Moldova

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.

“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