“Love creates, the law protects”: Chisinau Pride March held in Chisinau
The 13th edition of the "Chisinau Pride 2026" march, organized by the LGBT+ community in the Republic of Moldova, took place without major incidents. The main theme of the event was equal rights and protection against discrimination. While the demonstration was largely peaceful, it did elicit negative reactions from some citizens. Immediately after the march concluded, a group of parishioners and church leaders followed the same route, carrying icons and religious objects. They sprinkled holy water on the streets as a protest against the demonstration for sexual minorities.
The 25th edition of the Moldova Pride 2026 Festival kicked off with the launch of the promotional spot "Moldova Pride 2026," centered around the message "Love Creates, the Law Protects." This year, the event was renamed to emphasize that public spaces belong to everyone.
Participants came to the march carrying flags and banners with messages supporting equality, advocating for the right of every person to live without prejudice. Some of their statements included:
“We decided to participate to support our friends—a community that needs support in our country, regardless of religion or sexuality.”
“I am a heterosexual woman, married to a wonderful man. But today, I am here to support people because I believe everyone has equal rights, regardless of their orientation.”
“We are the parents of LGBT children, and we want to defend our children and other kids who are not accepted by their parents.”
"The goal is to respect human rights. We all have the same rights, regardless of sexual orientation or religion."
Beyond its festive atmosphere, this year's march aimed to urge the country to align its national legislation with European laws regarding same-sex couples.
"The European Court of Human Rights has issued a decision requiring all member states of the Council of Europe—including Moldova, which has been a member since 1995—to adopt a law that regulates same-sex relationships. We insist that Moldova honor its obligations," stated Angelica Frolov, the director of the Genderdoc-M Organization.
On the other side of the debate, some citizens criticized the event, viewing the march as an affront to Christian values. Their reactions included:
"Shame! Shame! Shame!"
"From a religious standpoint, it is a sin, and all sin affects the state."
"It's a shame for our country. It's not honorable to publicly declare something that goes against God's creation."
After the event, a group of priests and parishioners were seen on Bucharest str., holding icons and sprinkling holy water on the road.
On the eve of the march, socialists organized a counter-demonstration. Thousands participated in the Family March, which promoted traditional values and supported efforts to increase the birth rate.
