A trans woman was denied service in a bank due to the mismatch between her documents and her gender expression. Her complaint to the Equality Council brought a decision confirming the discrimination and recommendation to the bank to take measures to prevent such situations in the future.

In June, an online news site disclosed the location of GENDERDOC-M’s Trans Camp that was planned to take place in July. Following the news and threats to the originally designated hotel, the organisers moved the event to another location.

Civil society organised help for LGBT+ people fleeing Ukraine and Russia.

Despite the 2022 law making anti-LGBT hate speech and hate crimes a criminal offence, hate speech by politicians and religious leaders remained a serious issue this year, as highlighted by the Ombudsperson. In January, the Metropolitan of Chisinau, Vladimir said that the Orthodox Church would firmly respond if Moldova provided legal recognition to same- sex couples (see more under Family) and that the authorities would become “traitors” to promote foreign values and the “propaganda of sin”. Genderdoc-M filed a hate speech report against the Metropolitan. In June, several politicians made hostile statements about the Pride march (see here and here). Paediatrician Igor Pletosu called LGBT people “mentally ill” in June. Hate speech, misinformation and stigmatising statements were also common in the lead up to the municipal elections in November.

A man was found guilty of hate speech and fined for hate messages and threats to an activist last year.

A man who threatened to kill gay ex-soldier Marin Pavlescu (see under Police and Law Enforcement), was arrested upon entering the country in June.

A two-day event bringing together thousands of evangelical Christians, known for their anti-LGBT views, was held in Chisinau – the organisers met with the mayor.

GENDERDOC-M revealed this year’s anti-LGBT awards in June, featuring Orthodox Bishop Markel, the leader of “Our Party” Renato Usatii and Communist Party MP Diana Karaman. Usatii, for instance, said in January that he would give a house in Italy to same-sex newlyweds as long as they get married there and move from Moldova. Karaman had made several statements against Pride and also against the Istanbul Convention. The Shor party, which was found to be unconstitutional and banned this year, received the main prize.

Hate speech by politicians increased during the campaigns for local elections. For example, the Socialist Party distributed a newspaper that said “Ban on gay parades and LGBT propaganda in schools”. In October, Maxim Moroșan, a candidate for the mayor of Bălți and a TV presenter engaged in a homophobic dialogue with threats and incitement to hatred during the TV show Evening Conversation. Both cases have been reported to the police.

Several hate crimes took place this year and several LGBT people reported domestic violence cases to civil society.

In June, a gay man was attacked while he was walking to, and in his car. The police detained the attackers and classified the case as a criminal offence.

In September, the Renaissance Party organised a protest in the city centre against European integration. At the protest, a flag with rainbow colours and the EU flag colours was torn apart by the party leader, Alexandr Nesterovskii.

In October, a young man was attacked outside a nightclub by other club customers with homophobic slurs and physical violence. Neither the security nor police identified the attackers. A misdemeanour case has been opened.

In February, a school psychologist in Chisinau told students to “not tolerate ‘dysfunctions’ like lesbians, gays, and bisexuals” and “report those people to her” so she can “cure them”.

GENDERDOC-M reported the case and suggested the Ministry of Education hold awareness training for psychologists at schools. The Ministry did not accept the offer.

The buildings of the EU Delegation and the US Embassy raised a rainbow flag on the occasion of IDAHOBIT in May. 30 Embassies joined this year’s IDAHOBIT statement and urged the authorities to protect Pride participants in June.

In his 2022 annual report, the Ombudsperson called on the state to protect the rights of LGBT people.

Following the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights on Fedotova v. Russia in January, family rights became a heated topic in Moldova. The Court affirmed that the lack of legal recognition for same-sex couples is a violation of the right to private and family life (Art. 8). Moldova’s Metropolitan for instance called the judgement “outrageous” and ex-President Igor Dodon said recognition for same-sex couples would never happen in Moldova. In June, the People’s Advocate, Moldova’s NHRI, said the state will have to find a solution to comply with the ECtHR ruling. Currently, the Constitution defines family as marriage between a man and a woman and the Family Code sets out that same-sex marriage is not permitted.

Six couples turned to the authorities to request legal recognition, including in the form of marriage (see here, here, here) – all six were denied. Several couples shared their stories in interviews this year (see here, here, and here). Six couples turned to the courts after the registry denied their request.

On 25 May, the National Assembly of Gagauzia adopted a law banning ‘LGBT propaganda’. Civil society firmly condemned the move, reminding that such a ban violates Moldova’s Constitution. The Ombudsperson issued a statement reminding of the obligation to uphold freedom of expression and assembly without discrimination.

This year marked Moldova’s 22nd Pride Festival, which focused on the theme of same-sex partnership and marriage equality, and was held between 12-18 June. The Pride march on 18 June was the biggest to date, attended by over 500 people. A number of MPs from the ruling Action and Solidarity party (PAS) were present, but one of them said Moldova was not ready for marriage equality.

No attacks were recorded and fewer police officers were present than before, which the organisers welcomed as a positive step towards marching freely. Small groups of counter-protesters were present, holding religious symbols and chanting “shame”.

A week before the march, Chisinau’s mayor Ion Ceban said he would not give the organisers a permit – similar to last year. Nevertheless, the mayor had no mandate to ban Pride. The PAS mayoral candidate condemned Ceban’s statements and said he would support the Pride march. Several memes were posted, making fun of Ceban’s stance. Ceban was re-elected in local elections in November.

Disney’s Strange World was removed from cinema schedules in the Transnistrian region due to alleged ‘LGBT propaganda’.

In February, Alexandr Nesterovschi, a deputy from the Communists and Socialists Bloc, proposed the inclusion of a draft law on the parliamentary plenary session’s agenda that bans LGBTI “propaganda” in schools. The parliamentary majority declined this initiative.

This year, the Ministry of Justice continued to work on the legal gender recognition law. In 2022, the Equality Council established that the lack of a legal framework constitutes discrimination against trans people.

Soldier Marin Pavlescu, who had suffered homophobic abuse and mocking at his army base in 2021, filed a lawsuit against the Ministry of Defense.