To mark IDAHOT 2022 in Albania, the action on “Promotion of Diversity and Equality in Albania” under the joint European Union and Council of Europe “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey 2019-2022” programme and the Council of Europe Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) unit are supporting local organisations in Albania in the field of human rights for the launch of a series of awareness raising events under this year’s slogan “We are a family!”.

IDAHOT Week in Albania will be happening during May 2022 through various awareness raising initiatives engaging LGBTI communities and supporters, aiming to use this opportunity to involve the larger public and our local communities through videos, performances, online campaigns, photo exhibitions, podcasts and flash mobs.

Albanian LGBTIQ activists from Aleanca LGBT, Pro LGBT, Streha, Open Mind Spectrum Albania and Pink Embassy have prepared a series of initiatives which are carefully designed to reach out to people and to inspire change that promotes the wellbeing of LGBTI persons around the world.

The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia - 17 May, was established as such in 2004 to draw the attention to the violence and discrimination experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons.

The main activities happening during IDAHOT Week are as follows:

4 May:

• Presentation of the very first Political Monitoring Report: MayOctober 2021 ‘’LGBTI Civic Engagement Program: Politics and Representation for the Advancement of the Rights of the LGBTI Community in Albania’’ 17:00-18:30, Organiser: OMSA - Venue: People’s Advocate.

5 May:

• OPEN LECTURES ‘’TELL IT OUT!’’ Book – LGBTI Parents Stories, 08:0010:00, Organiser: OMSA, @Faculty of Social Sciences (5, 9, 11and 16 May)
• Training with Police and LGBTI representatives in Albania, in Lezhë.
  Organiser: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity unit, council Of Europe and joint EU/CoE action on “Promotion of Diversity and Equality in Albania”

6 May:

• Workshop for nonformal LGBTI initiatives. Organiser: LGBT Alliance  
• Training with Police and LGBTI representatives in Albania. Venue: Shkodër; Organiser:  European Union and Council of Europe

13 May:

• QUEER FILM FEST: ARTIVISM DAYSTIRANA IS BURNING!!!, Movie & documentary Night! – produced from the LGBTI Community, 18:00-20:00, Organiser: OMSA; Venue: DESTIL

16 May:

• Being Trans in Albania Exhibition opens in Elbasan,11.00, Organiser: Pink Embassy (16,18, 23 and 25 May 2022)
• Campaign Videos: We are a family, 18:00, Organiser: LGBT Alliance & STREHA; Venue: Destil
• Exhibition: One Decade, 19:30, Venue: Tulla Culture Center; Organiser: Pro LGBT

17 May:

• Raise the Flag, 09:00, Organiser: Pink Embassy, Venue: Skanderbeg Square
• Draft Gender Recognition Law – presentation of the first draft on gender recognition in Albania, 11:00, Organiser: Pink Embassy
• Storytelling ‘’TELL IT OUT BOOK’’ sharing and reading real stories from parents of LGBTI in Albania & Europe. I AM YOUR CHILD! Organiser: OMSA, 14:0015:30; Venue: EPOKA & Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination Regional Office FIER. (12, 17,18,19 and 23 May)
• Queer Got Talent, 19:00, Venue: Tulla Culture; Organiser: LGBT Alliance, Pro LGBT

18 May:

• LGBTI fashion show, 18:00; Organiser: Aleanca, Pro LGBT, Streha
• Spilling the Tea, Living Library: 19:00, Venue: Destil; Organiser: Aleanca

19 May:

• Panel: Intersexuality, 13:30, Venue: Tulla Center; Organiser: LGBT Alliance
• Panel: Legal recognition of LGBTI in the Balkans, 16:30, Venue: Tulla Center, Organiser: LGBT Alliance
• Queer Poetry: Promotion of Queer poetry book, 19:00, Venue: Destil, Organiser: LGBT Alliance

20 May:

• Presentation of the Online National Platform “Report Hate crimes and Hate Speech + Exhibition Being trans in Albania – Venue: Rogner Hotel Tirana, 11:00, Organiser: Pink Embassy
• Panel: Pride and antiLGBTI movements in the Balkans,16:30, Venue: Tulla Culture Center, Organiser: LGBT Alliance

21 May:

• Tirana Pride, 11:00, Aleanca, Pink embassy, OMSA, Pro LGBT and Streha
• Drag Show, 21:00, Venue: Tunel (TBC); Organiser: LGBT Alliance

24 May:

• Queer Movies (Ambasada Franceze dhe Marubi) Organiser: LGBT Alliance, Venue: French Embassy (24, 25 and 26 May)

27 May:

• QUEER FILM FEST: ARTIVISM DAYSTIRANA IS BURNING!!! Theatre – ZANAFILLA - produced from the LGBTI Community,18:00; Venue: Teatri Metropol; Organiser: OMSA

31 May:

• Gala Dinner, Organiser: STREHA Venue: Pallati i Brigadave