Activists, politicians, and international and local officials marched in the capital today to mark International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOT).
President Hashim Thaci, his predecessor, Atifete Jahjaga, MEP Ulrike Lunacek the US Ambassador in Kosovo, Greg Delawie today joined the march in downtown Pristina in support of the LGBT community, the international day for the community.
“Kosovo is European and all rights of each community are guaranteed and we are here to affirm these rights,” said Thaçi.
This is the third annual march in Prishtina in honor of IDAHOT, said Liridon Veliu of the organization LGBTI advocacy organization QESH.
“Every year the number of participants has increased and this makes us proud that the number of supporters is growing,” said Veliu. “It makes us more and more committed to our cause to continue improving the quality of life of LGBTI people in Kosovo.”
However, said Veliu, more work needs to be done. The slogan for this year’s march is “Our Love is Our Constitutional.”
“We want to remind everyone that the LGBTI community is protected by the constitution,” said Veliu.
The activities of the LGBTI community are supported by the American government, USAID, ATRC, the European Union and Civil Rights Defenders. Banners with slogans were carried in Albanian, Serbian and English.
In honor of IDAHOT, the EU Rule of Law Mission, EULEX, flew the rainbow flag in all of its compounds, a spokesman said in a press release.