CHISINAU — A protest march organized by Moldova’s LGBT community on May 21 in the capital, Chisinau, was halted after just several hundred meters as police sought to avert a confrontation with participants in a counterprotest made up of “Orthodox priests and believers.”

On May 17, the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia, 10 ambassadors to Moldova issued a joint statement voicing hope that the LGBT march would take place without incident.More info here

The main invent in the festival, the annual Pride March, however faced many difficulties this year. Under the motto ‘Without Fear’ hundreds of pro-LGBT campaigners attempted to march through Chisinau, but were faced with large counter-demonstrations from members of the country’s religious conservative groups. (More news here).

Despite police protection the march was cut short and ended before the half-way point due to safety concerns. Undeterred by the events, LGBT campaigners are already making plans for further actions in the city and the broader region.

If you are a member of Moldova’s LGBT community or a campaigner who would like to include your action in this report please get in touch.

Details on Gender-Doc website

Programme of the 15th LGBT Festival “Moldova Pride”
17 – 22 May, Chișinău

17 May, Tuesday

13:00 – 15:00 Moldova Pride opening ceremony 
Annually, the LGBT Festival “Moldova Pride” kicks off with the flag raising ceremony. This year, the honour to raise the festival flag was granted to the Radio Free Europe correspondent Alla Ceapai. The Ambassador of Italy to the Republic of Moldova, H.E. Enrico Nunziata, will also make a speech at the solemn Moldova Pride Festival kick off ceremony.
Venue: GENDERDOC-M Office, str. Valeriu Cupcea, 72/1.

18 May, Wednesday 

19:00 – 20:00 Social dialogue “Community.Tradition.Normality”
The social dialogue aims at analysing and debating the concept of normality, formation of traditions and social changes. A particular attention will be given to those aspects of human history which, many years ago, comprised the then social norms and tradition and nowadays are deemed unacceptable. Our guest speaker is sociologist and philosopher Vitalie Sprînceană.
Venue: Muzeul Zemstvei, str. Șciusev (between streets Maria Cebotari and Sfatul Țării).

19 May, Thursday 

18:30 – 20:30 Open discussion “What Does LGBT Movement Have in Common with Feminism?” 
The main purpose of the discussion is to debate over the common roots of homophobia, transphobia and sexism within society. Our guest speakers – the LGBT activist from Romania Vlad Viski and the feminist activist from Ukraine Tamara Zlobina – will offer the audience an opportunity to talk about the impact of patriarchy, gender roles and stereotypes on the formation of the society where LGBT people and women are forced to fight for their equality.
Venue: Summit Events, New York room, str. Tighina, 49/3.

22:00 – 04:00 LGBT Pride Night. Awards Ceremony in the field of LGBT equality promotion and contribution to the LGBT movement development in Moldova
On this night we invite you to celebrate together diversity and equality. Traditionally, on the LGBT Pride Night, five professionals and allies of the Moldovan LGBT community will receive awards for the promotion of LGBT equality and their contribution to the development of the local LGBT movement. The Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden to the Republic of Moldova, H.E. Signe Burgstaller, will give a welcoming speech.
Venue: FARAON Night Club, bd. Moscova, 19.

20 May, Friday 

12:00 – 18:00 Conference on regional strategies on countering initiatives of anti-LGBT legislation and policies 
GENDERDOC-M Information Centre and representatives of its partner organisations from the EU Eastern Partnership countries and Russia will discuss legislative and legal obstacles faced by the LGBT activists nationally and regionally, bias-motivated crimes, and the shrinking civil society space for the LGBT activists and human rights organisations in the region. Also, the conference will present best practices (including strategic litigation) in countering homophobic and transphobic legislative initiatives and lobbying anti-discrimination policies.
Venue: Summit Events, New York room, str. Tighina, 49/3.

19:30 – 21:00 Discussion “Masculinities and femininities: Gender expression in Moldova” *
The public discussion stems from the idea that gender expression is a social construct and is a premise for the subject’s formation of gender identity and thus the way society ‘sees’ the person. Our speakers will share their experiences of gender expression in Moldova. The goal of the discussion is to explore the various masculinities and femininities that are accepted for particular bodies, whilst punished when expressed by bodies that do not meet the society’s expectations because it does not conform to their biological sex.
Venue: teatru-spălătorie, str. Eminescu, 72.

21 May, Saturday

13:00 – 20:00 Rainbow Fair
The Rainbow Fair is a charity event organised by the GENDERDOC-M Information Centre in partnership with the organisations for people with disabilities. All proceeds will go for the construction of a ramp in one of Moldova’s schools. Visiting the Rainbow Fair you’ll be able to purchase various goods hand made by the GENDERDOC-M staff and volunteers and people with disabilities, as well as other services and second-hand stuff, which come as a surprise. You can expect interesting workshops, music and delicious street food. Your participation in the Rainbow Fair may become an invaluable contribution to the creation of a barrier-free educational environment for students with reduced mobility!
Venue: teatru-spălătorie, str. Eminescu, 72.

20:00 – 22:00 Rainbow Lemonade. Open-air event
A homophobia and transphobia free zone, communication and music, lemonade with increased amount of Vitamin C to fight prejudice, video projections, a concert by the Magic Band (Moldova) and the Golos Krainy (The Voice) TV show participant Maria Katseva (Ukraine).
Venue: teatru-spălătorie, str. Eminescu, 72.

23:00 – 04:00 Queer Party #20 
Chiținău’s only queer party returns with special 20th edition carried out within the LGBT Festival “Moldova Pride”. This time its celebration point is our liberation from fear – the only feeling that, unfortunately, unites people together. We, in our turn, offer you an opportunity to unite around freedom – the freedom from fear of being oneself, freedom of self-expression and openly love who you want.
Venue: Spălătorie Bar, str. Eminescu, 72.

22 May, Sunday

12:00 – 13:00 Solidarity March
The Solidarity March “No Fear” is an opportunity for all people living in Moldova to unite against the fear: fear for children’s future, fear of poverty, fear of politicians, fear of being a citizen of Moldova, etc. The liberation from fear makes us stronger and better people. Everybody, including LGBT people, is subjected to fear. The only difference is the origins of everybody’s fear. Let’s march all together in solidarity and silence so other hear that we are not afraid!

20:00 – 22:00 Karaoke Battle. Finale 
They are seven and they have made it to the finals of the Karaoke Battle having won weekly selections and semi-finals during the last year. Now they are ready to fight for the main prize and the title of the Karaoke Battle winner. Who sings better than the rest? Who was not afraid to hold a microphone in their hands?
Venue: Billiard&Karaoke Hall, str. Calea Ieșilor, 10, Shopping Center Solaris, 4th floor.

23:00 – 04:00 Safer Sex Promotion Party
GENDERDOC-M Information Centre is pleased to invite you to the Safer Sex Promotion Party, the closing event of the 15th LGBT Festival “Moldova Pride”. SSPP is a traditional event aimed at promoting a conscious and safer sexual behaviour among LGBT+ people. The special guests of the night are the drag queen Janna Simeiz (Ukraine) and Tina de Lux (Moldova). Visitors will be able to undergo rapid HIV testing provided on the spot.
Venue: Billiard&Karaoke Hall, str. Calea Ieșilor, 10, Shopping Centre Solaris, 4th floor.

                                  Admission to all Moldova Pride events is free!

In Moldova, the 3rd Annual Pride March for Equality took place on May 17 and was organised by GenderDoc-M. Despite disruption by anti-protesters, the march went through the city of Chisinau.

Read the statement by the UN Human Rights Office who supported the march here:

“Enough with fears, prejudices and stereotypes—it is time to come out of the closet… it is time to be you,” said Alexei Marciciov, the Chairman of the NGO GenderDoc-M, during a LGBTI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex)  pride march in Chişinău, Republic of Moldova.

About 130 participants, comprising of the LGBTI community in Eastern Europe, diplomats and representatives of NGOs, took part in Chişinău’s “March for Equality”, with rainbow flags and banners on the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia.

The UN Human Rights Office supported the event, which was organized by GenderDoc-M, Moldova’s first LGBTI rights organisation, as part of its equality and anti-discrimination work in the country.

The Republic of Moldova, during the Universal Periodic Review by the Human Rights Council in 2012, received a number of recommendations, requesting the Government to intensify its efforts to address discrimination against LGBTI people and to take concrete measures to raise public awareness about their rights, including the guarantee of the right of assembly and association.

Although LGBTI activists have tried to hold gay pride events publicly in Chişinău for over a decade, this was the first time such an event has taken place with the full backing of the public authorities.

“The event marks an advance for Moldova’s rule of law, as public authorities successfully withstood negative pressure, and upheld the right of all people to equal use of the central public space,” said Claude Cahn, the UN Human Rights Adviser in the Republic of Moldova.

Public opposition to gay pride demonstrations remains high and LGBTI rights are continuously disputed.

According to opinion polls, opposition in the Republic of Moldova to peaceful public assemblies by LGBTI people is as high as over 90 per cent.

Nicola Harrington-Buhay, the UN Resident Coordinator in Moldova, said that the event can help build a “truly inclusive society in which everyone can live without fear and discrimination”.

Following the march, Anastasia Danilova, the Executive Director of GenderDoc-M gave her remarks to the many participants, comprising of representatives from the Non-discrimination Coalition, Amnesty International Moldova, Human Rights Information Centre, UN agencies in Moldova, as well as representatives from the Swedish, Italian and American embassies.

“We are happy that there are people in the Republic of Moldova who believe that homophobia and transphobia are unacceptable in our country,” said Danilova. “Today is a day of equality and freedom, the time to be ourselves has come!”

As part of the 14th Annual Pride Festival (named “Rainbows Over Dnister”) there was a vast programme of events.

Programme from Facebook page:

13 May, Wednesday
11:00 – 12:00 Press Conference, IPN Press Agency, House of Press, 22 Pushkin Street.
13:00 – 15:00 Solemn rainbow flag raising ceremony, GENDERDOC-M office.
19:00 – 21:00 Opening of the photo exhibition “Because I Live Here”*, B.P. Hașdeu Municipal Library, 148 Ștefan cel Mare Boulevard:https://www.facebook.com/events/890245301034852/

14 May, Thursday
16:00 – 18:00 Press club for journalists “Homosexuality and Christianity”, Jolly Alon Hotel Conference Hall, 37 Maria Cibotari Street.
22.00 – 04.00 LGBT Pride Night. Awards Ceremony in the field of LGBT eqaulity promotion and contribution to the LGBT movement development in Moldova, FARAON Club, 19 Moscova Boulevard.

15 May, Friday
12:00 – 16:30 Conference “Our Families Here and Now”, Jolly Alon Hotel Conference Hall, 37 Maria Cibotari Street: https://www.facebook.com/events/1631889963710926/
18.00 – 20.00 Performance “Edith Piaf. A Woman Who Loved”, Alexei Mateevici Theatre, 93 A. Șciusev. Language: Romanian.
22.00 – 04.00 MANNEQUEER Party, Spălătorie Bar, 72 M. Eminescu Street:

16 May, Saturday
13:00 – 18:00 Rainbow Fair, Muzeul Zemstvei, 103 A. Șciusev Street:https://www.facebook.com/events/831267783631920/
20:00 – 22:00 Rainbow Lemonade. Open-air event, FLAT SPACE, 68 București Street: https://www.facebook.com/events/1415578638763145/

17 May, Sunday
12:00 – 13:00 March for Equality “Because I Live Here”.
20:00 – 22:00 Karaoke Battle, GoldBar Club, 2 Decebal Boulevard.
23:00 – 04:00 Safer Sex Promotion Party, GoldBar Club, 2 Decebal Boulevard: https://www.facebook.com/events/101303533538643/

Egali, an affiliate of the global It Gets Better project, was co-hosting some of the events.

The country’s first ever LGBTI pride march was organized in Moldova in commemoration of the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia 2014, with the support of the UN Human Rights Office.

About 300 participants – including some members of LGBTI communities in Eastern Europe, as well as diplomats and representatives of NGOs – took part in Chişinău’s “March for Equality”. Participants created a colourful demonstration, with rainbow flags and banners held against homophobia and transphobia.

The UN Human Rights Office supported the event, which was organized by GenderDoc-M, Moldova’s first LGBTI rights organization, as part of its equality and anti-discrimination work in the country.

Although LGBTI activists have tried to hold LGBTI pride events publicly in Chişinău for over a decade, this was the first time such an event has taken place with the full backing of public authorities.

First ever pride parade in Moldova, held on the IDAHOT 2014.

“The event marks an advance for Moldova’s rule of law, as public authorities successfully withstood negative pressure, and upheld the right of all people to equal use of the central public space,” said Claude Cahn, the UN Human Rights Adviser in the Republic of Moldova.

Public opposition to pride demonstrations remains high in Moldova and LGBTI rights are continuously disputed. According to opinion polls, opposition in the Republic of Moldova to peaceful public assemblies by LGBTI people is as high as over 90 per cent.

Following the march, Anastasia Danilova, the Executive Director of GenderDoc-M gave her remarks to the many participants, comprising members of the groups Non-discrimination Coalition, Amnesty International Moldova, Human Rights Information Centre, and representatives of UN agencies in Moldova, and from the Swedish, Italian and American embassies.

“We are happy that there are people in the Republic of Moldova who believe that homophobia and transphobia are unacceptable in our country,” said Danilova. “Today is a day of equality and freedom, the time to be ourselves has come!”

You can watch a video of the event here:

For more information:

• Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights: LGBTI Communities in Moldova March for Equality

Chisinau, Moldova: Rainbow over the Dniester

IDAHO events in Moldova took place as part of the Program of the 12th LGBT Pride Festival in Moldova – “Rainbow over the Dniester” !

The full festival line up was as follows:

14 May, Tuesday
10.00 – 11.00 Press conference
11.30 – 12.00 Solemn Pride Festival flag-raising ceremony
13.00 – 15.00 Same-sex partnership initiation ceremony
18.00 – 20.00 Opening of photo exhibition: A Room of My Own

15 May, Wednesday
14.00 – 18.00 Public activity: Have Your Say in Support of LGBT
18.00 – 20.00 Public debate: It Is Normal to Be Homosexual

16 May, Thursday
13.00 – 16.00 Human Library
21.00 – 21.30 Opening of LGBT Pride Festival ‘Rainbow over the Dniester 2013’
21.30 – 22.00 Ceremony of Awards for Promotion of Tolerance towards LGBT People and Contribution to the Development of LGBT Movement in Moldova
22.00 – 23.00 Finals of Mr. Făt-Frumos 2013 Contest
23.00 – 03.00 Pride Party

17 May, Friday
12.00 – 13.00 Flower-laying ceremony at the Victims of Repressions Monument
20.00 – 03.00 KOMPOT- an open-air event representing a mixture of forms of artistic expression, communication and participation

18 May, Saturday
12.00 – 16.00 Partnership Is the Key to Success Conference dedicated to GENDERDOC-M Information Centre’s 15th Anniversary
17.00 – 19.00 Performance: Dear Moldova, Can We Kiss Just a Little Bit?
21.00 – 22.00 Closing ceremony of LGBT Pride Festival ‘Rainbow over the Dniester 2013’
22.00 – 23.00 Finals of armwrestling competition among women. Awards ceremony for Mr. Făt-Frumos 2013 Contest and armwrestling competition winners
23.00 – 04.00 Safer Sex Promotion Party

19 May, Sunday
11.00 – 12.00 LGBT for Traditional Values March.

For further information:

The organisers – GENDERDOC-M Information Centre: www.lgbt.md (Available in Romanian, Russian and English).

You can also follow them on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/genderdoc

IDAHO events in Moldova will take place as part of the Program of the 12th LGBT Pride Festival in Moldova – “Rainbow over the Dniester” !

The festival line up looks like this:

14 May, Tuesday
10.00 – 11.00 Press conference
11.30 – 12.00 Solemn Pride Festival flag-raising ceremony
13.00 – 15.00 Same-sex partnership initiation ceremony
18.00 – 20.00 Opening of photo exhibition: A Room of My Own

15 May, Wednesday
14.00 – 18.00 Public activity: Have Your Say in Support of LGBT
18.00 – 20.00 Public debate: It Is Normal to Be Homosexual

16 May, Thursday
13.00 – 16.00 Human Library
21.00 – 21.30 Opening of LGBT Pride Festival ‘Rainbow over the Dniester 2013’
21.30 – 22.00 Ceremony of Awards for Promotion of Tolerance towards LGBT People and Contribution to the Development of LGBT Movement in Moldova
22.00 – 23.00 Finals of Mr. Făt-Frumos 2013 Contest
23.00 – 03.00 Pride Party

17 May, Friday
12.00 – 13.00 Flower-laying ceremony at the Victims of Repressions Monument
20.00 – 03.00 KOMPOT- an open-air event representing a mixture of forms of artistic expression, communication and participation

18 May, Saturday
12.00 – 16.00 Partnership Is the Key to Success Conference dedicated to GENDERDOC-M Information Centre’s 15th Anniversary
17.00 – 19.00 Performance: Dear Moldova, Can We Kiss Just a Little Bit?
21.00 – 22.00 Closing ceremony of LGBT Pride Festival ‘Rainbow over the Dniester 2013’
22.00 – 23.00 Finals of armwrestling competition among women. Awards ceremony for Mr. Făt-Frumos 2013 Contest and armwrestling competition winners
23.00 – 04.00 Safer Sex Promotion Party

19 May, Sunday
11.00 – 12.00 LGBT for Traditional Values March.

For more info see the site of the organisers – GENDERDOC-M Information Centre: www.lgbt.md (Available in Romanian, Russian and English). You can also follow events on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/genderdoc