Georgian opera singer refers to gays as ‘the fecal masses’
By Josh Haggis
A Georgian opera singer has come under fire after apparently making homophobic comments on Facebook.
Tamar Iveri, a member of Opera Australia, is currently rehearsing in Sydney for a role in the company’s upcoming production of Othello.
The singer made the apparent anti-gay remarks following a protest in Tbilisi, Georgia, by LGBT activists on the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia last month (May), reports The Sydney Morning Herald.
In a Facebook letter that has since been deleted, Iveri wrote to Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili asking him to “stop vigorous attempts to bring West’s ‘fecal masses’ in the mentality of the people by means of propaganda”.
The letter continued: “Do not try to wrap this mass in beautiful packages, pour Chanel perfume on it and present it to people as if it was something of medical, recreational qualities.
“No matter how unhappy ‘friendly West’ might become, fortunately, the Georgian people are well aware of what fruits, offered by the West in their menu, to eat and what to discard. Just like my small dog guesses it.”
An Opera Australia spokesperson said the company had “no comment” regarding whether Iveri’s anti-gay comments would risk her role in the upcoming production.
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