A solidarity march entitled “I’m Ok”, which brought together members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender/transsexual and intersex community (LGBT) and their supporters, was mounted on Chisinau on May 19. The itinerary of the march was made public in the event so as to avoid clashes with supporters of the church who each year went out to attack the marchers. These went along București St up to the Palace of the Republic, IPN reports.

Livestreaming through a social networking site after the march, Angela Frolov, program coordinator at the Center “Genderdoc-M, thanked all those who came to defend the rights of the LGBT community. She noted the members of the community she represents are ok with all the counterdemonstrations as long as these do not encroach on their rights. The activist voiced hope a day will come when so many police officers on the streets of the capital city will no longer be needed to protect them from counterdemonstrators who will limit their right to assembly.

In a press release, the General Police Inspectorate said the solidarity march “I’m Ok” was held without major incidents. Dozens of police officers, carabiners and other employees of the Ministry of the Interior were engaged in maintaining public order.

The march was staged as part of the Moldova Pride festival to celebrate diversity, uniqueness, self-acceptance and the fact that the members of the LGBT community are ok regardless of their different ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation and political beliefs.

Priests and parishioners of the Moldovan Orthodox Church on May 19 mounted a counterdemonstration at the monument to ruler Stephan the Great and Holy, one day after staging a march in support of the traditional family.