IDAHOBIT 2016: “Ally of the year” award granted for the first time

On 17th May 2016 was the first joint observing of the International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) organized by the Delegation of the European Union in Macedonia, and the UNDP office in Skopje, in partnership with Subversive Front. The representatives of the EU and the UN in Skopje mentioned how important it is to address LGBTI issues in a country where there is no state support of this community. Antonio Mihajlov, the president of Subversive Front, mentioned that it is discouraging that the LGBTI issues are addressed by foreign organisations and missions in the country, and not by the competent state authorities.

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IDAHOBIT 2016 was also the event when the “Ally of the year” award was granted for the first time in the history of Macedonian LGBTI activism. The award, which is given to individuals and organisations that have significantly contributed to the campaign for equal rights of the LGBTI people in Macedonia, was granted to Ognen Janeski, TV host and journalist at the Macedonian national TV station “24 Vesti”, who has continuously been showing extraordinary efforts of support and solidarity in the combat against homophobia and transphobia in Macedonia.