MACEDONIA HAS LOVE FOR ALL

It has been one year since the opening of the LGBTI Support Centre, after the horrifying homophobic atmosphere and five attacks, yet we continue on our path toward the goal we have determined in the beginning: equality for all people in the Republic of Macedonia.

Just before the re-opening of the Centre in the Old Bazaar in Skopje, and holding the fifth March of Tolerance, the LGBTI Support Centre and the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights of the Republic of Macedonia (MHC), supported by Front Line Defenders (FLD), made a radio campaign titled “Macedonia has love for all”, which is focused, above all, on condemning violence and giving support to LGBTI people.

It is most important of all that this process of gaining livelihood of the LGBTI community and continuing the fight for equality, the LGBTI community did not become afraid and did not kneel before the continuous attacks, but on the contrary, in greater numbers, much stronger and prouder, came out to publicly demand its rights. We would like to thank all LGBTI people who proudly and openly stood up in defense of their rights and participated in this campaign, their parents, as well as all celebrities who showed solidarity and participated in the campaign, defending equality, freedom and dignity.

Regarding the preparation and launching of this campaign, FLD has given a statement: We are proud to support this radio campaign, which supports human rights defenders in Macedonia. Violence and discrimination against the LGBTI community, and targeting those who work for the improvement of the human rights situation is something that must not occur in any society today. Using radio as a medium to reach a larger audience, this campaign may help in changing hte public discourse and pressure the authorities to prevent violence and hold accountable those who have committed the violent crimes.

The program director of the LGBTI Support Centre, Kocho Andonovski, stated: With violence, threats, lack of case processing by the institutions, someone wants to stop LGBT activism, stop the process of gaining livelihood by the LGBTI community in Macedonia. This campaign is our response. It is not only a response by the LGBTI Centre, not only by activists, but by the entire community: We will not stop! There is no turning back! Intimidation and pressures are in vain, they only make us stronger and more determined to continue our fight for equality.

Apart from several radio stations, you can follow and share the campaign via the website:

http://www.radiohrd.org/macedonia/index.html

Kind regards,

LGBTI Support Centre, MHC and FLD