IDAHOTB » Bulgaria

IDAHOT 2017 country page: Bulgaria

IDAHO — Fri, 12 May 2017 10:08:47 +0000

Bilitis Resource Center Foundation and LGBT HHH collective: movie night and the discussion about the current situation of LGBTI people in Bulgaria and problems such as the lack of Hate Crime Law covering homophobic and transphobic crimes; May 17 @ The Fridge, Parensov 6B, Sofia

IDAHOT 2015 Events: Bulgaria

IDAHO — Thu, 16 Apr 2015 20:50:37 +0000

We are still busy collecting information on this year’s IDAHOT activities and are waiting to hear back from activists and event organisers. If you have information to share with us, please write us at contact@dayagainsthomophobia.org

In Bulgaria, the GLAS Foundation aimed to mark IDAHOT by providing special training to local police authorities on how to tackle homophobia and related hate crimes, as well as how to support the victims of these crimes.

The event is scheduled for end of June.

Additionally, they have launched a video with experimental elements.

The video does not claim to comprehensively show the public attitudes towards homophobia and transphobia in Bulgaria. Although the filmed experiments are real, this is rather an idealized image that we would like to be valid always and everywhere.

Additionally, the Bilitis Resource Center Foundation commemorated IDAHOT with two activities on May 17 in Sofia, Bulgaria:

1) A PROTEST МАRCH ON THE OCCASION OF 17th of May – The International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia
Location – meeting point at Sadebna palata, 1 p.m. end point: Ministry of Justice, 2 p.m.

Topic – the lack of legislative measures to combat hate crimes motivated by homophobia and transphobia; the lack of LGBTI visibility in Bulgarian society
Organizers – the LGBT-HHH collective, supported by antifa activists; the Bilitis Resource Centre
Supported by: The Bulgarian Helsinki Committee, LGBT Youth Organization “Deystvie”

2) An Anti-homophobia and anti-transphobia football game, organized by Bilitis Resource Center, and supported by FARE.

IDAHOT Report 2014: Bulgaria

IDAHO — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 17:00:47 +0000

Bulgaria

The International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia was commemorated with three different events in Bulgaria: A discussion with MEP Candidates, a Live Art Installation, and a Bike Rally in Sofia on May 17.

Discussion event focuses on European elections

For IDAHOT 2014 in Bulgaria, a key discussion event took place with the participation of Victor Lilov, MEP candidate from Reformatorski Block (Reform Block Coalition) and Genady Kondarev, one of the founders of Zelenite Political Party (the Greens), on a broad range of issues concerning LGBTI people. Another MEP candidate, Ilhan Kyuchuk, representative of the Movement for Rights and Freedoms, who was unable to attend personally, also sent a letter of clear commitment to work in support of LGBTI equality if elected to the European Parliament. The same commitment was shared by Victor Lilov, while Genady Kondarev reaffirmed that commitment to LGBTI rights has been on his party agenda since its founding. The event was co-organized by Bilitis and the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee.

Live art installation satirises ‘gay propaganda’

A “Live Art Installation” in front of the National Parliament also served to mock institutionalized homophobia and transphobia by creating a live chain of people wearing T-shirts with different letters, making up the phrase “gay propaganda”. The art installation ridiculed the laws which obstruct LGBTI people’s freedom of expression, known as anti-gay-propaganda laws. The art installation was designed by Deystvie LGBT Youth Association, and supported by Bilitis. Some of the participants also wore beards as a sign of celebration of Conchita Wurst’s Eurovision win. The latter was very negatively presented in the Bulgarian media.

Source: Bilitis

4th Bike Rally Against Homophobia & Transphobia

The 4th Annual Bike Rally Against Homphobia and Transphobia in the central part of Sofia also took place, organized by Deystvie LGBT Youth Association, and supported by Bilitis. Christiana Daneva from Bilitis, member of the board of EGLSF since March 2014, took part in the rally and expressed the support of EGLSF.

IDAHOT commemoration in Bulgaria on May 17

IDAHO — Wed, 30 Apr 2014 18:30:25 +0000

In Bulgaria, May 17 events will focus on promoting an LGBTI national equality plan and this year’s theme of Freedom of Expression will definitely be an area of highlight in the country.

Photo by Sabina Panayotova: Sofia Pride 2012

As it fits with their current advocacy campaign, the organisers will aim to familiarise Bulgarian public figures with the need to apply a cross-sectorial approach, in plans to eliminate all forms of discrimination against LGBTI people in the country.

Bulgaria IDAHO Report 2013

IDAHO — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:34:47 +0000

For May 17 in Plovdiv, LGBT activists involved the public with a creative photo campaign. Organisers advised, ‘we decided to focus on homophobia in sport. We printed Red and Yellow cards for homophobia and suggested that people take photos of themselves with the cards, voicing their stance against homophobia. We opened the initiative with a sports event in Plovdiv.’ Over 500 people, spanning 10 countries were photographed cautioning homophobia, or sending it off the pitch. The photos then made part of an exhibition called ‘Let’s Leave Homophobia out of the Game’ at Plovdiv Mall, which was inaugurated by Deputy Chief of Mission, Bryan Dalton, of the US Embassy of Bulgaria.
“The participants come from all walks of life, including directors, singers, actors, students, diplomats, housewives, etc. The diversity shows that there is support for the LGBT community in Bulgaria,” the organizers – LGBT Plovidv – explained in a press release launching the exhibition. Some of the the pictures were also re-exhibited during the June 2013 Pride, in different locations in the city.

For more info (and photos) please see:

LGBT Plovdiv on Facebook: www.facebook.com/lgbt.plovdiv

LGBT Plovdiv organizes exhibition “Let’s leave homophobia out of the game!”

IDAHO — Fri, 17 May 2013 14:34:47 +0000

The exhibition at Plovdiv Mall will be inaugurated by Deputy Chief of Mission, Bryan Dalton, of the U.S. Embassy of Bulgaria.

LGBT Plovdiv has collected over 500 pictures of people from over 10 countries to pose with a Red/Yellow penalty card to stop homophobia. The participants come from all walks of life, including directors, singers, actors, students, diplomats, housewives, etc. The diversity shows that there is support for the LGBT community in Bulgaria.

We will exhibit some notable pictures around Bulgaria during June Pride starting with a few locations in Plovdiv and, hopefully, we will be able to organize exhibitions abroad with our partners,” the organizers say. Meanwhile, the campaign continues- you can take part by downloading the penalty cards from http://goo.gl/Vhlu8 (available in 15 languages and counting), print them, and take a photo of yourself and your friends. Voice your stance against homophobia!

For those who are interested to host our exhibition, please contact the organizers at:

e-mail: lgbt_plovdiv@abv.bg

skype: lgbt-plovdiv

Facebook: www.facebook.com/lgbt.plovdiv