“I never doubted that equal rights was the right direction” is what Alice Paul, the organizer of the biggest Suffragette manifestation in America in 1913, said. Today, thanks to Alice and her supporters, women in America have the right to vote.
What was the price that Alice and many others had to pay for the nineteenth amendment in the constitution of USA made in 1920, which prohibited gender discrimination in voting? The price paid for the acquisition of equal rights was a fight that went on for a century, and for Alice – deprivation of liberty, time spent in prison and a hunger-strike.
Time, endless efforts, humiliation and even losing life is the price paid in every fight for equal rights everywhere around the world. And equal rights are actually nothing less than freedom itself.
In already free Bulgaria in 1878 men automatically received the right to vote. When did women receive it? Entirely – in 1944. When did men receive the right to have higher education? In the very foundation of Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski (then Sofia school for high education) in 1888. Women won that right “only a little bit” later – in 1901.
On 27th of June, a group that is not insignificant at all will fight for their freedom – to be themselves and not be hated for it; for their right for… rights and for overcoming discrimination they are being victim of. The other part of that large group probably feels scared. Scared because of the hatred, the stigma, the mob law and the action of pseudo-patriotic formations and pseudo institution, which claim to preach love for the fellow-men.
We, from Bulgarian Fund for Women fear the intolerance, discrimination, parochialism, hypocrisy, homophobia, hatred, violence and especially the ones stemming from pure stupidity. We fear that everyone who can easily violate LGBTI’s human rights is a treat to the freedom and democracy in Bulgaria.
We fear that LGBTI people are victims of the same inhumane propaganda and discrimination that once women were (and still are in some parts of the world).
Thus, Bulgarian Fund for Women supports the organization and conduction of Sofia Pride for another year in a row. We stand behind lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual and intersexual rights for love and freedom. For us the question “for or against the Sofia Pride?” is not relevant; it is surprising how in the 21 century in an European country people don’t even ask themselves “what is the reason why we actually need Sofia pride”.
Bulgarian Fund for women works and will continue to work for the elimination of all forms of discrimination, the elimination of violence and for achieving equality for all people despite their gender, race, sexual orientation, etc.
We know how severe the fight for freedom is and that’s why we will walk together and proud when Sofia Pride’s being held. To all who are against the manifestation, we wish them access to (more) high quality education.
