Mayor Matei defers Pride approval to city council

Author: Aṕora Beliḱë 

Tamara - Mat́rona Matei (SD), the mayor of Agausia's capital city Tamara, is facing criticism for deferring the questions regarding the approval of a Pride event scheduled for the seventeenth of this month. Pride organizers submitted their request back in March of this year, but the mayor's office has remained silent on the reasons for the prolonged decision-making process. This delay has raised concerns and led to accusations that the mayor's office is intentionally stalling to discourage attendees and hinder event preparations.

The Agausian government has a controversial history when it comes to LGBTQ+ rights and events. In 2007, a Pride event witnessed a clash between anti-LGBTQ+ protesters and attendees, which resulted in heightened tensions and an increase in crimes against the LGBTQ+ community the following year. Tragically, Eǵar Zurabâni, an Agausian actor and same-sex marriage activist, lost his life during the clash at the hands of police. Since then, Zurabâni has become a symbol of the LGBTQ+ movement in Agausia, and his death serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by the community in the small socially conservative country.

Given this background, Pride events have faced significant scrutiny and obstacles in Agausia. Pride celebrations were approved only a handful of times in the country's history, specifically in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2011, and 2015. However, since Mayor Matei assumed office in 2016, her administration has consistently declined to grant approval for Pride events in Tamara, citing security concerns.

Critics argue that the mayor's office's extended delay in responding to the organizers' request is a deliberate attempt to discourage attendees and limit the time available for event setup and promotion. The Pride organizers have been left in a state of uncertainty and are urging the city council to take immediate action on the matter.

As a result, the 22-member city council will now be forced to table an urgent vote on the approval of the Pride event. The exact date of the vote remains unknown, but it is expected to occur this week if organizers have any hope of proceeding with their plans. The decision of the city council will be crucial in determining whether the LGBTQ+ community in Agausia will be granted the opportunity to express their identity and celebrate their rights openly.

As the controversy surrounding the delayed decision continues to unfold, citizens and activists are advocating for equal rights and emphasizing the importance of fostering an environment of acceptance and inclusion for all members of society.

 

(Agausian Translation) 

Mat́rona Matei (SD), Agûzis dedakalak Tamaras meri, ḱrit́iḱis tsënaše ǵas am tvis mečvidmet́estvis dagegmili ṕraidis ǵonisžëbis damt́ḱitsëbis šesakeb ḱitkvebis gadadebis gamo. Ṕraidis organizat́orebma motkovna žer ḱidev mimdinare tsëlis martsëâ šeit́anes, tumtsëâ gadatsëḱvet́ilebis gačânurebis mizezebze merâ dumils agrželebs. Am šeperkebam gamoitsëvâ šešpoteba da gamoitsëvâ braldebebi, rom merâ mizanmimartulad ačerebs damstsërëbis datrgunvas da ǵonisžëbis momzadebas.

Agûsës mtavrobas akvs saḱamato ist́orâ, rodesatsëâ sakme ekeba LGBTQ+ ûplebebsa da movlenebs. 2007 tsëls, ṕraidis ǵonisžëbaze mokda šet́aḱeba ant́i LGBTQ+ momit́ingëbsa da damstsërëbs šoris, ramatsëâ gamoitsëvâ dažabuloba da gaizarda LGBTQ+ temis tsënaaǵmdeg današa momdevno tsëls. T́ragiḱulad, Agûsëli msakiobi da ertsëkesânta kortsënebis akt́ivist́i Eǵar Zurabâni daiǵuṕa ṕolitsës kelši šet́aḱebis dros. Mas šemdeg Zurabâni Agûzâši LGBTQ+ možraobis simbolod iktsëâ da misi gardatsëvaleba šeaksenebs im gamotsëvevebs, romelta tsënašetsëâ sazogadoeba ǵas ṕat́ara sotsëalurad ḱonservat́iul kveḱanaši.

Am ponis gatvalistsënebit, ṕraidis movlenebma agûzâši mnišvnelovani šestsëavla da dabrḱolebebi ganitsëada. Ṕraidis zeimi kveḱnis ist́orâši mkolod ramdenimežer ikna damt́ḱitsëbé, ḱonḱret́ulad 2005, 2006, 2007, 2011 da 2015 tsëlebši. Tumtsëâ, mas šemdeg ratsëâ meri Matei 2016 tsëls daiḱava tanamdeboba, misi administ́ratsëâ gamudmebit ûars ambobda Tamaraši ṕraidis ǵonisžëbebis damt́ḱitsëebaze. Ûsaprtkoebis saḱitkebze daḱrdnobit.

Ḱrit́iḱosebi amt́ḱitsëben, rom merës mër organizat́orebis motkovnaze ṕasukis gakangržlivebé šeperkeba aris mizanmimarté mtsëdeloba damstsërëbis datrgunvisa da ǵonisžëbis motsëḱobisa da ṕoṕularizatsëstvis kelmisatsëvdomi drois šezǵudvis miznit. Ṕraidis organizat́orebi gûrḱvevel mǵomareobaši arân da mótsëdeben regionul sabčos gadûdebeli zomebis miǵebas.

Šedegad, 84-ḱatsëani regionaluri sabčo akla ižulebé ikneba, sastsërapod čaat́aros ḱenčisḱra ṕraidis ǵonisžëbis damt́ḱitsëbis šesakeb. Ḱenčisḱris zust́i tariǵi ûtsënobâ, magram savarûdod, is am ḱviraši gaimarteba, tu organizat́orebs eknebat raime imedi, gaagrželeben tavânt gegmebs. Raioné sabčos gadatsëḱvet́ileba gadamtsëḱvet́i ikneba imis dasaǵenad, mëničeba tu ara Agûzâši LGBTQ+ tems saḱutari ident́obis gamokhat́visa da saḱutari ûplebebis ǵâd aǵnišvnis šesažlebloba.

Imis gamo, rom dagvânebé gadatsëḱvet́ilebis irgvliv daṕirisṕireba grželdeba, mokalakëbi da akt́ivist́ebi mkars ûčeren tanabar ûplebebs da kazs ûsvamen sazogadoebis ḱvela tsëvris miǵebisa da inḱluzës garemos kelšetsëḱobis mnišvnelobas.