PINK Embassy presents the LGBTI topic in Vlora’s high schools

Vlora, 29 January 2016 – PINK Embassy / LGBT Pro Albania with the support of the European Union, held today the training on LGBTI topics with high schools “Ataturk”, “Halim Xhelo’, “Ali Demi” of Vlora. The training session was held with teachers and psychologists from social and natural sciences of the three high schools.

Held in the framework of the initiative “Improving the lives of LGBTI people at the local level” and in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Sport and the Regional Directorate of Education of Vlora, the training aimed to inform and discuss with teachers and psychologists the concepts, problems and challenges that LGBTI people face in society. Special focus was given to young LGBTI people and the problems they face with discrimination and bullying in schools.

The trainings shed light on a series of issues and challenges related to the official position of schools, personal perceptions of teachers and institutional as well as policy challenges related to this topic and particular and discrimination in general. They admitted that they had never been raised capacities on such issues, where some of them held negative positions leaving the room. A number of teachers expressed their perplexity on the need to raise capacities of academic staff on issues regarding gender identity and sexual orientation, expressing their prejudices and negative opinions regarding non-heterosexual and transgender persons.

From a personal and practical viewpoint it was noticed that a number of participants present at the training were eager to receive information but denied the existence of homophobic events at their school. Only one of the 30 participants admitted to have received trainings on LGBTI rights previously, and these mostly in the context of gender equality and human rights.

At the end of the training a participant shared with the group her experience with two cases of homophobic bullying in school, with a ten year distance. She expressed her concern that the lack of information and knowledge on harassment and homophobic bullying had made support for these two young people very difficult, 10 years ago and today.

PINK Embassy / LGBT Pro Albania wishes to express its gratitude to the Ministry of Education and Sports, Regional Directorate of Education of Vlora and specifically to the directors of the high-schools of the city for their cooperation and support in holding these awareness activities.

For more information please contact: pinkembassy@crca.al; Tel: 04 2265741