Chisinau, May 14 (Infotag). The 3rd pride of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transsexuals, “Rainbow above the Dniester”, has started in Moldova today. Its motto is “Unity in Diversity”.

Mr. Alexei Marchkov, the head of the GenderDoc-M Center – the event organizer, told a news conference in Infotag today that the three-day pride’s program includes cultural, sportive, entertainment arrangements aimed at the propaganda of tolerance and informing the society about sexual minorities.

The festival’s program includes an international seminar on the development of lesbian movement in FSU republics, a conference on cooperation between the civil society and the State in promoting the rights of socially vulnerable population groups, football matches between the teams of gays, heterosexuals and lesbians, psychological training sessions, a travesty beauty contest, etc.

Alexei Marchkov said the gay-pride has gathered 775 persons from 10 countries of the world. The Moldovan organization has 14 members.

Joke Swiebel, a Dutch deputy of the European Parliament, pointed out at the news conference that the Republic of Moldova, as a really democratic state, must take under its protection the freedom of gays, lesbians, transsexuals and bisexuals.

She said, they are no different from usual people. They only want to have the legal right to choose their own style of living, without suffering insults, violence or arbitrary rule. In her words, Moldova should pass a Law to protect the sexual minorities in order to bring human right violators to stand responsibility.