Albania Celebrates International Day Against Homophobia Despite Protests

In spite of a number of protests, Albania marked its first international day against homophobia and transphobia on May 17.

Activists of various gay organisations raised tents in capital Tirana and distributed to passersby leaflets aimed at raising awareness on their rights. Foreign diplomats and some politicians joined the event in a show of support.

Unprotected Sex Among the Gays on the Rise
In the United States the gays prefer to find out whether their partner’s HIV Status. This is the prevention method used rather than use protection to prevent catching the disease.

"The Albanians are homophobes but we demand to be respected," said Altin Hazizaj, president of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender) association Pink Embassy.

Nearby, several dozens of people protested against the demonstration.

"The morality of homosexuals represents a danger for the society because it violates healthy values of the family," Fisnik Kruja, who led the protesters, said.

FDA Refuses to Lift Ban on Blood Donation by Gays
The US ban on gays from donating blood will stay, FDA has announced. The decision has been criticized as being very unhelpful at a time of serious blood shortage.

Most of 3.2 million strong Albanian population are Muslims, with a significant Christian minority, both Orthodox and Catholic.

In February 2010 Albania passed a law against discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Friend�s Love Turns Out to Be Gay Admiration
Lem Billings was a close friend of Late US president John F. Kennedy and was infatuated with him but never took it further claims a book

The gay and lesbian community is little tolerated in many countries of southestern Europe, where several gay pride parades were marred by violence and others cancelled following threats of violence.

May 17 is known as the international day against homophobia and transphobia, chosen because it was on that date in 1990 that the World Health Organisation removed homosexuality from its list of mental illnesses.

Study: 1 in 4 Gay, Lesbian Students are More Likely to Live Away from Families
One in four lesbian or gay teens and 15 percent of bisexual teens are homeless, versus 3 percent of exclusively heterosexual teens, a study has found.

Source-AFP