Happy International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia!!!
Officially today is the actual day of celebration (17th May), however there have been a wide range of events happening worldwide for the whole week.
Of particular interest to lovers of life on two-wheels is the Tirana Gay (P)ride March in Albania.
Source: Watermark Online
Tirana Gay (P)ride March
The Tirana Gay (P)ride March was first initiated in 2006 has been gaining significant participation and coverage over the last couple of years and is fast becoming one of the most colourful, cultural community-driven events in the Albanian calendar.
This story is great for a number of reasons. Aside from being an awesome international event addition for this weeks general celebrations, it is also great as Albania doesn’t usually make headlines (at least not enough for positive reasons). Also, most people do not usually associate progressive, fun, international bicycle-inspired community demonstrations for gay rights to come out of small Southeastern former Eastern Bloc European nation. But there you go!
So kudos to the Albanians for being such a wonderful and supportive international example.
(Queensland take note!!)
A dual protest for 2017
This year was an extra special event. To mark the international festival, participants in Tirana’s Gay (P)ride Parade rode bikes for one cause, whilst elsewhere in the city two hours earlier (yet overlapping), another protest was being held in response to the country’s political opposition. The city was inundated with bikers strewn in multi-colored costumes with balloons, flags and pennants flapping the wind as they rode past a protest tent erected in front of Prime Minister Edi Rama’s office to raise awareness and support to pressure the current Albanian government to extend their 2009 anti-discriminatory laws to legalise same-sex marriage and also to recognise trans-gender citizens.
People taking to the streets to protest is not new, but the inclusion of highly decorated bicycles adds an extra element of personality, intimacy, community and creativity which is hard to beat and difficult to ignore.
Best of luck Tirana …our bicycles are with you!!
We hope you have a fun and successful ride to celebrate your 2017 IDAHOT!
Source: Fox News
Below is a 7 minute video of the 2017 Tirana IDAHOT (P)ride March.
More details:
Official International website.
Twitter: @may17IDAHOT
Official hashtag #IDAHOT2017