Organization’s history

When speaking about the infamous criminal provision, Article 106 “Sodomy,” under which voluntary “sexual intercourse between a man and another man” was punishable by imprisonment for up to three years, various sources state that it was repealed in 1995. However, this is not entirely accurate. Within the framework of a broader legislative reform, the article did not disappear but was substantially revised.

As of June 15, 1995, it received a new title — “Article 106. Forced Sodomy.” In its revised version, the article referred to “sodomy committed against a minor, or through the use of physical or psychological violence, or by exploiting the victim’s helpless condition,” for which a penalty of two to five years of imprisonment was предусмотрed.

Thus, the article was retained, but its meaning was fundamentally changed: from 1995 onward, Moldova effectively ceased criminal prosecution for consensual homosexual relations between adults, even though the term “sodomy” formally remained in the criminal legislation.

In this form, the article existed until the adoption of the new edition of the Criminal Code — No. 985-XV of April 18, 2002. In the updated Criminal Code, Article 106 already concerned “forced confiscation of property,” while sexual offenses were consolidated into six articles of Chapter IV:
171 — “Rape”;
172 — “Violent acts of a sexual nature”;
173 — “Sexual harassment”;
174 — “Sexual intercourse with a person under the age of 16”;
175 — “Lewd acts”;
175-1 — “Grooming a minor for sexual purposes.”

From that moment on, the concept of “sodomy” completely disappeared from the legislation of the Republic of Moldova — and, in essence, from public life.

Life in the Shadows

Article 106 meant that, during the Soviet era, gay men were forced to live in fear, hiding their identity from society. Sexual relations between men were punishable under criminal law. The author of this article is unaware of whether anyone in the Moldavian SSR was ever convicted under this provision. Nevertheless, the fear of possible prosecution followed homosexual men throughout their lives.

And yet, gay men continued to live and love, albeit in an atmosphere of secrecy. They met in certain places that were kept discreet. Some of these locations — such as A. S. Pushkin Park, the public toilets at Komsomol Lake, bus and railway stations, as well as a place in the Botanica district known as “by the airplane” — were well known within the community.

There, among their own, gay men could be themselves: they socialized, met new people, and began relationships. There were also apartments where groups of gay friends would gather. They often spent time together, going to the cinema, concerts, and theatre performances, and celebrating birthdays and other occasions. Occasionally, two men would live together as a couple, although this was rare. As a rule, such living arrangements raised many questions among neighbours and sometimes even provoked hostility.

In addition to the militia, gay men also had to beware of the so-called “remontniki” — aggressive homophobes who would arrange meetings with gay men while pretending to be interested in a relationship, only to assault or blackmail them afterwards. At the same time, gay men were often capable of defending themselves.

However, in cases of assault or blackmail, they were afraid to turn to law enforcement. In practice, militia officers often sided with the “remontniki,” leaving gay men trapped in a situation with little or no protection. Law-enforcement officials could — and often did — inform employers that one of their employees was known to frequent “gay” meeting places. After that, the person concerned would begin to face problems at work.

On May 8, 1998, the GENDERDOC-M Information Center was registered as a non-governmental organization without a membership structure. The founders were: Alexei Marchkov (Chairman and Director of the Center), Sofia Marchkova, Nadezhda Mityeva, and Ivan Zverev (auditor). Accounting was handled on a voluntary basis by Elena Mityeva.

In October 1998, the first issue of the journal Zerkalo (“Mirror”) was published, as indicated on the cover page. The print run was not specified; however, this issue became the largest in the journal’s entire history — 2,500 copies. At that time, the journal had not yet been officially registered.

On November 6, 1998, Zerkalo was registered as the company “Zerkalo” LLC. Alexei Marchkov became Editor-in-Chief and Director, and Elena Mityeva served as Accountant.

Breaking the Silence: The First Media Responses

The first issue of the journal published an “Appeal to the Public of the Republic, to the Gays and Lesbians of Moldova.” This text became the catalyst for numerous media reactions — a genuine breakthrough in overcoming the silence that had surrounded the topic of homosexuality in the country.

At the end of 1998, Arguments and Facts — Moldova published an interview with Alexei Marchkov, Director of the GenderDoc-M Information Center (“The Law Tolerates, but the Crowd Beats,” No. 50 (133), December 1998). The newspaper Yunost wrote about gender-related work in the article “We Believe, We Hope, We Wait” (No. 12, October 23, 1998). The publication of the first issue of the journal was noted by Novoe Vremya (“In ‘Zerkalo,’ Gays Saw Only Themselves,” No. 3, December 25, 1998). These publications were benevolent in tone, demonstrating understanding and professional integrity.

However, openly xenophobic reactions also emerged. The newspapers Flux and Communist responded harshly, publishing respective commentaries: the article by St. Stoian “The Wave of Homosexuality Has Reached Chișinău” and a piece by K. Voloshin titled “Either One of Them, or Money Has No Smell,” published in the column “Free Press of the Regime.”

The authors of such materials portrayed LGBT people as a “social threat,” asserting that “homosexuality” leads to societal degradation and the destruction of the family. Their logic ultimately suggested that the only way to “save society” was to isolate homosexuals, including placing them in psychiatric institutions.

In the second issue of Zerkalo (already officially registered), published in early 1999, Vlad Negru, Co-Chair of the Senate of the “Curcubeu/Raduga” (“Rainbow”) Movement, rightly observed:

“It is unclear what fuels the homophobic impulses of moralists from both the far right and the far left… Of course, it would be easier for them to live if all those who do not meet their standards were locked away in special clinics — but how would they explain, for example, to a familiar child why that seemingly ordinary man over there is being dragged into a vehicle by orderlies?.. Doesn’t this remind you of anything?”

In essence, the article published in the same issue, “Fortunately, Not Everyone Picked Up a Stone,” became the first political statement of the Public Movement “Curcubeu/Raduga.” It “awakened” the community and provided a powerful impetus for new publications in the press, on radio, and on television.

The first issue of the magazine published the “Appeal to the Public Opinion of the Republic, to the Gays and Lesbians of Moldova”. This text generated numerous reactions in the mass media – a real breakthrough in breaking the blockade of silence surrounding the topic of homosexuality in the country.

At the end of 1998, “Argumentî i Faktî — Moldova” published an interview with Alexei Marchkov, director of the “GENDERDOC-M” Information Center (“The Law Tolerates, but the Crowd Strikes”, No. 50 (133), December 1998). The newspaper “Iunoști” also reported on gender activity (“We Believe, We Hope, We Wait”, No. 12 of October 23, 1998). The publication of the first issue of the magazine was mentioned by the newspaper “Novoe Vremea” (“In “Zerkalo” gays saw only themselves”, No. 3 of December 25, 1998). These publications had a benevolent tone, demonstrating understanding and professionalism.

However, there was no lack of openly xenophobic reactions. The newspapers “Flux” and “Communism” reacted harshly, publishing corresponding materials: the article by St. Stoian “The wave of homosexuality has reached Chisinau” and K. Voloșin’s reply “Either it’s theirs, or the money doesn’t smell”, in the column “The regime’s free press”.

The authors of these materials presented LGBT people as a “social threat”, claiming that “homosexuality” would lead to the degradation of society and the destruction of the family. Their logic boiled down to the idea that the only way to “save society” would be to isolate homosexuals, including their internment in psychiatric institutions.

In the second issue of the magazine “Zerkalo” (already registered), published in early 1999, the co-chairman of the Senate of the “Curcubeu/Raduga” Movement, Vlad Negru, rightly remarked:

“It is not known what exactly fuels the homophobic impulses of the extreme right and extreme left moralists… Of course, it would be easier for them to live if all those who do not meet their standards were locked up in special clinics – but how will they explain, for example, to a child they know, why that uncle, perfectly normal at first glance, is being dragged by paramedics into a car?.. Doesn’t this remind you of nothing?”

In essence, the article published in the same issue, “Fortunately, not all of them lifted the stone”, became the first political statement of the “Curcubeu/Raduga” Public Movement. It “awakened” the community and provided a strong impetus for new publications in the press, on radio and television.

On January 17, 1999, a meeting of representatives of the LGBT community (attended only by gay men) took place in Chișinău and evolved into the founding conference of the Public Movement of Gays and Lesbians of Moldova “Curcubeu” (“Rainbow”). The conference elected its governing body — the Senate — headed by Chairman Alexei Marchkov, as well as three Co-Chairs representing the interests of different groups (gay men, lesbians, bisexuals), and two senators — a responsible secretary and a legal advisor. The position of Co-Chair representing lesbians remained vacant, as at that time the organizers of the Center and the Movement had no established contacts with lesbians.

The First Project of the GenderDoc-M Information Center

The first project implemented by the Center was titled “Human Rights and Sexual Minorities in Moldova.” It was funded by the Soros Foundation Moldova. The project budget amounted to USD 3,260. The coordinators were Alexei Marchkov and Natalia Esmanchuk.

The project included the organization of two international seminars:

“Social and Psychological Aspects of Homosexuality” — December 1999;

“The Right to Privacy in Accordance with European and International Standards” — February 2000.

Both events took place at the Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu Municipal Library in central Chișinău and brought together approximately 30 participants. Significant support was provided by staff members of the Helsinki Committee in Moldova.

As a result of the seminars, the organizers managed to save a small sum, which, with the partner foundation’s approval, was used to publish a special issue of the journal Zerkalo, with a print run of 1,000 copies, featuring the main materials from the events.

The national press also showed interest. In Novoe Vremya, Alexander Suvorin published a report titled “A New Flower Has Been Found: Ivan-da-Vasiliy,” with the subtitle: “Sexual minorities will sooner or later assert their rights, and something will have to be done about it.”

He wrote:

“The results of the Chișinău seminar indicate that a kind of embryo of a future gay movement is growing and developing in Moldova… The situation is changing before our eyes… Our world is changing, and sometimes not in ways we would like. There is nothing that can be done about it… All that remains is to seek compromise. For the past ten years, Moldova has been doing little else but learning how to seek compromise. Thus, nothing will change qualitatively — there will simply be one more exercise in tolerance, a difficult one and, it seems, an inevitable one.”

The first project implemented by the Center was entitled “Human Rights and Sexual Minorities in Moldova”. It was financed by the Soros Foundation Moldova. The project budget was 3,260 US dollars. The coordinators were Alexei Marchkov and Natalia Esmanciuc.

The project included the organization of two international seminars:

“Social and Psychological Aspects of Homosexuality” — December 1999;

“The Right to Private Life in Accordance with European and International Standards” — February 2000.

Both events took place in the “Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu” Library in the center of Chisinau and brought together approximately 30 participants. Substantial support was provided by the collaborators of the Helsinki Committee of Moldova.

Following the seminars, the organizers managed to save a small amount, with the help of which, with the agreement of the partner foundation, a special issue of the magazine “Zerkalo” was published, in a circulation of 1,000 copies, which included the main materials of the events.

The republican press also showed interest. In “Novoe Vremea”, Aleksandr Suvorin published a report entitled “A new flower has been discovered: Ivan-da-Vasily”, with the subtitle: “Sexual minorities will claim their rights sooner or later, and this will have to be managed”.

He wrote:
“The conclusions of the Chisinau seminar show that a kind of embryo of the future gay movement is growing and developing in Moldova… The situation is changing before our eyes… Our world is changing, and sometimes not as we would like. We cannot do anything about it… It remains only to look for a compromise. Over the past ten years, Moldova has been doing nothing but learning to look for compromises. Therefore, nothing will change qualitatively — only another exercise in tolerance will appear: difficult and, it seems, inevitable.”

In 2000, the GENDERDOC-M Information Centre was admitted as a full member of IGLYO, the International LGBTQI+ Youth and Student Organisation.

The organization was founded in 1984 and is based in Brussels. IGLYO is the world’s largest network of youth organizations working to protect the rights of LGBTQI+ young people.

Today, it represents the interests of more than 135 member organizations across over 40 countries in the European region. Its work focuses on advocacy, empowerment, and ensuring the freedom of LGBTQI+ young people under the age of 30.

Photo: iglyo.org

The second reporting and election conference of Moldova’s gay and lesbian civic movement “Curcubeu/Rainbow” was scheduled to take place on 23 September 2000 at the B. P. Hasdeu Library. However, on the eve of the event, the library director received threats from parishioners, the police, and the Metropolitan Church of Moldova. In particular, it was reported that students from the Theological Academy intended to picket the library. As a result, the conference was moved to the Arts Library.

The event began in the presence of a police officer who was among the invited guests. Twenty minutes later, Chișinău Police Commissioner V. Coval entered the hall and demanded that the conference be stopped, citing an order from “above”. Outside, a minibus carrying police officers was waiting for the participants. The organizers rejected the suggestion that the conference be continued elsewhere, as the commissioner failed to produce any official documents.

The chairman of the movement, A. P. Marcikov, pointed out that the activities of the GENDERDOC-M Information Centre, which defended the rights of gay men and lesbians and fought discrimination based on sexual orientation, were lawful. Under the circumstances, the conference had to be closed and postponed to another date.

GENDERDOC-M informed international human rights organizations about the incident, including the Council of Europe, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the international organization for gay and lesbian rights, as well as foreign embassies accredited in Chișinău. The incident attracted international attention.

The conference eventually took place on 2 December 2000

With financial support from the Soros Foundation Moldova, more than 30 people took part in the conference, including representatives from Bălți and Tiraspol, as well as Florin Buhuceanu, president of the Bucharest-based association ACCEPT.

Participants discussed the continuing discrimination against gay men and lesbians in Moldova, as well as cases of assault, blackmail, threats, and other human rights violations. A decision was taken to establish a public commission within the GenderDoc-M Information Centre to investigate such cases and make the findings public, including at the international level. Plans were also made to employ a lawyer at the Centre to provide legal assistance to members of the LGBT community.

In connection with the establishment of the commission, participants decided to dissolve the “Curcubeu/Rainbow” movement and issued an appeal to the public of the republic. The appeal emphasized: “We do not need propaganda for a sexual revolution. What matters to us is creating an atmosphere in society in which fear ceases to be a determining factor.”

Issue No. 1–2 (4–5) of Zerkalo was published in early 2001 as part of the project “Information Aspects of Homosexuality,” with financial support from the Soros Foundation Moldova. From that point onward, the magazine began appearing regularly, although its publication frequency varied over the years, as did the donors supporting it. The Embassy of the Netherlands in Kyiv made a particularly important contribution to the publication of the magazine.

It is worth noting that when we published issue No. 4–5 and decided to distribute it through retail outlets, we were informed that the magazine first had to undergo a content review by the State Agency for the Protection of Morality, and that information about this review had to be printed in the magazine itself. That is exactly what we did.

When the sixth issue was ready to go to print, the magazine’s editor-in-chief, Alexei Marcicov, went to the State Agency. He was received quite cordially by the women working there. After reading the materials, one of them remarked: “Why do you want to promote homosexuality? Wouldn’t it be better to publish erotic materials and photographs? They would sell much better.”

Mr Marcicov chose not to respond to the suggestions made by the Agency’s employees. He thanked them for their attention, took the typed official opinion and left.

Thus, beginning with issue No. 6, Zerkalo was distributed for sale through the MOLDPRESA and POȘTA MOLDOVEI retail networks. From then on, the third page of every issue carried the following notice: “The materials in this issue have been reviewed by the State Agency for the Protection of Morality.” Anyone who ever looks through the magazine’s bound archive will inevitably notice this line printed at the bottom of page three against a black background.

To illustrate how popular the magazine soon became, we can quote an excerpt from the editorial “Patience, Hard Work and Friends Helped Us Persevere and Find Our Rightful Place in the Sun,” written by Alexei Marcicov to mark the fifth anniversary of the GENDERDOC-M Information Centre and published in issue No. 2 (18) in 2003.

Reflecting on the organisation’s achievements, he could hardly have failed to mention Zerkalo:

“We now publish our own magazine, ‘Zerkalo’, which comes out once every two months. Both its content and its printing quality are admired not only in our country, but far beyond its borders. Gay and lesbian organisations from Moscow and St Petersburg, Saratov, Omsk, Mykolaiv, Kaniv in the Cherkasy Region, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk and Kharkiv, as well as organisations from Belarus, Israel and Kyrgyzstan, ask us to send them ‘Zerkalo’ not in single copies, but in dozens and even hundreds. Unfortunately, we are unable to do so, even though people need the information we publish.”

It was therefore no coincidence that, on 10 November 2008, Military Pub hosted celebrations marking the tenth anniversary of Zerkalo.

The anniversary events had begun several days earlier, on 7 November, at the offices of the GENDERDOC-M Information Centre, where readers called to congratulate the team and express their appreciation for its work. Later, the Centre’s staff gathered for a round-table discussion. They recalled the publication of the first issue, followed by the second and third. Beginning with its fourth issue, however, Zerkalo had become the principal voice and advocate for the initiatives organised by the community and for the community.

Over the course of ten years, 35 issues were published. How should they be described? All other adjectives can be set aside in favour of just two: necessary and important. At least, that is how readers described them. And for any publisher, that is what matters most — that a magazine is valued and in demand.

At the anniversary celebration marking the magazine’s tenth year, editor-in-chief Alexei Marcicov said:

“We understand that the magazine’s frequency and size have suffered, but we can nevertheless take pride in the fact that it is the only publication in the countries of the CIS and the former socialist bloc to have survived for such a long period of time. Perhaps the secret of the magazine’s longevity lies in the affection its readers have for it.”

Following that anniversary celebration, Zerkalo continued to be published for another ten years. In 2018, its final issue — No. 1 (61) — appeared.

Some time later, Alexei Marcicov transferred ownership of Zerkalo SRL to a GDM employee, who subsequently renamed the company and changed its field of activity.

That marked the end of the history of both Zerkalo magazine and Zerkalo SRL.

The history of community parties in Chisinau is a journey from complete isolation to the first islands of freedom, where everyone could be themselves without fear or the need to look over their shoulder.

The first events to bring together up to fifty gay men from Chisinau were two international conferences organised by the GENDERDOC-M Centre in late 1999 and early 2000. Both ended with a banquet, lively discussions and laughter, and some guests even met their partners there. A short break followed, during which the only opportunities to socialise with “people like us” were at the “pleshka”, as the community’s informal meeting spot was known, or within a small circle of friends.

Then, thanks to the initiative of our Dutch friends Dennis and Paul, January 2001 brought renewed opportunities to meet, dance, play games and even kiss. In other words, to have fun without looking around in fear. We began organising social evenings that the gay and lesbian community, remembering those earlier gatherings, called “conferences” — or, in more contemporary terms, discos.

January 2001: a homely atmosphere at “La plopii fără soț”

The organisers began looking for commercial venues, but prejudice led most restaurant owners in Chisinau to reject their proposals with disdain. The first staff to find themselves surprised by our boys dancing in each other’s arms were those at “La plopii fără soț”. At the time, a young man from the community worked there — let’s call him Vanya. He suggested holding parties at the restaurant, and arranging them turned out to be quite simple.

As Alexei Marcicov recalls: “The tables were arranged in a U-shape on a small summer terrace. There was barely enough room, but everyone was very happy and content. We ordered good, inexpensive wine from a guy in the community who had his own vineyard. We danced in the courtyard — it was enclosed, so the boys couldn’t be seen from the street.” The staff inside, however, could see everything perfectly well, and some understood what was going on. People began asking Vanya awkward questions, and he did not invite the gay community back for a third gathering.

The first steps: searching for a safe space

Now that the tradition of organising these evenings for the community had begun, the team was determined to keep it going and continued looking for other venues. Few were willing even to consider such a proposal. At one establishment in the Botanica district, a manager remarked with disgust: “Do you think anyone will want to come here after you?”

Nevertheless, there were quiet places away from prying eyes. One was a small basement bar on Armenească Street, where two discos took place. At one of these parties, overcome with emotion, two young men approached Alexei Marcicov and asked him to declare them a couple. This marked the beginning of Moldova’s tradition of symbolic same-sex marriages.

The “Dietetic Café” near the A. P. Chekhov Theatre also left a vivid mark on this history. An unusual but significant incident took place there: two young men arrived at a party by taxi, wearing spectacular feminine outfits. Their public entrance caused a traffic hazard and a commotion among passers-by. Although the organisers did not dare let them into the venue at the time for safety reasons, this bold performance prompted the team to consider seriously, for the first time, holding a full-scale international drag queen competition.

2002: the “Millennium” era and the first Pride

Moldova’s first Pride took place in 2002. Its main venue was “Millennium”, later renamed “XXL”, in the Botanica district. It also hosted the first large-scale disco with a true nightclub atmosphere. The event attracted international guests, partners and even television coverage, with a report broadcast on PRO TV. The parties later moved to “B52” in the Ciocana district, but threats from homophobic individuals and safety concerns soon forced the organisers to leave that venue too.

The golden age of “Haos” (2002–2005)

The autumn of 2002 marked the beginning of the golden age of community parties. Liuba, the artistic director of “Haos”, herself proposed holding regular gatherings — initially on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, then on Mondays. Despite the inconvenient weekday schedule, the venue was never empty and became a legendary home for the community. It was here that the second, third and fourth Prides were celebrated in style. During renovations, the parties temporarily moved to the “Palmira” café in Botanica, but everyone returned to their familiar home once the club reopened. The “Haos” era ended only when the building was sold.

The nomadic years: searching for a new home

After “Haos” closed, the community moved from one venue to another:

• “Equator” — a venue on the upper floor of the restaurant of the same name. It was remembered for its large stage for drag shows and sets by community favourite DJ Dooh, but closed following a sharp increase in rent.
• “Street Dance” and “Chocolate” — neither became an established community venue because of their unwelcoming spaces and prohibitively high prices.
• “Casanova” — had a welcoming atmosphere but proved unsafe: guests were attacked in the street just around the corner.
• “Zero”, “Penalty”, “GP” and “Alibi” — the final stops on this long journey through the city’s clubs. “Alibi” came closest to recreating the warmth of the legendary “Haos”, but eventually it too closed.

There were other iconic venues, including Soho, Studio 01, Star Track, Military Pub, Faraon and many more. Their owners certainly knew their business. Each of these places left fond memories in the hearts of many members of the LGBTI+ community and staff at the GENDERDOC-M Centre.

On 8 March 2001, the GENDERDOC-M Information Centre received a letter from Brussels from the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA). It opened with the words: “Welcome to the international lesbian and gay community!”

The letter announced that the Centre had been admitted as an associate member of ILGA. The next step was to obtain full membership at the association’s next world conference, scheduled for later that year.

This was made possible in large part by the Swedish organisation RFSL, which paid our membership fee.

At the time, ILGA already held consultative status with the Council of Europe and had established ties with the European Parliament and the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.

Joining ILGA opened up new opportunities for GENDERDOC-M: taking part in international campaigns for LGBT+ rights, working with human rights organisations in different countries, and seeking international support in cases involving violations of the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in Moldova.

It was an important step in the Centre’s development and in strengthening its international ties. From that moment on, we could count on the support of a large global community.

As the saying goes, we were no longer alone.

From 14 to 21 June 2026, the GENDERDOC-M Information Centre held the 25th anniversary edition of the Moldova Pride Festival under the slogan “Love creates, the law protects”. Its central theme was the legal recognition of same-sex couples and everyone’s right to form a family protected by law. The festival combined an awareness campaign, public events, regional cooperation and participation in the Chișinău Pride March, which brought together approximately 1,000 people.

The campaign began with a video by filmmaker and activist Leo Zbancă, released on 14 June. It told three stories of Moldovan emigration: leaving to survive, seeking a better life, and moving to another country to be able to form a legally recognised family. In this way, GENDERDOC-M connected the demand for equal rights with the experiences of many Moldovan families forced to live apart. The video accumulated more than 1.44 million views across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. On Facebook, it reached 745,104 unique users and was shared 2,702 times. The campaign was complemented by five articles and interviews published by Nokta, Ziarul de Gardă and NordNews.

The anniversary festival also offered an opportunity to reflect on the history of the LGBTQI+ movement in Moldova and thank those who had supported its development. The official opening took place on 16 June at GENDERDOC-M’s premises, with 52 people in attendance. On 17 June, the satirical event “Strachina de Jmalț” (“The Enamel Bowl”) brought together 48 participants to address public expressions of homophobia and transphobia, as well as political manipulation that exploits prejudice.

On 19 June, the conference of the Eastern European Coalition for LGBT+ Equality brought together 45 participants from seven countries. They discussed the human rights situation, disinformation and the need for coordinated action to defend equal rights. On the same day, Meije Kiel and Nigel Warner received the “Inimi implicate” (“Caring Heart”) Awards in recognition of their contributions to the development of GENDERDOC-M and the protection of LGBT+ rights through international legal advocacy.

On 20 June, Pride Park welcomed 876 participants at Artcor. Visitors had access to information about rights and services, anonymous rapid testing for sexually transmitted infections, creative workshops and a fair featuring independent makers and civil society organisations. The Free Shop gave 86 people the opportunity to choose clothing, books and other items donated by the community, free of charge. Exhibitions, gatherings and symbolic wedding ceremonies explored the movement’s history, trans rights, violence prevention and family recognition.

On 21 June, approximately 1,000 people took part in the 14th Pride March, held for the first time under the name Chișinău Pride and organised by the Platform of LGBTQI+ Organisations in the Republic of Moldova. GENDERDOC-M joined the march to call for legal recognition and protection for families formed by same-sex couples. The march took place without incident and was the most peaceful held in Chișinău to date. The final day also included the discussion “At the Intersection of Activism and Journalism”, attended by 33 people.

Moldova Pride 2026 demonstrated how public communication, community gatherings and international solidarity help strengthen the community and advance equal rights. The anniversary festival provided an opportunity both to reflect on its 25 editions and to reaffirm the future GENDERDOC-M is working towards: everyone should have the right to live in Moldova alongside the person they love and to form a family recognised and protected by law.

The seventh edition of Coming Out Days Fest, organised by the GENDERDOC-M Information Centre, took place from 9 to 11 October 2026 at NOD Space in Chișinău. The festival brought together LGBT+ people, parents, artists and activists. Film screenings, discussions, exhibitions, workshops and concerts created space for conversations about coming out, family support and the queer community’s visibility in public life.

The festival opened with a screening of “Nebunul”, directed by Igor Cobileanski, bringing together 106 participants. Over the following days, audiences watched documentaries and fiction films exploring family, identity, discrimination, activism and war. Discussions with filmmakers, including Georgian filmmaker Lia Jaqeli, offered opportunities to compare the experiences of LGBT+ people in different countries.

Preserving community history was an important part of the programme. At “Propaganda Brunch: How One Person Can Change the World”, 35 participants heard recollections from GENDERDOC-M’s founder, the organisation’s first two directors and the Centre’s current director. They spoke about some of the first public coming-out experiences in Moldova in the early 2000s, the courage of those who chose to be open about their identities, and the consequences of public visibility. They also shared experiences of outing — the disclosure of someone’s identity without their consent. Two photographic exhibitions presented the history of Pride marches and the first symbolic queer weddings, recalling the long struggle for visibility, family life and recognition.

Dialogue between generations held a special place in the programme. “Coming Out for Two” brought together 42 people, including ten parents of LGBT+ children. Three mothers spoke about their initial reactions, fears, difficulties and gradual journey towards acceptance. Participants discussed how to support loved ones, cope with social pressure and maintain family relationships. The central message was that coming out is just one part of family life and should not define the entire relationship between parents and children.

Art offered another way to explore visibility and solidarity. A discussion with participants from Moldova, Ukraine, Georgia and Armenia examined the possibilities and risks associated with queer art. Creative workshops, a concert by the band A P R O A P E and other activities provided space for connection, self-expression and the exchange of experiences.

The festival concluded with the inaugural VIZIBILX Gala, continuing the tradition of the Courage Awards previously presented during Moldova Pride. Research into GENDERDOC-M’s archives helped reconstruct the history of the awards, presented since 2005, and recognise people whose public coming out had contributed to the community’s visibility but whose contributions had previously gone unacknowledged. In total, 31 people received awards — LGBT+ people and family members who had openly expressed support for their loved ones. The closing event welcomed 63 people, and the evening ended with a concert by Lia Burg.

To continue the conversation beyond the festival, GENDERDOC-M produced an interview with Natalia Ozturk, coordinator of the Bee Parents support group, and the article “Coming Out: Why Speak About Who You Are When Society Is Not Ready to Listen?” The interview drew on her approximately 22 years of experience working with parents of LGBT+ children. Nokta, Nord News and Ziarul de Gardă shared the materials in Romanian and Russian.

Coming Out Days Fest 2026 brought together family support, queer culture and the preservation of community history. Participants’ accounts, archival photographs and journalistic coverage remind us that the history of the movement for equal rights is shaped not only by public events, but also by personal stories, the courage to be oneself, and the willingness of loved ones to accept and support one another.