Here’s Everything You Should Know About The Albania LGBT Community

As opposed to several countries out there that criminalize LBGT people, you would find Albania a respectable country in regards to that. Many nations are still getting familiar with some concepts related to the topic, so it can often get difficult to try and find the right community for you to take part in as an LGBT member. Or a country you feel welcome to visit.

(If you’re visiting Albania for the first time, you might want to know some useful tips in advance.)

Now, let’s get back to the topic: Is Albania gay-friendly?

IS Albania Gay-friendly?

Generally speaking, Albania is safe to visit and live in if you’re part of LBGTQ+. The country already has a community of non-cisgender people who even come together to hold annual pride parades in the capital city, peacefully putting their message forward. The following video documents the event from 2017, showcasing the parade moving right past the office of the country’s prime minister in the downtown area. So yes, Albania is gay-friendly.

I had the opportunity to talk to different gay people who visited Albania for a lengthy period, thereby hearing only good things about the attitude of the nation’s denizens toward said persons. One of them expressed that they held hands with their partner in Albania and slightly delved into PDAs during their trip but encountered zero issues with the people around the couple.

The locals have no reason to get violent or anything of the sort if you respect them.

However, keep in mind that an intense display of affection in an open environment could be interpreted as “disrespectful” by the Albanians.

WHAT TO BE AWARE OF in ALBANIA

Albania, coming hot off the heels of the Ottoman Empire’s rule, had a rigid stance on the concept of LGBT up until the mid-1990s. The nation didn’t welcome LGBT members right from the beginning, and if you came out publicly anytime before 1995, you’d be getting a ticket to prison.

That’s because Albania only legalized homosexual relationships in 1995, though the country’s legislation still does not permit same-sex marriages. This is an ongoing challenge that the LGBT community faces even to this day, with the Albanian government promising to look into the matter a couple of times in the past but failing to do so after all.

Moreover, the majority of Albania’s population likes to stay reserved, so it’s best not to attract any unwanted attention in public spaces, though, again, it’s not like you’re going to be in danger if you do so. Albania is gay-friendly, and that’s what you should know in the back of your mind. But you might get some stares from the locals.

However, as you go further outside the city centre and out into the more rural areas of the Balkan nation, where the common folk have not kept up with these changes, especially the elderly, I would advise staying discreet about your sexuality.

Another point to be wary of is that the country has certain anti-discrimination laws in place for LGBT people, which ensure that you, as a gay person, are treated fairly and fairly in various capacities, including education and employment.

Valuable insights from LGBT Albanian visitors

Speaking to an LGBT person (who chose to remain anonymous for this write-up) who travelled to multiple Albanian cities, I gathered useful information that you could utilize for your trip to Albania as a foreigner.

The Pink Embassy, for starters, is a local LGBT organization that you can visit for deeper insights into the LGBT culture in Albania. You can also find new friends to talk to and tour around the city with.

Albania also has some LGBT-friendly bars and cafes, including Radio Bar, Bunker1944 Lounge Bar, and Tunel Terrace. These are great hang-out places that you should not miss if you’re visiting the country soon.