Electronic magazine gay.gr, A world without discrimination is better for everyone

magazine \| interviews
Monday, May 10, 2004
A world without discrimination is better for everyone. *Question:* Mrs. Karamanou, you have fought a great battle for women’s rights and had the rare courage to challenge the ban on Mount Athos, an unacceptable discriminatory behavior against the female gender. What chances do you think your effort has? Answer: Indeed, at the center of my interest has always been the fight against discrimination not only against women but also against any citizen who, in one way or another, suffers discrimination due to their gender, race, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, or others. In recent years, it is true that significant progress has been made in improving the position of women in all areas of economic, social, and political life in Europe and Greece. The ban on Mount Athos is one of the remaining remnants of patriarchy that links women to sin, so that their access to fundamental rights can be excluded, in this case, access to cultural heritage, under the pretext of maintaining tradition. I believe the success of this effort is simply a matter of time. It is becoming increasingly clear that the vague invocation of “tradition” as an excuse for exclusions and discrimination has no place in modern democracies. The messages I receive are extremely encouraging. There are citizens who are joining the effort, and I believe their numbers will grow over time. However, regardless of this, the demand for the lifting of the ban cannot be influenced by the chances of success or failure of the effort. Discrimination must be condemned with the same vigor, whether it is shared by the majority or not. *Question:* The defense of human rights in general, and the rights of gays and lesbians in particular, seems to be a family value of yours, as your former husband and PASOK MP, Petros Valvis, along with Melina Mercouri and Theodoros Pangalos, were the only MPs who supported the trial of AMFI in the 1980s. How did you develop this sensitivity? Answer: Women experience oppression and discrimination based on gender from a young age. It is logical that when a teacher excludes the best student from being the flag bearer and gives the flag to a boy, a sense of injustice arises and questions emerge about the basis of such behavior. So, when you have experienced exclusion based on gender, you begin the process of investigating its causes and end up realizing how unfair and irrational prejudices, judgments, and exclusions based on gender, religion, origin, or sexual preference really are. I believe that a world without discrimination is better for everyone, and I am happy to see that this view is gaining more and more supporters. *Question:* Two months ago, you submitted extensive memoranda to the Minister of Labour, the Minister of Education, and the Ministers of Justice and the Interior, urging them to take measures for the protection of the rights of gays, lesbians, and transgender people. Did you receive any response? Answer: There was no response, which may be attributed to the pre-election period and the change of leadership in the Ministries. I recently sent the memorandum to the new Ministers and I hope that a response will come soon. *Question:* In the European Parliament, you and your colleagues in the Socialist Group have supported the rights of gays. Do you think that if there is a conservative shift in the upcoming elections, the rights of gays and lesbians will again fall to the bottom of the agenda? Answer: It is true that there is a significant divergence between the Socialist Group and the European People’s Party on issues of discrimination, particularly regarding homosexuals. I believe that if the Socialist Party had held the majority in the European Parliament during the past five years, there would have been an opportunity for the development of even more innovative proposals and initiatives on the issue. I hope that the upcoming European elections will result in victories for the Socialists both at the European level and in our country, so that the progressive current can be strengthened and a greater conservative shift can be avoided. Anna Karamanou – MEP, PASOK President of the Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Committee of the European Parliament www.karamanou.gr

magazine | interviews

Monday, May 10, 2004

A world without discrimination is better for everyone.

Question: Mrs. Karamanou, you have fought a great battle for women’s rights and had the rare courage to challenge the ban on Mount Athos, an unacceptable discriminatory behavior against the female gender. What chances do you think your effort has?

Answer: Indeed, at the center of my interest has always been the fight against discrimination not only against women but also against any citizen who, in one way or another, suffers discrimination due to their gender, race, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, or others. In recent years, it is true that significant progress has been made in improving the position of women in all areas of economic, social, and political life in Europe and Greece. The ban on Mount Athos is one of the remaining remnants of patriarchy that links women to sin, so that their access to fundamental rights can be excluded, in this case, access to cultural heritage, under the pretext of maintaining tradition. I believe the success of this effort is simply a matter of time. It is becoming increasingly clear that the vague invocation of “tradition” as an excuse for exclusions and discrimination has no place in modern democracies. The messages I receive are extremely encouraging. There are citizens who are joining the effort, and I believe their numbers will grow over time. However, regardless of this, the demand for the lifting of the ban cannot be influenced by the chances of success or failure of the effort. Discrimination must be condemned with the same vigor, whether it is shared by the majority or not.
Question: The defense of human rights in general, and the rights of gays and lesbians in particular, seems to be a family value of yours, as your former husband and PASOK MP, Petros Valvis, along with Melina Mercouri and Theodoros Pangalos, were the only MPs who supported the trial of AMFI in the 1980s. How did you develop this sensitivity? Answer: Women experience oppression and discrimination based on gender from a young age. It is logical that when a teacher excludes the best student from being the flag bearer and gives the flag to a boy, a sense of injustice arises and questions emerge about the basis of such behavior. So, when you have experienced exclusion based on gender, you begin the process of investigating its causes and end up realizing how unfair and irrational prejudices, judgments, and exclusions based on gender, religion, origin, or sexual preference really are. I believe that a world without discrimination is better for everyone, and I am happy to see that this view is gaining more and more supporters.
Question: Two months ago, you submitted extensive memoranda to the Minister of Labour, the Minister of Education, and the Ministers of Justice and the Interior, urging them to take measures for the protection of the rights of gays, lesbians, and transgender people. Did you receive any response?
Answer: There was no response, which may be attributed to the pre-election period and the change of leadership in the Ministries. I recently sent the memorandum to the new Ministers and I hope that a response will come soon.
Question: In the European Parliament, you and your colleagues in the Socialist Group have supported the rights of gays. Do you think that if there is a conservative shift in the upcoming elections, the rights of gays and lesbians will again fall to the bottom of the agenda?
Answer: It is true that there is a significant divergence between the Socialist Group and the European People’s Party on issues of discrimination, particularly regarding homosexuals. I believe that if the Socialist Party had held the majority in the European Parliament during the past five years, there would have been an opportunity for the development of even more innovative proposals and initiatives on the issue. I hope that the upcoming European elections will result in victories for the Socialists both at the European level and in our country, so that the progressive current can be strengthened and a greater conservative shift can be avoided.

Anna Karamanou – MEP, PASOK
President of the Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Committee of the European Parliament

www.karamanou.gr