ALBANIA: First regional LGBT workshop to promote rights was held in Albania.

Record ID: 277686

  • Title: ALBANIA: First regional LGBT workshop to promote rights was held in Albania.
  • Date: 15th June 2012
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF PARTICIPANTS LISTENING TO THE SPEECHES PARTICIPANTS APPLAUDING TIRANA MAYOR LULZIM BASHA AS HE LEAVES US AND ALBANIAN FLAGS (SOUNDBITE) (English) ELVIS, GAY ACTIVIST, SAYING: "It is quite important because it is the first time it is happening in my country Albania, and I feel really happy and privileged that these 17 countries are gathering here to discuss s
  • Embargoed: 30th June 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Albania
  • Country: Albania
  • Topics: Politics,Lifestyle
  • Reuters ID: LVA9BB7X6X94K4VA0A2MS3KSLPJ8
  • Story Text: For the first time Albanian Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) hosted a regional workshop to promote their rights.
    Representatives form 17 countries took part in this event backed by the US government.
    Albania passed a law in 2009 allowing same-sex weddings but there is still widespread homophobia in the small Balkan nation. But traditionally conservative societies across the Balkans have been slow to accept open homosexuality and many gay rights events in the region have ended in violence.
    "The government of Albania feels very strongly about continuing down the path that it has started few years ago of removing all discriminatory practices resting on a very strong legislative foundation that the government and parliament approved in 2010," said Tirana mayor, Lulzim Basha.
    Basha has opened an office against the discrimination in Tirana and said that they are doing everything to strengthen the very basis of democracy, the human rights and LGBT rights.
    The event was sponsored by the US State Department and the Department of Justice.
    "The United States government will be strong and continue to stand firm in its appeal to foreign governments to support basic human rights for all men and women, regardless of identity, gender or sexual orientation," said the US ambassador to Albania, Alexander Arvisu, one of the most influential diplomats in Albania.
    The seminar was welcomed by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, through a recorded video conference.
    Participant Elvis from Albania said the conference was very important fro him, "because it is the first time it is happening in my country Albania, and I feel really happy and privileged that these 17 countries are gathering here to discuss such important topic as human rights is first of all and LGBT rights."
    The workshop seeks to generate new ideas to cope with the challenges that the LGBT community faces not only in Albania but throughout the region.
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