Category Archives: The Listener : picture for your soul

PRISHTINA, KOSOVO – While Kosovo’s Constitution does not restrict its definition of marriage to the union between a man and a woman, same-sex couples are not recognized by law either. Article 24 prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation, but LGBTI advocates say social stigma is strong. Gay men and lesbians in Albania and Kosovo chose to hide their faces in these photos out of fear of violence and persecution.

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Two men in Kosovo show off a photo celebrating their relationship. Both refuse to show their faces for fear of persecution

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“Love knows no gender,” reads this graffiti in a local park in Tirana, Albania..

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Two Albanian women kiss publicly, a brave act of affection that some in the background applaud

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In Albania, homosexuality is often assumed to be a Western phenomenon. Doctors of Homophobia distributes information about it

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Lesbians are more likely to hold hands in public in Kosovo than gay men

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Gay men arrange a clandestine meeting at a local children’s playground in Prishtina, Kosovo

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A transgender woman in Tirana has lived most of her life on the street. She says she has no rights or protection in her country

Mersina Xhemajli, Reporter The Global Press Institute ©2011, http://globalpressinstitute.org

Mersina Xhemajli´s biography at http://prosumerzen.net/external-editorial-partnerships-contributions/

Prosumerzen is proud to start a collaboration with The Press Global Institute</strong>, a multiple award winning not-for-profit enterprise training, employing and empowering quality, independent reporting solely by women in developing countries. We currently employ some 90+ women journalists in 23 countries.We dedicate to The Global Press Institue a new section called ” Voices: Women Journalists for a better world” and this to magnify the superb work they are doing for the world.