The Bulgarian Gay Organization marked the International Day against homophobia by organizing the first in Bulgaria Equality Walk. Photo by Yuliana Nikolova (Sofia News Agency)
On the International Day Against Homophobia, Bulgaria's gay organization Gemini renewed its calls upon Bulgarian authorities to support the campaign for recognition of 17 May in the national calendar.
In January 2005 BGO Gemini initiated the national campaign for recognition of 17 May as official Day Against Homophobia in the Bulgarian calendar, as part of a global initiative of human rights NGOs from all around the world.
On 17 May 1990, the General Assembly of the World Health Organization (WHO) removed homosexuality from their list of mental disorders. This action served to end more than a century of medical homophobia.
"The decision of the WHO constitutes a historic date and powerful symbol for members of the LGBT community and we feel that it is only normal that IDAHO be recognized and observed as every other International Day (i.e. International Women's Day, International Human Rights Day etc)," the organization said in a statement.
The Bulgarian Gay Organization marked the International Day against homophobia by organizing the first in Bulgaria Equality Walk. It started from the front entrance of the National Palace of Culture - Sofia and completed at the building of the National Assembly. All the collected signatures, letters of support and proposal for recognition of Day Against Homophobia in the Bulgarian calendar will be presented to the Parliamentary speaker Borislav Velikov.