Moldova, Europe

Since 1995, homosexuality between consenting adults in private has been legal in Moldova. The age of consent in Moldova is the same regardless of whether the sex act is between persons of opposite sexes or of the same sex. As of February 2008, a large coalition of human rights organisations, including Information Centre GenderDoc-M, are lobbying the government for implementation of anti-discrimination legislation in line with European standards, which would include sexual orientation as one of protected grounds. On 11th May 2008 the police and authorities stood by as the Moldova Pride Parade was prevented by homophobic crowds who surrounded and intimidated Parade participants by surrounding the Pride bus. The Mayor of Chisinau, Dorin Chirtoaca, whose campaign slogan was "a young mayor, a liberal team, a European capital" had banned the parade the evening before. However, Moldovan society still remains very homophobic. For example, virulent homophobic statements are casually made by politicians and lesbians and gays are routinely discriminated against. Violence towards the lesbian and gay community is not unknown.

 

 

Arsonists attack LGBTI rights lawyer in Moldova

Police refused to investigate the arson A human rights lawyer who works with LGBTI community in Moldova has become the victim of an arson attack. At about 1.43am on Friday 31 May, Doina Ioana Straisteanu, found her car alight outside her office in central Chisinau, Moldova’s capital city. She said an unknown male allegedly committed… Read more »

Police in Moldova use tear gas on anti-LGBT protesters trying to disrupt Pride march

Police in Moldova fired tear gas at anti-LGBT protesters to keep them away from a Pride march. LGBT activists feared a repeat of violent scenes at the annual Moldova Pride solidarity march, which took place in the country’s capital Chisinau on May 19. ? Last year’s march was marred by clashes between anti-LGBT Orthodox Christian… Read more »

Moldova LGBT march halted as President says: ‘I am not president of the gays’

Police stopped a peaceful march organised by Moldova’s LGBT community in fear of a violent clash with counter-protesters. After just a few hundred metres the LGBT march, which was taking place in the capital city Chisinau, was stopped to avoid confrontation with orthodox groups. At the same time, Moldova’s President Igor Dodon was quoted as… Read more »

Gay rights could be major hurdle for Moldova’s EU bid

Moldova’s lack of protection for the LGBT community, which says it faces constant abuse and discrimination, is out of sync with EU standards for minority rights. Chisinau, Moldova — In late September Andrei, a middle-aged Moldovan, was set upon by two men in a park in the center of this city. They had found his… Read more »

Moldova Overturns ‘Gay Propaganda’ Ban In Anticipated EU Membership Move

The Republic of Moldova, a country in Eastern Europe landlocked between Ukraine and Romania, overturned its “gay propaganda” ban on Friday in an effort to gain European Union membership. Having passed the legislation in June, lawmakers voted to repeal the clause that prohibited “relationships [other] than those linked to marriage and the family,” largely advocated… Read more »

Moldova Overturns ‘Gay Propaganda’ Ban In Anticipated EU Membership Move

The Republic of Moldova, a country in Eastern Europe landlocked between Ukraine and Romania, overturned its “gay propaganda” ban on Friday in an effort to gain European Union membership. Having passed the legislation in June, lawmakers voted to repeal the clause that prohibited “relationships [other] than those linked to marriage and the family,” largely advocated… Read more »

Moldova Orthodox Church bans lawmakers from taking communion over LGBT discrimination law

The Orthodox Church in Moldova has banned government officials from receiving communion while calling for a ban on so-called ‘immoral propaganda’ The Orthodox Church in Moldova has lumped same-sex attracted people and transgender people in with pedophiles and people who have sex with animals in calling for a ban on ‘immoral propaganda’ and has banned… Read more »

Moldova: Second largest city overturns local ban on ‘gay propaganda’

A court in the second largest city in Moldova has struck down a local ban on what authorities had referred to as “homosexual propaganda”. The Balti Court of Appeals gave its verdict on the case on 28 February, which was that the ban approved last year by the city council was unconstitutional. It also ruled… Read more »

God’s LGBT Children in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, and Moldova: Homosexuality is Not Sinful, Demonic, or a Mental Illness

The book is in Russian and includes a full English translation. It is authored by an Eastern Orthodox Bishop for LGBT individuals in Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, and Russia. The book will resonate with Eastern European LGBT persons who are “out and proud,” out to a select few, and those who live quiet lives of isolation… Read more »

Moldova votes for anti-gay bigot ban

Bill which would see people who discriminate against sexual minorities at work face fines or even jail passes second reading in Moldova parliament Moldova has voted to impose fines against employers who discriminate against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender workers. The country’s parliament passed the second reading of a bill which would see those who… Read more »

Anti-discrimination bill in Moldova being challenged by Orthodox Church

The Alliance for European Integration (AIE) is attempting to pass an anti-discrimination bill in Moldova, where the Council in the country’s third city, Balti, have adopted an ordinance banning the “propagandising” of homosexuality. But they are up against the objections of a most unexpected alliance – that between the conservative Orthodox Church and the opposition… Read more »

LGBT Rights Made Visible In Moldova’s Quest To Join The European Union

Friday File: Activist Anastasia Danilova explains how Moldova’s campaign to join the European Union provides some opportunity and some backlash for LGBT Rights As one of the many struggling post-Soviet economies, Moldova currently finds itself at a crossroads between more ensuing years of economic despair and the opportunities associated with European Union membership.  Riddled by… Read more »

Moldova elects pro-European judge Timofti as president, ending 3 years of political deadlock

Chisinau, Moldova – Moldova’s Parliament elected a judge with a European outlook as president Friday, ending nearly three years of political deadlock in the former Soviet republic. Lawmakers approved the election of 65-year-old Nicolae Timofti, who is chairman of the Superior Council of Magistrates. The opposition Communists, who disapprove of the government’s pro-European policies, boycotted… Read more »

Moldova city bans ‘gay propaganda’

Gay rights campaigners have slammed the city of Balti’s anti-gay law as ‘shameful’ The decision by a city in Moldova to ban ‘homosexual propaganda’ has been branded ‘shameful’ by gay rights campaigners. Balti’s City Council yesterday announced it would prohibit ‘aggressive propaganda of non-traditional sexual orientations’, after 23 out of 35 members voted in favor… Read more »

Moldova: Gay suicide after police harrassment

Earlier this week a 27 year old gay man took his own life following an incident of homophobic harrassment by the Moldovan police during the day. The incident started when a police car arrived at a known “crusing area” in the Moldovan capital Chisinau where only last May, the Liberal Mayor banned Moldova Pride, while… Read more »

Moldova News & Reports 2009-11

1 Moldova Pride 2009 5/09 2 Ensuring freedom of assembly for LGBT people in Moldova and Ukraine 4/10 3 A gay committed suicide after talking to police 12/10 4 Rights Defender Condemns Visit By U.S. Antigay Activist 3/11 5 Homophobe Scott Lively Advocates for Anti-gay Legislation 3/11 6 Папа Римский и президенты США и Ирана… Read more »

Moldova News & Reports 2005-08

1 Moldovan government to put legislation in place for sexual minorities 2/05 2 Moldovan Authorities Ban Gay Rally Outside Parliament 5/05 3 GenderDoc-M announces Executive Director Post vacancy 5/05 4 Authorities Deny the Right for Peaceful Manifestation of LGBT Organization 5/06 5 Court Declares Illegal the Refusal to Authorize a Public Manifestation 6/05 6 Discrimination… Read more »