Is EU's policy towards Ukrainian gays correct?

[princealbertofb]

It's probably a matter of time before mentalities shift. As the Internet makes peoples of the earth closer and other cultures known (where there is not too strict censorship) it's likely to even out over the years. It may be years yet till gays are considered just other ordinary citizens, but we need to strive to get those rights for others rather than fear that they'll be targeted because of fear and ignorance. (In fact they already ARE targeted, so it's a question of knowing how to keep a low profile, or how discriminated gays should organise themselves into some form of viable lobby). Gays in those countries do need courage and perseverance. Mostly, they must not let their dream of a more equal, more accepting, more tolerant society die. After all, they too are the sons and daughters of the people living there. It's a shame those countries do not see what a wealth of human intelligence and creativity there is in their gay population. By letting those anti-gay laws pass and be passed, the governments are failing all their citizens (not just the gay ones) and guiding them back into dictatorships that Europe no longer believes is an acceptable or viable option. It's an old, tired model, which only exists when fear and propaganda are used mercilessly to hide reality or the truth. By deflecting the blame on its gay populations, the governments are hoping their own ill-doings and corrupt ways will go unchallenged and unseen, probably. So they're bringing back the church in after having had none for decades. The age-old tactics of scapegoating still has a future, unfortunately. It doesn't mean we have to accept it.

[princealbertofb]

Eastern Europe countrys still have the communist way of thinking, they need more generation to pass in order to get rid of that mentality, so it's the same for Romania/Bulgaria/Hungary/Moldavia Republik/Ukrayne , they are homophobic. . presure it's worthless.

I don't know about pressure being not worth while. In other places it's torn the Iron Curtain and brought the Berlin Wall down.

[princealbertofb]

I don't know enough about the EU to say. IF it's ONLY goal is to create a common market with common money to presumably create economic stability then it's most efficient to stick with that and leave the activism to others. OTOH, if the mission of the EU goes beyond that in an attempt to create social & political stability in addition to economic AND they don't wish to include (and thus enable) those known for grievous rights violations then it's perfectly right to insist its standards be met, and it would be up to the Ukraine to decide whether the EU was worth giving up its institutionalized bigotry for or not. In any case the Ukraine should not be given special privileges because that would set a precedent that can undo all that they've worked for, including in countries that already joined the EU.

That said, it's already bad to be gay in the Ukraine right now. And the anger over gays will also be directed at government, and while the government wouldn't care to enforce protection for gays it WOULD come down on those who work against its interests or even threaten too loudly to. If they're smart the vigilantes and gay bashers would silently target only those gays who tried to use the legal protection but Ukrainians have a reputation for being too prone to anger while not being that bright (at least that's a Russian prejudice anyway).

First and foremost the European Economic Union was created to get over two world wars that were disastrous, at a time when we needed to created economic stability and peace. First they imagined a kind of economic market that would be open to neighbouring and joining countries. Gradually the market and number of countries in it grew.

Now we all understand that we have a better chance, in this world of shifting economic power, if we stick together according to the rules and standards we've set together. These rules work for us and if they don't we'll either get out of it, or get them changed to fit the majority of countries new agendas. Some of the countries, but not all, have also seen fit to have a common currency. Some countries didn't want to lose their say in matters of finance and minting. Despite the Euro going through turmoil lately, it remains a strong currency (maybe too strong?) After all, the new countries joining have it in their contract to adhere to the common currency. Why would they bother to sign such a contract if they didn't see any good in it for them economically?

Added to that, now, are other, more social pursuits, that aims to make the markets free and the societies democratic. We understand that if we want Europe to mean anything, it now has to aim for a set of ethical standards that don't necessarily have anything to do with the markets, but with ways of treating its citizens equally. By adopting a judicial entity such as the European Court of Justice, the citizens of the EU member countries can take their cases to a court that will bring every country back into line, when this is needed. We should see it as a safeguard for our rights and liberties. However it's well known that freedoms also come with duties.