Albania, Europe

In the summer of 1994 the Government of Albania put forward a draft penal code under which homosexuality would have remained illegal, but with the maximum sentence reduced to three years. A campaign by the Gay Albania Society within Albania, and international pressure orchestrated by ILGA, in which the Council of Europe played an important role, led to the withdrawal of this draft law. On January 20, 1995 the Albanian Parliament legalized homosexual relations in Albania. Article 137 of the old Penal Code promulgated under socialist Albania, which offered ten years of prison for simply "being homosexual" has thus been done away with completely.

 

News & Reports:

 

Albania becomes third European country to ban gay ‘conversion therapy’

Albania’s psychologists have banned so-called “conversion therapy”, which tries to change the sexual orientation of young LGBT people, a move hailed on Saturday by the country’s rights groups. The decision by Albania’s order of psychologists on Friday is “significantly important for LGBTI adolescents”, the gay rights association Pink Embassy said in a statement. All registered… Read more »

7 years ago, 12 young and courageous girls and boys challenged a mountain of prejudices and held the first Pride Parade in Tirana.

Today, thanks to the efforts of activists and supporters of the LGBTI community, many things have changed in Albania. That’s why this year we will be more numerous, stronger, organized and free. However, for many of us, being different is continuously a reason for violence, discrimination, isolation, and persecution. Therefore, we will march with courage… Read more »

Albania Has Transgender Beauty Pageant

LGBT supporters cheered as seven competitors took part in a transgender beauty contest competition in a disco bar in the capital, Tirana. (Dec. 24) Source – Olean Times Herald

Sheltering Albania’s Gay Youth from Virulent Homophobia

Emergency Housing for LGBT Youth in Tirana, Albania The psychologist at the LGBT youth shelter waited for me in a small side street in the city center of Tirana, Albania’s capital. “No one knows our exact address, we want to avoid arson and havoc,” she told me. She knocked on a discrete door. Once inside,… Read more »

Albania gay rights organizations hold annual pride ride

Tirana, Albania –  Gay rights organizations in Albania have held their annual pride event without any disturbances, while the country’s political opposition prepared for an unrelated national protest in the capital, Tirana. Scores of bikers with multi-colored balloons and flags on Saturday started their mile-long (1.6 kms) ride passing past a tent pitched by the… Read more »

Courageous Albanian LGBT activists and supporters will stage a Pride bicycle parade

Courageous Albanian LGBT activists and supporters will stage a Pride bicycle parade in Tirana, on May 13 LGBT despite opposition protest. LGBT and Pro LGBT Alliance Announce through this press release that the bicycle parade is planned for May 13; it will be held under the law despite the same day the opposition has announced… Read more »

Albania gay groups’ pride not to be hindered by opposition

Tirana, Albania – Gay rights organizations in Albania say they have been assured their annual pride event will not be hindered on the day when the opposition also has planned a national protest. The organizations on Monday said opposition Democratic party leader Lulzim Basha assured them there would be “no incidents or threat” during their… Read more »

“I Am Going to the Pride, How about You?”

PINK Embassy / LGBT Pro officially announced today its campaign under the moto “I Am Going to the Pride, How about You?” to mobilize national and international organizations, institutions and activists to join the 3rd Tirana Pride on the 25th of September 2016. Tirana Pride 2016 will be a day of solidarity with lesbian, gay,… Read more »

3rd Tirana Pride To Take Place On September 25, 2016

Pink Embassy, the leading organization for the rights of the LGBT community in Albania, in cooperation with the Human Rights House in Albania and OMSA, are pleased to announce the opening of the 6th Festival of Diversity and IDAHOT under the slogan “Stand Up Against Discrimination” on May 16th 2016 at 11.00 hrs, at the… Read more »

The Alliance Against Discrimination and ProLGBT (Albania)

The Alliance Against Discrimination and ProLGBT the two major LGBTI organizations in Albania have the pleasure to invite you at the 4th edition of Tirana Gay Ride. This is the 4th consecutive year that human rights activists and their allies organize this public event in the center of Tirana. We will march this year for… Read more »

2nd Tirana Pride to take place in June 11th 2015

PINK Embassy / LGBT Pro, Human Rights House in Albania and Open Mind Spectrum Albania, the organizing group of Tirana Pride, agreed today that the 2nd Tirana Pride will be held in June 11th. Meanwhile it has been agreed that on May 17th, the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia different awareness events will… Read more »

Albania to present same sex partnership legalization and gender recognition, government and opposition “on-board”

Albania will present tomorrow in a high level conference in Tirana a draft proposal to legalise the same sex partnerships and to introduce a complete law for gender recognition. This has been drafted after a full process of consultations between the Council of Europe, the Albanian government, the opposition, the civil society, the Ombudsman etc.… Read more »

Stunning Photos Capture Albanian Women Who Have Chosen To Live As Chaste Men

Burrneshas, or Sworn Virgins, are a sector of the Balkan female population that chooses to avoid the oppressive restrictions placed upon their gender by living as men. Photographer Jill Peters set out to photograph the little-known phenomenon, in which brave women transform themselves completely to preserve their honor. Since the 15th century a number of… Read more »

Love stories and “forbidden” objects at the National Museum of Albania

They had never thought that there would be so many participants. They did not know whether to blush, feel embarrassed or not, but they felt this way only for a few moments, because it did not take long for them to realize that none of the participants judged them… “Art 1” the exhibition organized by… Read more »

Albania celebrates gay life with festival for IDAHO

Albania organizes IDAHO week to give the LGBT community sexual liberation from verbal and physical homophonic abuse Pink Embassy and LGBT Pro Albania have organised a weeklong celebration which includes the countries second Festival of Diversity, LGBT exhibitions and lectures. It is all part of making a stand as Albania celebrates International Day Against Homophobia… Read more »

Albania passes landmark gay hate crime laws

Two laws just approved by Albania’s parliament make it one of the countries with the most advanced legislation in the region for protection of LGBT people Albania amended its criminal code and put hate crimes against sexual orientation and gender identity on par with an offense against gender, race, ethnicity, religious belief, disability and so… Read more »

“Reeducation for Halimi!” (Minister of Justice), protest of LGBT in response of the street language used by minister

The LGBT movement protested today in front of the Ministry of Justice in response to the scandalous street vocabulary of the Minister of Justice Eduard Halimi. Yesterday, the media published a video and several photos of Halimi and member of parliament Fatos Hoxha chatting with each other using very banal vocabulary. The minister stated in… Read more »

“Unbiased voices of reason in Albania have no outlet”, says US Ambassador

This is an exclusive interview with Mr. Alexander Arvizu, the Ambassador of USA in Albania. He answers questions of historia-ime.com regarding LGBT rights, women rights, children’s rights, freedom of media and he talks about the challenges that Albania should and is facing while he reveals how his own story with the country and its people… Read more »

Anti-gay academic books to be banned in Albania

Following a complaint by LGBT rights group the Albanian government will remove from the market all anti-gay academic books The Albanian office of the Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination (CPD) has announced that it will take of the market all academic texts which discriminate against the LGBT community and update any others where same-sex relations… Read more »

Albanian gay activists, to participate for the first time at Belgrade’s Pride

At least 8 Albanian activists will participate this year at Belgrade Pride under strict security measures. These activists were selected among three LGBT organizations: Pink Embassy, The Alliance Against Discrimination and Pro LGBT. This is the first time of an organized participation of Albanian gay activists at the pride that was banned last year because… Read more »

Albania: Proposed gay pride march provokes homophobic comments

With gay rights activists in Albania set to organise the country’s first ever gay pride parade in Tirana on May 17, religious groups and the Royalist Party have been quick to denounce the proposed plans. Reacting to the plans, announced on Friday, Albania’s deputy defence minister and leader of the Royalist Party, Ekrem Spahiu, had… Read more »

Gay Albania News & Reports

1 Albania’s Gay Flight: homosexuals forced to leave Albania or suffer with deep-rooted homophobia 12/07 2 Albania failing to protect gays from violence and discrimination 6/08 3 Albania ‘to approve gay marriage’ 7/09 4 Albania to Legalize Gay Marriage 8/09 5 Albania protects LGBT people from discrimination 2/10 6 No gay marriage for Albania 2/10… Read more »