Gay CroatiaWelcome to the section on Gay Croatia, which will be updated shorty with some quality contributions. Among the exciting developments is the opening of the first gay travel agency (full details shortly). We will also have various articles appearing here shortly to give you an overview of gay life in Croatia and the facilities on offer - it is an exciting scene!
If you are looking for some gay sailing options, www.gaysail.com is a good start. Some important gay and lesbian websites for Croatia: www.friendlycroatia.com www.globalgayz.com/country/Croatia/view/HRV/gay-croatia www.balkangayguide.com www.zagrebgayguide.com www.lori.hr www.kontra.hr As an initial holding page and introduction, we could do worse than endorse this excellent overview from the Gay.hr Tourist Board. Gay.hr is the national LGBT web-portal in Croatia and it is maintained and operated by Iskorak--the national LGBT rights organisation (Iskorak web site is in Croatian). The guide, which is the most comprehensive and reliable LGBT guide to Croatia on the web, also includes general information about cities and islands, as well as useful links, maps and other important information. The guide is continuously updated. LGBT LifeOver the last decades Croatia has undergone unprecedented progress. Since the fall of Communism in the late 1980s and the struggle for independence and democracy in the early 1990s our life has taken on a new dimension. The gay scene has begun to develop in Zagreb and the society is moving towards liberation in its view of homosexuality. In recent years Croatia has become a popular holiday destination for gays and lesbians around the world. Fascinated by the hospitality of its small but welcoming and friendly gay community, the clean water of the Adriatic as well as the possibility to experience some of the most beautiful scenery to be found on the European continent, they return year after year.
LegislationHomosexuality is legal in Croatia. It was decriminalised in 1977. According to the Croatian Penal Code, the age of consent is 14 for all, irrespective of sexual orientation. Since 2003 homosexual relationships are recognised in the Law of Samesex Relationships. According to this law, partners in a samesex relationship have the right to maintenance and inheritance. Discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender is forbidden in the Labour Legislation as well as in the Law of Science and Higher Studies. According to this law it is forbidden to discriminate against homosexuals applying for higher studies at universities. According to the Croatian Penal Code, it is also forbidden to produce, sell, import/export or by Internet propagate homophobic material to the wider public. People who do so can be sentenced up to a year in prison. It is also forbidden to present homosexuals and homosexuality in media in a degrading or discriminatory way. The LGBT MovementThere are three organisations working for LGBT rights in Croatia; Iskorak [Coming Out] - the national gay and lesbian rights organisation, is the largest LGBT organisation in Croatia and gathers people of all sexual orientations. Iskorak also has a local branch in Osijek city. The head-office is located in Zagreb. Kontra is a lesbian organisation in Zagreb and LORI is another local lesbian organisation situated in Rijeka city. SocietyCroatia has undergone great changes since the 1990's and the life of homosexuals has been steadily improving since 2000. Still, as a result of homophobia, a great number of homosexuals choose not to be open about their sexuality. But in recent years homosexuals have become more visible in the media. Debates with participation from LGBT organisations have been held on national television. Both newspapers and television programmes have focused on gay issues by interviewing gays and lesbians and highlighting annual events such as the Queer Zagreb festival and Zagreb Pride. Many important politicians and political parties have officially supported the struggle for an equal society. Even though LGBT organisations are trying to promote gay and lesbian rights by informing and educating a large number of the public, many still consider homosexuality to be an illness. In general, homosexuality is tolerated as long as it's not obvious. People in bigger cities [Zagreb, Rijeka, Osijek] have more open-minded attitude towards homosexuality while people in rural areas often view it negatively. The LGBT SceneThere are not many official LGBT venues in Croatia. Global Club in Zagreb is the only danceclub for homosexuals in the country. Except for Global Club and some saunas in Zagreb most places in Croatia are unofficial meeting-places. LGBT people in Croatia generally meet each other outdoors in public places, which are known to be gay friendly but don't specifically count as being gay. If you're visiting Croatia during summer you'll have the best chance to meet LGBT people by visiting some of the beaches mentioned in our guide or by contacting some of the LGBT organisations. In public places homosexuals tend to act "straight" and therefore hard to "detect" while they're much more relaxed on the gay-friendly beaches. Another way to make new friends is through the Internet Attitudes towards the LGBT population in CroatiaIt is a difficult task to advocate for LGBT rights as human rights in a society which has recently experienced the change from a totalitarian to a democratic regime and was recently involved in a military conflict. Legacy of nationalism, fundamentalism in religion beliefs, militarism and machoism plays an important role inside the Croatian society. Such a legacy strongly contributes to the presence of hetero-normativity of the Croatian society, which assumes heterosexual behaviour as the one and only correct sexual behaviour. The Croatian Peasant Party is against the legalisation of 'unnatural' behaviour of the gay Croatian citizens. "Human sexuality may be naturally achieved only through relations with the opposite sex." claimed parliament member [MP] Ljubica Lalic during the parliament discussion on the Law on same sex civil union . Ljubica Lalic was not alone in her attitudes. "The heterosexual family is the basis of the society … Same sex unions may ask only for a minimum of tolerance," stated Ivic Pasalic, president of the right wing parliament party Croatian Block in his interview to the Croatian weekly magazine Fokus. Another MP from the Croatian Christian Democratic Party, Anto Kovacevic, claimed, "we should build a healing centre on Goli otok [Naked island - the name of the island in the Adriatic sea which, during the communist period, was a cruel prison for political prisoners] to heal those unhappy people." It was a big challenge for the two Croatian non-governmental organisations Iskorak [Coming Out] Group and Lesbian group Kontra to enter the Croatian public and political space and start to advocate LGBT rights and especially the recognition of same sex unions. LGBT EventsIskorak and Kontra organize the annual Zagreb Pride, which starts with the Pride Week and ends with the annual Zagreb Pride March through the streets of Zagreb on the last Saturday in June. Zagreb Pride is a political manifestation as well as a cultural event. During the Pride Week visitors can participate in discussions, forums and workshops as well as enjoying exhibitions, film evenings and parties. Zagreb Pride has been organised since year 2001. The Queer Zagreb festival is an April cultural festival which celebrates queer identities through art, theory and activism. The festival, which is the largest festival of this type in East and Central Europe, has been organised since year 2003. Both festivals [Queer Zagreb and Zagreb Pride] attract local people as well as LGBT people from all around the globe. On December 1, the World AIDS day, different activities are organised by the LGBT organisations in Zagreb, Rijeka and Osijek. Local parties and other events are regularly organised during the year by different organisations and branches. Recent Progress Summer 1997A new organisation was founded called "Kontra". On the initiative of "Kontra" a lesbian switchboard called "SOS lesbian line" was opened. The SOS line, which is still working, provides with information and support for lesbians. Since 1997 promotional material has urged lesbians to participate in the fight against homophobia.Parliament Building January 1, 1998A new Penal Code, which equalised the age of consent for both hetero and homosexuals, was adopted by the Croatian parliament [Sabor]. The age of consent was set at 14 for all, irrespective of sexual preferences [Art. 192, 193 PC]. The idea to change the Penal Code came from university circles and was adopted during the rule of the conservative party Croatian Democratic Union [HDZ]8 August 2003 July 2003New legislation now provides gay partners the same legal rights as their unmarried straight counterparts. It is a move that has been hailed as the first step to full recognition in the country. The legislation gives same sex partners of at least three years the same rights as unmarried cohabiting opposite sex partners, including the right to legal regulation of property and mutual responsibility for financial support.
Help build a great gay and lesbian resource for Croatia!Do you have a great tip of a gay venue? Found a great gay beach? We would love to hear about your gay and lesbian experiences - good and bad - in order to provide the best info for gay and lesbian visitors in the future. What Other Visitors Have SaidClick below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...
Tom Allen - Funny gay stand up comedian in Zagreb!
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