Date: Fri, 18 Nov 1994 23:56:00 +0100
From: JULIE.MERTUS@ZAMIR-BG.ztn.zer.de (Julie Mertus)



                On Wednesday, November 16th, Arkadia's lesbian activist Lepa
        Mladjenovic, appeared on the local TV show called "Nus pojave"
        ("Incidentals"). That was the first time in Serbian history that
        an official representative of a lesbian and gay group took
        part in a public TV show. Another guest of the show was Wendy
        Eastwood, British lesbian feminist, presently living in Novi Sad
        (Vojvodina-Serbia).

                The main subject was lesbians and feminism in Serbia,
        although the discusion also included issues of diferences between
        gays and lesbians in general, lesbian subculture and marriage
        and family.

                Wendy Eastwood pointed out that through active Gay and
        Lesbian support of other minorities and opressed peoples in
        Britain, there is sometimes active support and sympathy from
        these people against British homophobic laws. She also
        explained that discrimination against lesbians doesn't exist
        only because of their sexuality, but also because of
        their gender role in society.

                "Arkadija is against any kind of discrimination. We are
        suffering enormous discrimination from our society, and
        therefore we feel that we are obligated to support all of those
        who are in the same or similar position", Lepa Mladjenovic
        explained one of the main principles of Arkadia's policy.

                The show lasted for more than hour, and it was shown in
        the prime time on the Art Channell.
                So far, the reaction to the show has been positive.
        Several viewers commented that Ms. Mladjenovic and Ms. Eastwood
        were pleasant and "perfectly O.K."  "At least they liked us,"
        Ms. Mladjenovic remarked after the show, "We tried to present a
        positive image of lesbians and I think we succeeded."

                Just one more step towards visibility of Yugoslav
        lesbians!

                                Jelica Todosijevic for Arkadija
                                    Belgrade - Yugoslavia


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