Ivo Sanader "has AIDS"

Serbian tabloid Kurir, a paper with a questionable reputation I must add, claims to know why Croatian prime minister Ivo Sanader quit his job without giving any explanation. Sanader "has AIDS". Kurir does not mention any sources, but refers to the treatment Sanader underwent in hospital, beginning August. Sanader, while cruising the Adriatic, urgently had go to a hospital, where he was eventually diagonalized with pneumonia. Earlier he was said (rather: we were told) to suffer from some dangerous contagious disease, then Legionnaires' disease, but in the end it was "just" pneumonia. Or not. Maybe this juggling with diseases is just a cover-up for AIDS...
Or maybe Kurir just fabricated this story.
In today's edition the paper wonders if Sanader is gay. However regrettable is would be if Sanader had AIDS, him being gay would be wonderful news because the Croatian gay community could use strong political backing.
Sanader was once asked on TV if the allusions that he was gay bothered him. He answered: "No, because those allusions are false". And then he added something that is of current interest. He claimed that the rumors he was gay came from right-wingers in the HDZ party (Sanader's party) and that he "threw them out of the party."
Although many in the HDZ deny there are left-wing and right-wing factions, it is generally felt that these days the right-wingers are tightening their grip on HDZ. Indications are, first of all, Sanader's resignation, almost two months ago. After that, hardliner Andrija Hebrang announced he will run for president. This week, the president of the Croatian parliament Luka Bebić (HDZ) announced his departure from politics. He spoke of "certain political forces" that want to destroy HDZ. These "forces" are known by the name "Lisica", meaning fox. It's all very vague and foggy, but what is clear is that the ruling HDZ is a snake-pit. I guess we'll find out in the not so distant future which HDZ-snake has the strongest jaws.

Gay bashing in Zagreb

If you are gay and want to visit Zagreb, it might be good to know which spots in town you'd better avoid. Unfortunately, you'll need to go hiking in Medvednica or take a swim in Jarun as the center of Zagreb is crawling with people who might, in the best case, insult you.
Zagreb Pride published a map (click to enlarge) that shows the most dangerous locations in town for gays. Not surprisingly, the most dangerous street is Draškovićeva, and not because of the cinema complex, the Sheraton, a Chinese restaurant, a hospital and a ministry in that street. The threat comes from the headquarters of the Bad Blue Boys, Dinamo Zagreb's "fan club". The Bad Blue Boys have a terrifying record of violence against "others" - supporters of rival football clubs, homosexuals, foreigners...
The most severe punishment for anti-gay violence (14 months) was given to Bad Blue Boy Josip Šitum. He tried to attack participants of the Zagreb Pride 2007 with Molotov cocktails, on Zagreb's main square (Trg bana Josipa Jelačića). First thing he said after he was released: "I did what 70 percent of the Croats would do, if only they had the courage."
Orange dot: location of reported attack.
Red dot: particularly dangerous location.

Anti-gay demonstration

In 1861 a man called Ante Starčević founded the political party Hrvatska Stranka Prava (Party of Croatian Rights). The HSP's virulent nationalism was not only directed against Vienna and Budapest, but also against the Slav brothers of the Croats - Serbs. Starčević considered Serbs at best as a lower and dirty race. By the end of the nineteenth century, some considered the HSP not radical enough and founded the HČSP. "Č" stands for "čista", pure. Starčević died in 1895 and was proclaimed "father of the nation". His statue stands right opposite of Zagreb's main railway station (Glavni kolodvor).
After the genocidal campaign against Serbs and Jews (in which some HSP members eagerly participated) during World War II and the subsequent victory of the communists, political parties were forbidden. In the 1990s many parties reappeared on the political scene, and so did HSP and HČSP.
Fortunately, HČSP is a marginal political phenomenon, but modern technology enables them to spread their hatred against others via the internet. Through Facebook, for example, they invite people to come to Trg bana Josipa Jelačića (Zagreb's main square) to demonstrate against gays, on 13 June at 15.00 hours. Josip Miljak, HČSP president, said: "It is intolerable that a handful of disoriented and immoral people terrorize and impose their deformed way of life on others". He referred to the Zagreb Gay Pride which will be held on the same day.
I find it quite sad that Miljak and his gang of purists will occupy Zagreb's main square. On the other hand, it's good to know which people here prevent Croatia from becoming a normal country.

Let love live - homosexuals in Croatia

Life is not easy for gays and lesbians in Croatia, as the almighty Catholic church is one of their principle enemies. Croatian bishops recently asked people to sign a petition against rights for homosexuals and against abortion. One signer explained why he put his signature under the petition: "Gays are not only annoying, it goes without saying that they are weird".
The church and minorities (ethnic, sexual or else) in Croatia - an awkward relationship.
Kontra, an organization for lesbians and Iskorak, a center for the promotion of equal rights for sexual minorities, started a campaign for more rights and less discrimination. Posters like the one above will be hung all over Zagreb, Osijek, Split and Dubrovnik. One of their wishes is the possibility of same sex marriages.
I keep my fingers crossed, but I am very pessimistic. If you want to know how tragic things can be in Croatia, please read this article (in English) about a girl who received a mental treatment for five years after she had told her parents she was lesbian.