15th Annual Moldova Pride to be celebrated on IDAHOT 2016

Moldova is celebrating its 15th annual Pride events this year starting on IDAHOT (May 17) and running until May 22. The 6-days will be packed with amazing activities, including a flag raising ceremony, a small conference, the annual Pride March, and a rainbow fair, as well as a karaoke battle and safer sex promotion party.
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!