Skopje Pride participants demand ‘death to fascism, freedom to the people’

June 26, 2025

Skopje Pride, organized by the National Network Against Homophobia and Transphobia, took place in North Macedonia's capital on June 21, 2025, under the slogan "We stand. We persist. Together!

Who is affected

LGBTQ+ community in North Macedonia
Transgender people specifically mentioned as targets of "orchestrated attack"
Children with disabilities and LGBTQ+ children in the education system
Transgender students facing discrimination in schools
Palestinian people (through expressions of solidarity)
Women (referenced in protest signs questioning their survival)
The broader population affected by what protesters described as fascist policies

What action is being taken

The National Network Against Homophobia and Transphobia is organizing the protest march
Protesters are marching through Skopje's streets with rainbow flags
Participants are publicly declaring positions through the Skopje Pride Manifesto
Speakers are warning about threats to democracy, human rights, and gender equality
Parents of transgender children are demanding that educational institutions stop discriminating
The Pride Weekend Skopje 2025 festival and panel discussions on gender-based disinformation are taking place during Pride Month

Why it matters

The protest represents resistance against the "negation of the LGBTQ+ community's identity and existence"
The government has put a two-year pause on legislative changes required for gender recognition
Anti-gender associations are spreading "moral panic, fear and hate through anti-science and manipulated information"
Educational institutions are reportedly segregating and discriminating against children with disabilities and LGBTQ+ children
The protest highlights connections between LGBTQ+ rights and other social justice issues including Palestinian rights and environmental concerns
The event demonstrates growing opposition to what protesters describe as "growing movement against democracy, human rights and gender equality"

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: Global Voices