Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08CHISINAU524
2008-05-20 05:50:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Chisinau
Cable title:  

MOLDOVAN SOCIETY FAILS GAY PRIDE TOLERANCE TEST

Tags:  PGOV PHUM MD 
pdf how-to read a cable
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RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBW RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHCH #0524 1410550
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 200550Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY CHISINAU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6671
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS CHISINAU 000524 

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/UMB

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM MD
SUBJECT: MOLDOVAN SOCIETY FAILS GAY PRIDE TOLERANCE TEST

Sensitive But Unclassified. Please Protect Accordingly.

UNCLAS CHISINAU 000524

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/UMB

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM MD
SUBJECT: MOLDOVAN SOCIETY FAILS GAY PRIDE TOLERANCE TEST

Sensitive But Unclassified. Please Protect Accordingly.


1. (SBU) Summary: Some 400-500 representatives of Moldovan
Christian groups, veterans of Afghan and Transnistrian wars and
radical skinheads blocked attempts to hold a gay pride march in
Chisinau on May 11. Under the terms of a recently adopted law with
liberal provisions on public assembly, the gays and lesbians should
have been allowed to organize the gay pride parade. The group
initially received permission from the Mayor's office, but the
permission was withdrawn at the last moment because the mayor feared
violence. A bus with some 50 gay activists arrived in the square,
but the demonstration was thwarted by opponents who forced the bus
to leave and then carried out their own counter-demonstration
unimpeded. The incident continues to have resonance as advocates on
both sides speak out. End Summary.

War Veterans Threaten Gays ... But Fight Each Other
-------------- --------------


2. (SBU) Moldovan Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transsexual (GLBT) NGO
GenderDoc-M got permission from municipal authorities to organize a
gay pride parade in Chisinau. The organizers intended to raise
awareness about the anti-discrimination bill drafted by the
Non-discrimination Coalition, founded in 2007 by major Moldovan
human rights NGOs and relevant governmental agencies. A number of
religious and veterans' organizations accused GenderDoc-M of
promoting immorality and announced their intention to organize a
counter-demonstration. Two days before the scheduled march,
Chisinau Mayor Dorin Chirtoaca prohibited the march, saying he
sought to avoid clashes.


3. (SBU) Calling themselves the "Family March," some 400-500
counter-demonstrators were waiting at the intended gay pride site.
They surrounded the bus, filled with 50 GLBTs from nine different
countries, and prevented it from moving further. Policemen at the
site ignored the appeals of gay pride participants. Once the bus
retreated, Family March participants held a rally for several hours
to prevent possible attempts of GLBT activists to return. It was
only an eventual fight that broke out between pro-Russian and
pro-Romanian anti-GLBTs that caused the police intervene in order to
prevent a more massive confrontation.

Comment: Moldova Fails the Tolerance Test
--------------


4. (SBU) Moldova's failure to permit the march was criticized in
liberal European and gay media and internet blogs, while
conservative groups are condemning the gay threat to family values
and society. Even more centrist leaders espouse limitations on GLBT
activism. For example, on May 15 Vice Speaker Iurie Rosca spoke out
sharply in parliament in opposition to homosexuality. This incident
demonstrates that, despite Moldova's declared readiness to share
more progressive European values, Moldova's political leaders still
have a way to go to overcome traditional stereotypes and
intolerance.
KEIDERLING