Macedonia, Europe

It is illegal to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation in employment, as of 2008. Young men and inhabitants of larger towns are generally more liberal in their attitudes towards homosexuality than the Muslims, elderly people, women and rural inhabitants. Gays are generally accepted as long as they do not manifest their sexual orientation in public. The gay scene is not large but is growing. As of Dec. 2006 there is only one official gay club in Skopje and several gay-friendly establishments located in main city. Also, there are three pubs/bars that have "gay nights" in their weekly programs.Attitudes towards gays are reportedly changing fast in the small Balkan country. There are gay news articles regularly in both printed and electronic media, as well as 4 web sites and blogs with solely gay content, news, rights etc.

 

 

The ‘gayest’ city in the world?

Skopje’s classical makeover may be both controversial and kitsch, but we couldn’t get enough of it! Imagine If Mariah Carey Decided To Rebuild Ancient Rome… Thankfully, One Doesn’t Have To Conjure Up Depictions Of Glitzy Statues And Wedding-Cake Style Buildings, As Such A Place Exists And It Is Called Skopje. From faux neoclassical façades to… Read more »

Macedonia bans same-sex marriages and civil unions

The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has moved to ban same-sex marriage, as well as making it extremely difficult for any future legislation to allow same-sex civil unions to pass. The Parliament of Macedonia voted 72-4 yesterday to define marriage as specifically between one man and one woman. The amendment definise marriages as “a life… Read more »

Macedonia to ban same-sex marriage

Politicians in the Macedonian Assembly have voted to ban same-sex marriage. The proposal came from the conservative government and was supported by two-thirds of members of the national assembly in a vote on Wednesday. It aims to define marraige specifically as “a union between an man and a woman”. Now the government is to draft… Read more »

Macedonia: Hooded anti-gay vandals invade LGBT support centre in country’s capital

Around 20 hooded vandals stormed the second birthday of an LGBT support centre on Thursday, throwing bottles and crates and leaving one girl injured. Balkan Insight reports the incident took place at the Damar Cafe in Skopje’s Old Bazaar area. Uranija Pirovska, director of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Macedonia, said: “The hooligans… Read more »

EC report criticises EU applicants Turkey, Kosovo and Serbia on LGBT rights

A European Commission report detailing the nature of LGBT rights in several countries looking to join the European Union has criticised Macedonia, Montenegro and Turkey. The reports show that LGBT people continue to face discrimination, threats and violence throughout south-eastern European and Turkey. Widespread hate crime against LGBT people were noted in Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia,… Read more »

Hate mob lays siege to gay TV star’s home

Petar Stojkovikj, a famous actor and celebrity, has become the latest victim of attacks targeting Macedonia’s LGBT community An angry mob has surrounded the home of a famous Macedonian gay TV star, shouting abuse and hurling objects at the house, where he lives with sick, old mother. The actor, called Petar Stojkovikj, is the latest… Read more »

Macedonia: Skopje pride attacked by anti-gay mob

The Skopje Pride Week started with an attack by an anti-gay mob on the LGBT support center, during its opening event Violence marred Skopje Pride Week’s opening event when an anti-gay mob surrounded and attacked participants in Maceodnia’s capital city’s LGBT support center. The mob, said to be composed of around 30 young people, shouted… Read more »

Balkan states told to improve on LGBT rights before joining EU

The European Parliament have advised countries joining the EU to adopt legislation against discrimination of LGBT citizens Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina have been told they should improve LGBT rights ahed of joining the European Union. Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have voted in favour of reports encouraging Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina to enforce… Read more »

Suspected Gay Editors Outed in Macedonia

The pro-government Vecer newspaper has asked its readers to name which journalists they think are gay, proposing several suggestions of its own. The move to “out” gay journalists in Macedonia is only the latest bizarre twist in the media – as a competition to outdo a recent spoof interview in Serbia appeared to spiral out… Read more »

Macedonia Activists Oppose Anti-Gay Constitution Change

Civil rights group urges political parties to clarify whether they support or oppose Church-led proposal to constitutionally ban gay marriage. The Skopje-based NGO “Plostad Sloboda” [Freedom Square] says politicians must make clear where they stand on calls to change the constitution, outlawing gay marriage. The heads of the five main faiths in the country last… Read more »

Homophobic Campaign Is Hovering Over Macedonia

To Human Rights Activists, In the last week Macedonia is haunted by the so far strongest homophobic campaign initiated by the conservative and non-democratic political and public forces. On the 12th of October, in the frames of a public presentation related to the International Day of the Female Child, organized in collaboration with UNICEF, the… Read more »

Macedonia Gay Rights Record ‘Worst in Balkans’

Macedonia least respects the rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual community, of all the countries in the Balkans, an international watchdog says. Macedonia’s gay rights record has been slated by an international LGBT rights group. An updated annual report, “Rainbow Europe Index 2011,” by the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association,… Read more »

Gay backlash over Macedonia’s anti-discrimination law

(Skopje) – Macedonia’s new anti-discrimination law sparked controversy on Friday, as gay activists and the European Union criticised the bill for not including sexual orientation discrimination. The new law, adopted by a slim majority of 62 deputies in the 120-seat parliament late Thursday, is not in line with European standards, a representative of the EU… Read more »

Gay Macedonia News and Reports

Also see: LGBT Rights Organization ‘See Q’ in former Yugoslavia 1 Macedonia Gay Rights Organization 2005 2 U.S. rebukes gay rights group in Macedonia 1/04 3 Macedonian Gays Come Out from Shadows 2/04 4 Male prostitution in Macedonia–A man for 50 euros  2004 5 Macedonia should recognise same-sex couples says rights commissioner 9/08 6 Candidate… Read more »

Relentless Homophobia Rages in the Balkans

“Be IN-tolerant! Be normal!”, appeals a poster that recently flooded the streets of the Bulgarian capital, Sofia. As the first gay pride parade in Bulgaria is about to take place, amid strong opposition by nationalistic organisations and a large part of society, the high levels of persistent homophobia in the country and the Balkans as… Read more »