Homosexuals in Croatia have decided enough is enough and that it is time for their country to face and accept who they are. In spite of ongoing intolerance, about 1,200 of the nation’s gay men and lesbians have taken a stand against their country’s homophobic attitudes. They have openly called for greater acceptance and tolerance by publishing their names in an advertisement that was placed in three leading newspapers and several magazines. Next to each name was an initial denoting their sexual orientation – whether they are gay, lesbian, transsexual or transvestite. A poignant message alongside the list read:  “I don’t want to hide any more. Little divides us and a lot unites us. Reconsider your prejudice.”

Homosexuals face severe discrimination in Croatia, where the influence of the Catholic Church is very strong. The Church considers homosexuality a sin and has labeled it as a “handicap” or “perversion”. Many gays and lesbians have been the target of hate crimes, which often spills over to affect the families of known homosexuals. Such is the prejudice, the signatories did not risk putting their surnames in the newspapers for fear of persecution. Dorino Manzin, head of a leading Croatian gay group, told the BBC News: “Even though it's just a symbolic coming out, without full names, this is a good reflection that gays in Croatia are gathering courage to fully expose themselves and that society is growing more tolerant.”

WARM-UPS

1. SEX CHANGE: Is it better to be a man or a woman in your country? Imagine you are now a member of the opposite sex. Ask your “changed sex” partner(s) what it is like to be different. Ask them questions about life as a man or woman (favorite perfume, hobbies, what kind of dates they like, etc.).

2. HOMOPHOBIA: Are you homophobic? In pairs / groups, talk about how you would feel if the following people were openly gay:

Your English teacher Your boss Your swimming teacher Your best friend

Your neighbor Your doctor Your roommate on a camping trip Your child

3. CHAT: In pairs / groups, decide which of these topics or words are most interesting and which are most boring.

Homosexuals / Croatia / enough is enough / intolerance / homophobia / transsexuals / transvestites / prejudice / Catholic Church / hate crimes / coming out

Have a chat about the topics you liked. For more conversation, change topics and partners frequently.

4. GAY: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word “gay”. Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

5. OPINIONS: In pairs / groups, talk about what you think of these opinions towards homosexuality:

1. It’s a sin. It says so in the Bible.
2. Homosexuals are normal people – the same as heterosexuals.
3. Society should be tolerant so homosexuals can “come out” and live freely.
4. Homosexuals should have the same rights as everyone else.
5. I don’t want to talk about homosexuality. It makes me feel bad.
6. I don’t understand why there is a negative image to the word “homosexual”.
7. Let them kiss and hold hands in the streets. It’s a free world.
8. Homophobia is the real illness.
9. The world should thank homosexuals for encouraging tolerance.
10. Your opinion __________________________________________________.

6. WORDS: Talk with your partner(s) about the meaning of the following words:

gay      lesbian     straight     homosexual     queer     transvestite     bisexual     transsexual     come out of the closet     gay parade     homophobia     gay bashing

BEFORE READING / LISTENING

1. TRUE / FALSE: Look at the article’s headline and guess whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F):

a.	Gays in Croatia have decided it’s time their country accepted them.	T / F
b.	1,200 gays stood outside Croatia’s parliament for 24 hours.	T / F
c.	1,200 gays wrote letters calling for greater acceptance by society.	T / F
d.	1,200 gays asked Croatians to reconsider their prejudices.	T / F
e.	The Catholic Church accepts homosexuality.	T / F
f.	Many Croatian gays and lesbians have been the target of hate crimes.	T / F
g.	The homosexuals put their surnames and addresses in the newspaper.	T / F
h.	Croatia’s gays are gathering courage to come out of the closet.	T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article:

a.	face	indicating
b.	ongoing	token
c.	denoting	chauvinism
d.	poignant	abnormality
e.	prejudice	moving
f.	handicap	continued
g.	perversion	victimization
h.	persecution	unmask
i.	symbolic	confront
j.	expose	disability

3. PHRASE MATCH: Match the following phrases from the article (sometimes more than one combination is possible):

a.	enough is	orientation
b.	lesbians have taken a stand	your prejudice
c.	openly	the Catholic Church is very strong
d.	sexual	called for greater acceptance
e.	Reconsider	of persecution
f.	the influence of	enough
g.	the target of	courage
h.	for fear	out
i.	it's just a symbolic coming	against their country’s homophobic attitudes
j.	gays in Croatia are gathering	hate crimes

AFTER READING / LISTENING

GAP FILL: Put the words in the column on the right into the gaps in the text.

Croatian homosexuals make a stand

Homosexuals in Croatia have decided ________ is enough and that it is time for their country to ________ and accept who they are. In spite of ongoing intolerance, about 1,200 of the nation’s gay men and lesbians have taken a ________ against their country’s homophobic attitudes. They have ________ called for greater acceptance and tolerance by publishing their names in an advertisement that was placed in three leading newspapers and several magazines. Next to each name was an ________ denoting their sexual ________ – whether they are gay, lesbian, transsexual or transvestite. A ________ message alongside the list read:  “I don’t want to hide any more. Little divides us and a lot ________ us. Reconsider your prejudice.”		poignant openly face initial unites enough orientation stand
Homosexuals face ________ discrimination in Croatia, where the ________ of the Catholic Church is very strong. The Church considers homosexuality a sin and has labeled it as a “handicap” or “________”. Many gays and lesbians have been the target of ________ crimes, which often ________ over to affect the families of known homosexuals. Such is the prejudice, the ________ did not risk putting their surnames in the newspapers for fear of persecution. Dorino Manzin, head of a leading Croatian gay group, told the BBC News: “Even though it's just a symbolic ________ out, without full names, this is a good reflection that gays in Croatia are gathering courage to ________ expose themselves and that society is growing more tolerant.”		fully perversion signatories influence hate severe coming spills

AFTER READING / LISTENING

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionaries / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words ‘gay’ and ‘group’.

• Share your findings with your partners.
• Make questions using the words you found.
• Ask your partner / group your questions.

2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

• Share your questions with other classmates / groups.
• Ask your partner / group your questions.

3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the gap fill. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

5. STUDENT “GAY” SURVEY: In pairs / groups, write down questions about homosexuality.

• Ask other classmates your questions and note down their answers.
• Go back to your original partner / group and compare your findings.
• Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

6. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall exactly how these were used in the text:

enough spite stand openly initial little

severe labeled spills signatories symbolic fully

DISCUSSION

STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

1. Did the headline make you want to read the article?
2. Do you think putting names in the newspapers will make Croatia more tolerant towards homosexuals?
3. Do you have any gay family and friends?
4. What do you think of homosexuality?
5. Why do you think the Catholic Church says homosexuality is a sin?
6. Do you think it’s fair that homosexuals have to hide?
7. Do you think homophobia should become a crime?
8. What do you think of same sex couples getting married and adopting children?
9. Do you think it’s OK for homosexuals to kiss and hug in public?
10. What do you think of transvestites and transsexuals?

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

1. Did you like reading this article?
2. What do you think about what you read?
3. What would you think if your son or daughter told you he/she was homosexual?
4. What would you do if a homosexual person asked you for a date?
5. What do you think of the words “homosexual”, “lesbian” and “gay”?
6. What is the attitude towards homosexuality in your country?
7. Do you have different opinions on male and female homosexuality?
8. Perhaps 10 percent of people are homosexual. What do you think about this?
9. Would you vote for a homosexual to be the leader of your country?
10. Did you like this discussion?

AFTER DISCUSSION: Join another partner / group and tell them what you talked about.

1. What question would you like to ask about this topic?
2. What was the most interesting thing you heard?
3. Was there a question you didn’t like?
4. Was there something you totally disagreed with?
5. What did you like talking about?
6. Do you want to know how anyone else answered the questions?
7. Which was the most difficult question?

SPEAKING

HOMOPHOBIC ROLE PLAY: Should every form of homophobia be treated as a crime?
Team up with classmates who have been assigned the same role to develop your roles and discuss ideas and “strategies” before the role play begins. Introduce yourself to the other role players.

Role A – CATHOLIC CHURCH LEADER Homosexuality is a sin. That is God’s word. You strongly believe homosexuals should confess to God and ask for forgiveness for their sins. You welcome homosexuals promising to follow a heterosexual, normal life. You believe homophobia cannot exist because homosexuality is a sin. THINK OF REASONS WHY HOMOPHOBIA IS NOT A CRIME.

Role B – A CLOSET HOMOSEXUAL You do not understand the world. You are a totally normal person wanting to live a normal life. You and your same sex partner must hide in fear. You cannot do the “normal” things other couples do. People calling you names has made your life miserable. THINK OF REASONS WHY HOMOPHOBIA SHOULD BE A SERIOUS CRIME.

Role C – A GAY RIGHTS ACTIVIST You are furious that in the 21st century there is still prejudice against gays. Religious leaders teach tolerance but have none towards homosexuals. There are many gay priests. This is hypocritical. Society cannot stand by and accept discrimination against and persecution of gays. THINK OF REASONS WHY HOMOPHOBIA IS A SERIOUS CRIME.

Role D – A HOMOPHOBE You think homosexuals are unnatural and dangerous. You disagree with the idea that people can have sex changes, can get married and even have children. You think this will lead to the breakdown of the whole of society. Everyone should be normal – like you. THINK OF MORE REASONS WHY HOMOSEXUALITY IS “WRONG”.

Change roles and repeat the role play. Comment in groups about the differences between the two role plays.

Decide what can be done to increase society’s tolerance for and acceptance of homosexuality.

LISTENING

Listen and fill in the spaces.

Croatian homosexuals make a stand

Homosexuals in Croatia have decided ________ ___ _________ and that it is time for their country to face and accept who they are. In _______ of ongoing intolerance, about 1,200 of the nation’s gay men and lesbians have taken a stand against their country’s ______________ attitudes. They have openly called for greater acceptance and tolerance by publishing their names in an advertisement that was ________ in three leading newspapers and several magazines. Next to each name was an ________ ____________ their sexual orientation – whether they are gay, lesbian, transsexual or _____________. A __________ message alongside the list read:  “I don’t want to hide any more. Little divides us and a lot unites us. Reconsider your __________.”

Homosexuals face __________ discrimination in Croatia, where the influence of the Catholic Church is very strong. The Church considers homosexuality a sin and has __________ it as a “handicap” or “__________”. Many gays and lesbians have been the target of hate crimes, which often ______ ____ to affect the families of known homosexuals. Such is the prejudice, the signatories did not risk putting their surnames in the newspapers for fear of _____________. Dorino Manzin, head of a leading Croatian gay group, told the BBC News: “Even though it's just a symbolic __________ _____, without full names, this is a good reflection that gays in Croatia are gathering courage to fully expose themselves and that society is growing more __________.”

HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find more information on gay rights. Visit the Human Rights Campaign site (http://www.hrc.org/), which works for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equal rights. Share your findings with your class in the next lesson.

3. TAKING A STAND: Have you ever stood up for your rights or stood up to someone who was trying to take away your rights. Write a story about a time this happened. Read your stories to your classmates in your next lesson. Did you all have similar experiences?

4. LETTER: Write a letter to the organizer of the group that put the ads in the Croatian newspapers. Tell him / her what you think of the brave actions of people having the courage to stand up for themselves. Give them suggestions of other things they can do to make society more accepting. Show your letters to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all write about similar things?

ANSWERS

TRUE / FALSE:

a. T

b. F

c. F

d. T

e. F

f. T

g. F

h. T

SYNONYM MATCH:
 

a.	face	confront
b.	ongoing	continued
c.	denoting	indicating
d.	poignant	moving
e.	prejudice	chauvinism
f.	handicap	disability
g.	perversion	abnormality
h.	persecution	victimization
i.	symbolic	token
j.	expose	unmask

PHRASE MATCH:

a.	enough is	enough
b.	lesbians have taken a stand	against their country’s homophobic attitudes
c.	openly	called for greater acceptance
d.	sexual	orientation
e.	Reconsider	your prejudice
f.	the influence of	the Catholic Church is very strong
g.	the target of	hate crimes
h.	for fear	of persecution
i.	it's just a symbolic coming	out
j.	gays in Croatia are gathering	courage

GAP FILL:

Croatian homosexuals make a stand

Homosexuals in Croatia have decided enough is enough and that it is time for their country to face and accept who they are. In spite of ongoing intolerance, about 1,200 of the nation’s gay men and lesbians have taken a stand against their country’s homophobic attitudes. They have openly called for greater acceptance and tolerance by publishing their names in an advertisement that was placed in three leading newspapers and several magazines. Next to each name was an initial denoting their sexual orientation – whether they are gay, lesbian, transsexual or transvestite. A poignant message alongside the list read:  “I don’t want to hide any more. Little divides us and a lot unites us. Reconsider your prejudice.”

Homosexuals face severe discrimination in Croatia, where the influence of the Catholic Church is very strong. The Church considers homosexuality a sin and has labeled it as a “handicap” or “perversion”. Many gays and lesbians have been the target of hate crimes, which often spills over to affect the families of known homosexuals. Such is the prejudice, the signatories did not risk putting their surnames in the newspapers for fear of persecution. Dorino Manzin, head of a leading Croatian gay group, told the BBC News: “Even though it's just a symbolic coming out, without full names, this is a good reflection that gays in Croatia are gathering courage to fully expose themselves and that society is growing more tolerant.”

TOP