Belarusian media prudent over gay issues

Belarusian mass media remain too conservative in covering LGBT-related issues, says a recent report by an information group that has conducted a monitoring of the country’s media over the past year.

Belarusian mass media are aware of the existing problems of LGBT discrimination, but are not always willing to cover the issue, the survey says. Journalists tend to make use of “hot facts”, not being conscious of possible aftermath.

According to Aliaksandr Paluyan, representative of the Gay Alliance NGO, reporters writing about gays and lesbians, do sometimes confuse certain notions, e.g. using photos of European gay prides, which have nothing to do with Belarusian events, namely arrests and beating of protesters.

A series of guidelines for journalists is expected to be prepared, to cover the most popular media misunderstandings of LGBT-related issues.