After a pause of several years, representatives of the LGBT community of Moldova will stage a march in Chisinau on May 19, within the twelfth festival “Rainbow over the Nistru – 2013” that this year is themed “Partnership – Key to Success”, IPN reports.
Angela Frolov, lobbying and advocacy program coordinator at the Information Center “Genderdoc-M”, told a news conference that the activities this year are aimed at promoting a tolerant attitude towards the LGBT community, the human rights and civic equality for everyone, regardless of the sexual orientation and gender identity. On May 8, “Genderdoc-M” marked the 15th anniversary and, on this occasion, decided to extend the number of activities and days of the festival to a week, May 14-19.
“This festival comes to support all the members of the LGBT community in Moldova, who continue to hide their identity and are forced to lead a double life. During the few days of festival, these persons can come to us to feel how they are,” said Angela Frolov, adding that these people have the same rights, pay taxes and have families.
“Genderdoc-M” executive director Anastasia Danilova said that the first event will take place in the evening of May 14, when there will be opened the photo exhibition “Own chamber”. It is dedicated to the LGBT families of Moldova and Ukraine and can be visited at the Zemstvei Museum during May 15-19, between 14.00 and 19.00, free of charge.
Two public events will be staged on May 15: the drive “Leave a message in support of the LGBT” and the debates “Roots of homophobia in our tolerant society”. On May 16, there will be staged a number of activities that will not be accessible to the public. There will be awarded the winners of a related contest.
Flowers at the Monument to Victims of Repression will be laid on May 17, when it is celebrated the International Day against Homophobia. A conference dedicated to the center’s 15th anniversary will be given on May 18. After the conference, the festival organizers will invite the guests to a documentary production based on personal histories of gays and lesbians and their parents and children.
The festival will end on May 19 with a march for the traditional values trough the center of Chisinau. It will involve about 50 persons, including representatives of European embassies working in Chisinau. The LGBT march is staged one year after the passing of the Law on Equality of Chances, which came into force on January 1.