Romanos Gerodimos is one of my new friends. Our acquaintance took place on the radio about 3 years ago. He is a professor of International Politics and Journalism at Bournemouth University and commented on political developments in England for us during the heavy atmosphere of Covid, where the unrestrained Boris Johnson, as it turned out, was having the time of his life. Eventually, his unbridled actions, along with his political inconsistencies with Brexit, led to his rather definitive downfall from the political scene of Great Britain.
Our personal meeting with Romanos took place in November 2022 at the “Ianοs” bookstore in Athens. He was there with the Cypriot author and mathematician, Tefkros Michaelides, and the Cypriot educator, Rena Choplarou, presenting the moving book “Tis Drosis” by Vivian Avramidou-Ploumbi, discussing the situation in Famagusta, which seems to have been left aside by all those “involved in the Cyprus issue.”
Since then, after his excellent presentation (which one might find – perhaps I can persuade him to give it to me and publish it someday), he has been, for me, a person with an open mind, an open heart, and generosity.
These days, as the issue of marriage for same-sex couples occupies a significant part of the current news in Greece, Romanos has become the recipient of direct and indirect reactions from his own friends on social media. It saddened him, and I understand that. I am pleased that he wrote this concise, sensitive piece, which I am republishing here from his Facebook wall.
In societies with diseased conservatism and religious paranoia, it takes virtue and courage to hold onto your dignity and humanity so that you can express your opinion clearly and unequivocally.
Romanos, who has written an exceptional book that I enthusiastically recommend (not just because he’s my friend), “Antapokriseis apo ton 21o Aiona” (Responses from the 21st Century, Papadopoulos Publications), possesses both:
“The palette of homophobic comments and reactions I observe these last few days, even within my circle of friends on Facebook, is heart-wrenching. People who, on other days of the year, send me kind messages, wishes, thanks, condolences, congratulations, and thoughts – messages that, if nothing else, communicate respect and appreciation, those same people put hearts on harsh posts of fear, hatred, and darkness. They claim that my relationship, this incredible, universal love of 18 years for Antonis, is abnormal. They assert that my sexuality is a choice, preference, tendency, or anomaly. They argue that all other people are a priori suitable for parenting due to their own sexuality, while I am not. They say that we want children to satisfy our ego, as if everyone else has children out of altruism.
I won’t start blocking friends, not just because I would have to block many, but because it is useful to have contact with people with whom we disagree even on the most fundamental issues. And there is nothing more fundamental than someone recognizing your humanity and equal citizenship, and not treating you as a threat or object.”
Romanos Gerodimos also writes for Athens Voice.
