In the mid-1980s when I began working as a journalist, one of the first stories I covered was a police raid on a private flat and the arrest of two young men charged with engaging in sexual relations. Homosexuality was forbidden then, and police could enter even private homes to suppress it. This wasn’t considered a violation of privacy.
Just a few years ago, when politicians were jostling for position in the front rows of Pride marches to showcase their progressive credentials, and when the President had an Accept member as an advisor, such police raids on private spaces would have seemed inconceivable to most citizens. Today, it’s no longer certain.
Last Thursday evening, a 17-year-old boy ended up in hospital after being attacked. According to his report, around midnight, while walking along a street in Nicosia district, he was approached by two individuals who verbally abused him before physically attacking him. Police arrested a 17-year-old and an 18-year-old, and the incident was classified as a homophobic attack. This assault is not an isolated incident. Such attacks have become commonplace, though victims rarely file complaints.
Homophobia is increasingly being normalised. After a long period where people’s freedom regarding their lifestyle seemed to be respected, we are regressing to times of oppression, authoritarianism, racism and violence – all with the blessing of political and church representatives who never miss an opportunity to spread hatred.
On Easter Saturday, we witnessed LGBTQ+ symbols being burned in the traditional bonfire. It wasn’t considered significant – just youthful foolishness, we thought. Like the Nazi salute in a school photograph. Like the initial attacks against delivery drivers. Perhaps not just initially – perhaps even today we feel these things don’t concern us. But all these incidents should concern us deeply.
Most of these events involve young people and teenagers. Through hate speech, tolerance and even encouragement of racism, xenophobia and homophobia, a new generation is emerging that dangerously flirts with fascism. These are our children – some in the role of perpetrator, others as victims.
PS: On the 31st of this month, the Pride march will take place in Nicosia. Already, politicians who proudly attended the first marches have distanced themselves. In Moscow and Hungary, these marches have been banned. In Cyprus, perhaps we still have time to demonstrate that we don’t want to return to the past where police could burst into even our homes.
