Tirana 10 May 2013 - For the first
time ever the LGBT community in Albania will mark the International Day against
Homophobia & Transphobia (IDAHO) in one week of events that range from
Exhibitions of the LGBT movement in the country to the pride of the PINK
triangle in the central boulevard of Tirana, capital of Albania. PINK
Embassy/LGBT Pro Albania is the leading organisation behind the organisation of
the Festival of Diversity, that is to take place only for the second time in
Albania. Last year the festival was organized not far away from the protests of
the Muslim community and the statements from the vice-Minister of Defense, who
said: “Lets beat them up with batons”.
Altin Hazizaj, First Ambassador of
PINK Embassy said: “The LGBT movement in Albania within such a short time has
achieved a lot in terms of changes to laws, policies and even public
perceptions. This shows that through cooperation and dialogue with institutions
and general public we can bring a positive change to the lifes and the
perspectives of every LGBT person. Society only benefits by respecting LGBT
rights.”
Albania is one of the fastest
changing countries in terms of laws and policies in support of the LGBT
community and their rights. However the general public opinion remains still
homophobic towards gays, lesbians, bisexual and transgender people. A recent
opinion poll among young people in Albania found that more than 53 percent had
a homophobic view on the life and people of the LGBT community and according to
the latest European Social Survey index Albania remains a homophobic country in
comparison to most European countries.
Last week the Albanian parliament
approved changes to the criminal Code that criminalise hate crimes and speech
based on sexual orientation and gender identiry, among other reasons. The
changes were proposed by PINK Embassy and the Albanian Ombudsman Office.
The Festival of Diversity will open
on 13 May with the exhibition called “Politics of the body and soul - LGBT
movement in Albania through images and publications”. The exhibition is
prepared by a well-known young local artist, Artan Karoli in cooperation with
PINK Embassy Albania, and shows all the posters, pictures, banners, videos that
have been prepared during the last 5 years that the LGBT community has started
to organize into a movement. On May 14th and 15th a series of lectures will be
held at different University of Tirana faculties. On May 16th PINK Embassy in
collaboration with the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Equal
Opportunities, the Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination and the
People’s Advocate will host a round table with the topic: “Albania against
homophobia: LGBT in front of politics, media, youth and anti-discrimination
measures”. Activities will culminate with the Diversity Fair in down-town
Tirana where institutions, human rights organizations will distribute
information on diversity, discriminatin, homophobia etc. At the end of the fair
a big PINK triangle will be spread out, as a symbol of pride for the LGBT
movement and will afterwords be used as part of an online campaign.
The official IDAHO
poster for Albania this year will be “VOTE
Diversity – Fight Homophobia”. On June 23-rd Albanians will go to the polls
to cast their vote on the new Members of Parliament. The main message behind
the poster is that Albanian society is as diverse as the political spectrum of
the country thus no political party and/or future government should be affraid
to include LGBT issues in their work.
For more information
on IDAHO activities in Albania visit: www.pinkembassy.al
or send us an e-mail at communitypink@gmail.com
