LGBTI: Will the opposition allow us to organize Tirana Pride at the main boulevard?

“Aleanca LGBT” and “Pro LGBT” the two main LGBTI organizations in Albania are announcing the full calendar of events they are organizing in the framework of IDAHOT:

• The 6th edition of Tirana Gay (P)Ride, will be held on May 13th, 11 a.m. starting from the Palace of Congresses. During that evening a bg party for the LGBTI community will be also organized.

Because we are not fully clear on how the protest of the opposition will continue and because the main boulevard is occupied by the tend of the opposition, we do not have a final itinerary for the Pride event. If the DP and its allies will have the kindness to allow us to use the boulevard than the itinerary will be like this: starting from the Palace of Congresses, through the Boulevard of Martyrs, turning left at the main bridge over Lana River, riding till the Vasil Shanto school and back through the Blloku neighborhood, ending at the Presidential Palace.

We take this opportunity to call upon DP and its allies to allow us using the boulevard and why not, to support our Pride Event by participating in it, as the main message of our event is about freedom, a message fully in accordance with what DP says to stand for…

• May 15th, 19:00, announcng the prizes of Allie of the Year at the open square between the Archaeological Museum and the offices of the Rector of Tirana Unversity. The Allies of ths year will be: Ms. Pranvera Mersini, aa nurse at the HIV Clinic at Mother Teresa Hospital, Ms. Olimbi Hoxhaj (the organization of People Living with HIV), Ms. Jetona Kocibelli, journalist of Top Channel, author of the documentaru Exclusive about Transgender people, Albi Nako, choreograph at Klan TV, The State Police, Ms. Diana Jahja, the mother of one of the openly lesbian at Big Brother program.

• On May 17-18, the Stonewall UK, the largest and oldest British LGBT organization will organize with the support of Aleanca and Pro LGBT a conference on access to justice for LGBTI people, at Sheraton Hotel, Trana.

• On May 19th we will be organizing a gala charity event to support the LGBTI shelter STREHA. The galla wll be held at the Palace of Brigades (former Royal Palace), at 19.30.