Lithuanian Leader Tackles Ten Walls’ Gay Hate Crisis
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Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskait? has suggested the international outrage which followed Ten Walls’ viciously homophobic Facebook rant could reduce bigotry in Lithuania, in an interview this week with Vilnius journalists.
Ten Walls (aka Mario Basanov aka Marijus Adomaitis) provoked a firestorm of rage on Twitter and Facebook followed by almost immediate worldwide gig cancellations, after branding all gay people as pedophiles (alongside a thinly veiled threat ‘everyone knows it but does nothing’).
“I remember producing music for one Lithuanian musician, who tried to wash my brain that I don’t need to be so conservative and intolerant about them,” the Walking With Elephants star also wrote in the Facebook post.
“When I asked him ‘what would you do if you realized that your 16-year-old son’s browny (anus) is ripped by his boyfriend?’ Well he was silent.”
President Grybauskait? predicted, however, that his hatred could diminish prejudice.
“I believe the incident benefits the state in a way that, in this country, we are becoming more and more open in our discussions about how insular we are, our intolerance of people who are different, as well as homophobia,’ she said.
“I believe discussions are a healthy thing, we need more of them, as the sooner Lithuania becomes more open and more tolerant, the better it will be for the country.”
Trouw resident Patrice Baumel sounded a note of caution (also on Facebook).
“I hope many of you posting about Ten Walls will also find the courage to stand up when it’s less popular and safe but just as important to do so,” said Patrice.
