When the government fails us, we stand up!
The Alliance Against LGBT Discrimination, PRO LGBT and STREHA, will hold “Tirana Pride Parade 2019’’ on May 18th.
The march will start at ‘’Parku Rinia’’, will continue all along the Boulevard of the Martyrs, down the ‘’Ibrahim Rugova’’ Street and will end up at the starting point, back at ‘’Parku Rinia’’. Other events and celebrations will take place at the final destination throughout the day.
While we celebrate the diversity, the pride of being ourselves and the ability to love unconditionally, we also stand up for equality, because Albania is neither a better, nor a just country for all its people.
421 cases of physical and psychological violence were reported by the LGBTI+ community during the last year alone. According to a study published by STREHA, on access to justice, more than 53 percent of surveyed LGBTI+ people reported to have been victims of violence and discrimination. For those who have come out in their families, the number jumps up at 84 percent.
The LGBTI+ youth are 10 times more likely of dropping out of school, because of bullying. The LGBTI+ teens, even when they find the courage to stay in the school, are bullied in the eye of school administrators, who are failing to respond. In other cases, children who are leaving school because of bullying, and because the state is failing to protect them, are in greater risk of becoming victims of trafficking.
Only 1% of LGBTI+ community in Albania have “come out’’ to their families. Many of them who make this step, instead of being safer in their homes, are constantly domestically violated. Some of them are being kicked out of their homes. In such a case the only option they are left with is the residential shelter ‘’STREHA’’, which remains the only service that can help them.
All the cases of violence reported last year the Police and those submitted at the Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination, have not been taken seriously, and remained unanswered.
Even in 2018, members of the LGBT community faced discrimination and barriers that prevented them from receiving health care. 16 transgender and gay individuals received their health service only after they were being accompanied from the staff of Alliance and Streha.
Those who are in employed, have reported to have been insulted and bullied by their colleagues and supervisors. 39 cases of discrimination in the work place were reported last year, while 98% of all cases are not reported at all.
Two members of the LGBTI community have suffered physical violence because of sexual orientation, although these crimes have not been classified and further investigated as hate crimes.
Institutional discrimination, is becoming more problematic than societal discrimination, thus marginalizing and further complicating the daily life of LGBTI+ people.
We remind to the Government that, in the framework of EU integration, Albania has the obligation to defend and protect human rights. Having formally approved the laws is not enough if that is not followed by law enforcement.
Our struggle for justice is not a sign of victimization. Contrary to that, it is an act of strength. We stand up for social justice and we will continue to stand up even on behalf of those who cannot join us.
