By Chinara Nurmammadova
Georgian football player Guram Kashia who plays in Netherlands football league wore rainbow-coloured captain’s armband which symbolizes LGBT community. It is reacted with aggressive attitude by Georgian media as they claimed Guram to resign from the national team. On the other hand, the LGBT community is satisfied with his behaviour and emphasizes that it will enhance the positive opinions about them in society.
Tornike, 22, often visits gay-bar to have a fun. He is happy for the support to gays as they are not welcomed by society:
“I liked Guram Kashia’s behaviour and support to us. His tolerance and solidarity with LGBT impressed me, so I think it will have a positive impact on the issue and a lot of Georgian people will think of it”.
Davud, 19, is LGBT member and highly appreciated Kashia’s action. But he does not plan to support the footballer:
“There is nothing special. He just supported us – LGBT community. It causes outrage in Georgia because our people think that it is bad for our nation as we light nudeness. It is very conservative environment. I think it will affect society in a good way. So many footballers in Georgia all day talk about supporting LGBT. This is a really good step for us from Guram Kashia. But we will not do anything for supporting him”.
Otto, 25, is a barman assumes that the education level can lead the issue to positive side: “It is the problem of education. It will have a good impact on society. They do not know why they are not a supporter of us”.
“Most of the people hate gays because they think it is against Christianity and they if they let the LGBT people do anything they want without any pressure they will influence their children and their children will become gay” cited Dmitri (19):
“People are very angry to Guram because he represents Georgia, he is Georgian. He also plays in Georgia’s national football team. He is a public figure and when public figures stand up for human rights it will influence other people. But they cannot do anything in reality. I am not gay. I am a DJ but I am a friend of LGBT people and strongly support them. When people know that I play in a gay bar they act aggressively to me too. I do not take about it”.
Sophia, 24, found the protest to Guram Kashia pointless:
“Football is a mannish sport. I am lesbian but I am not a member of LGBT. When people take such a step, they usually face this kind of protest. Despite the changes over the last years, 90% of Georgian people are homophobic. I think the reaction of society is primitive. However, ongoing procedures and support of some people and organization will contribute to the change of minds”.
Archilin, 22, thinks that it is not necessary to be gay in order to support them:
“Average level of education is very low in Georgia. They do not understand the meaning of humanity. The most important point is that Guram Kashia is not gay. He is a supporter. It is hard to change the Georgian’s opinions. But of course, Guram’s attitude will affect young. They understand that to hurt people is meaningless and tolerance is an important point.
In Georgia, only one in ten people accept homosexuality as a normal state. 10 years later people’s opinions will change not only about the LGBT but also about a lot of things. I am disappointed with another problem. There are a lot of people who come to gay-bar and spend their time with gays every night, but they keep it confident and outside obey the rules of “manhood”.
GIPA Media School 