Civil – Center for Freedom strongly condemns the hooligan
act on the premises of the LGBTI support center in the Skopje Old Town, opened
on October 23. We appeal to the
authorities and all relevant institutions to take immediate measures to
sanction the hooligans and enable unobstructed operation of the LGBTI center in
Skopje. It should be the first step towards changing policies and the treatment
of the LGBTI community in Macedonia, i.e. maximum improvement of their social
and legal status.
Stoning of the LGBTI center is not surprising, just as
hate speech, discrimination and violence along ethnic, religious or other
grounds are no surprise anymore. Fostering the cult of pure and monolithic
nation is clearly reflected in the public appearances of part of the political
elite in the country.
This hooligan act is yet another evidence of the
intolerance and violence that woven into the Macedonian society nowadays. In
our view, this incident is a consequence of the intolerance and discrimination
that are promoted by the highest structures in the country.