Costa Gavrielides

Yes, a boy can love a boy and a girl a girl.

13/12 /2022 17:45:00 Comments byCosta Gavrielides

Since last week there has been an intense public debate regarding THOC's production "Around the world in eighty days" directed by Marios Kakoullis. 

Because of the discussion and what was heard, last Sunday I attended the performance together with the Deputy Minister of Culture, Giannis Toumazis. Then, we met with the President of the Board of Directors of THOC, Antigoni Papafilippou, the Artistic Director of the Organization, Savvas Kyriakides and the actors. 

In the theater, questions are asked by the actors, based on real and objective events, aimed at interactive entertainment of children. At the same time, in an intelligent way, they promote multiculturalism and respect for diversity, for a society without racism and discrimination.

Among dozens of others, the question is asked "Can a boy love a boy and a girl a girl?". It is the line that has provoked the public debate.

The answer to the question is simple and absolutely affirmative. Yes, a boy can love a boy and a girl can love a girl. It is not something that needs any interpretation and does not promote any particular position. It's just a fact.

Trying to hide a reality from children is like hiding from them facts such as "the earth is round" and "the earth moves east around its axis" – lines that are also heard in the play. 

It is required to be honest with children about the facts, since sooner or later they will learn the truth. Children can manage the truth very easily, especially when it explains facts . 

The answer to the question is simple and absolutely affirmative. Yes, a boy can love a boy and a girl can love a girl. It is not something that needs any interpretation and does not promote any particular position. It's just a fact.

Unfortunately, the whole discussion has once again raised the issue of censorship in our country. THOC, the Cyprus Actors' Union, the Cyprus Theater Center for Children and Young People, the Commissioner for the Protection of Children's Rights, Accept - LGBTI Cyprus, as well as other bodies, have, rightly, strongly expressed themselves against the decision of the Evaluation Committee of Spectacles of the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth to censor the play, demanding that the specific question be removed from the performances attended by schools. 


This intervention once again raises questions about the need for this committee and the role it actually plays in relation to the Ministry of Education, which promotes actions to address racist attitudes, homophobia and transphobia in schools. 


Now the decisions of the Ministry of Education need to be honest expressing the important role it assumes in the field of promoting multiculturalism and diversity. 


In addition to revoking this decision, the Ministry of Education needs to review the way in which complaints are evaluated and managed regarding requests to conceal objective information from children. This assessment must be done first with the child's best interests in mind but also in a way that protects the Ministry's own teachers, employees and partners.


I have already tried to contact the Minister of Education to convey these views to him, while we continue to be in contact with the Deputy Ministry of Culture.

The Artistic Director of THOC, Savvas Kyriakides, the Deputy Minister of Culture, Yiannis Toumazis and the President of the Board of Directors of THOC, Antigoni Papafilippou.

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