can result in this kind of reaction in places like Eastern Europe, or even middle America. (Not to mention places like the middle east, where we're just killed, legally, and most people there think that's fine. I fear that gays in these places may pay an unfair price from the hysteria people may conjur up in their heads when they get a skewed notion of what we are and what we represent. It's too easy for this kind of thing to happen there, and that guy's thinking is too common all over the world. Just listen to the pope...this guy sure did. Many other people everywhere think that way, and we may be inadvertently adding fuel to the fire. I hope not, but I think we could be.
Posted by: Hank | Mar 18, 2009 8:28:23 PM
I understand your point, Hank, but I'm guessing guys like this aren't paying particularly close attention to what's happening in Sydney and SF. We could self-police parade flamboyance all over the world, but thugs like this will still want to beat up gay people. I agree with you that EE gay people "pay an unfair price" when they become visible, and that visibility is often modeled on "foreign" examples. But I think the blame-the-parades (and drag queens and leather guys etc.) idea is overused and simplistic. When my b/f and I have spent time in Croatia and other EE countries, we essentially become invisible (no one assumes we're a couple, despite all evidence to the contrary); the people who dare to make themselves visible are incredibly brave. Unfortunately, as long as uneducated thugs have lives that suck and violence is their best platform for expressing themselves (and they're rewarded more than punished for their brutality), visible gay people are targets. We're not on such different pages, but I think you were putting way too much emphasis and blame on parade antics and pushing people to want to kill us. It smacks of, the girl in the short skirt deserves to be raped.
Posted by: Ernie | Mar 19, 2009 10:46:42 AM