Although the LGBT community is exposed to online hate speech in Bosnia, direct communication with people is actually pleasant, the US Ambassador to Bosnia, Eric Nelson, and his partner, Filippo Tattoni-Marcozzi, told N1 on Monday.
“We were both aware that we are coming to a traditional country. We were aware that this could be an issue in the beginning,” Tattoni-Marcozzi said.
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“I have to say, it was a bit discouraging and painful to see the harsh comments and messages of hate on the internet. I was shaken. It was the first time that I have faced such heinous comments from people I didn't even know,” he said.
“After a few months, I was unbelievably surprised by the warm welcome which we both received,” he added.
Tattoni-Marcozzi said that regular people who do not know him and are not members of the LGBT community react to the hate speech online as well.
“They see the message and they respond. They ask ‘what did this man do to you? Why are you full of hate?’” he said.
Nelson stressed the importance of same-sex couples being visible in society.
“It is important for me to be authentic. Filippo is my family, he travels with me – I can not hide that nor am I interested in doing so,” the ambassador said.
“Visibility is important for any minority, especially for the LGBT community here which is lagging decades behind the position the US community is in,” he added.
He said that he was treated with respect in Bosnia.“At meetings here, with conservative politicians as well – they treat us with respect,” he said.
However, he added that this would likely be not the case if he was just a citizen.
“They have to meet with us, to cooperate with the US. They behave in the best way possible, regardless of their personal belief. Unfortunately, they don’t do that with the average citizen,” he argued, but added that this is “not only characteristic for this country.”
Nelson also spoke about Bosnia’s first Pride Parade, which took place on September 8 in the capital.
“Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, was the last country in Europe to host the Pride Parade. It was the best first Pride regarding attendance and security,” Nelson said, adding that it was an “unbelievable weekend” and that the LGBT “showed courage” in organising it.
“They had support from embassies. We said we will be there and attend,” he said, arguing that a lot of locals understood the event as a challenge and a way to prove that it could be done peacefully and calling it “a significant success for the LGBT community and Sarajevo’s citizens.”
He also spoke about the legalisation of same-sex marriage.
“When you look at the US, this has started happening in the past few years,” he said, adding that “it was a long road.”
“I think that Bosnia and Herzegovina is at the beginning of that road. The visibility of this community is the first step. They are even afraid to tell their family members – as tradition is strong. It will take years, but this is the future of Bosnia and Herzegovina, that everyone enjoys equal rights,” Nelson said.
