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.

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.