The Information Center “Gengerdoc-M”, which promotes the rights of sexual minorities, invites to different activities aimed at increasing the visibility of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender persons on October 11-15.
In a news conference at IPN, representatives of “Gengerdoc-M” said the Coming Out Days, as they called these activities, are an attempt to sensitize the public to the life, feelings and experience of persons who form part of the LGBT community of Moldova.
In the LGBT community, “coming out” means the voluntary self-disclosure of one’s sexual orientation and/or gender identity.
The Center’s executive director Anastasia Danilova said that an exhibition of paintings made by members of the LGBT community will be mounted in the evening of October 11. “You will see how members of the LGBT community of Moldova could show the Coming Out process, the feelings they experienced when they disclosed their sexual orientation or gender identity for the first time,” she stated.
The festival’s program includes free discussions, where LGBT community representatives will relate life stories, and different association games. Another public event will center on how the books can be used as an instrument for social changes. On the last day, there will be staged a tour through the center of Chisinau to show places that have connection with LGBT people.
Coordinator of the “Genderdoc-M” LGBT Community Development Program Artiom Zavadovski said the Coming Out Days are one more occasion for speaking about the human dignity of the LGBT people and not only about the problems they face daily because their sexual identity is rejected, but also about the place they occupy in society.
“Together we build the world where diversity and equality are some of the most important values. The Coming Out Days are a festival of the freedom to be yourself,” stated Artiom Zavadovski.
The organizers aim to celebrate diversity, to promote gender equality and the courage of persons who are not afraid to live their life openly in Moldova and to be an example for those who do not manage to live openly.
The Coming Out Days are staged for the third consecutive year in connection with the International Coming Out Day that is marked on October 11.
