Moldovans Still Intolerant Towards LGBT Community, Study Shows

New study reveals low level of acceptance of marginalised social groups in Moldova, including LGBT people, which experts blame on non-enforcement of law against hate speech and the influence of Russian media propaganda.

Moldovans participate in a Pride march in June 2022. Photo: BIRN/Madalin Necsutu

About 70 per cent of Moldovans would not accept members of the LGBT community as neighbours, and 50 per cent would not accept people infected with HIV as neighbours, according to a study by the Partnership for Development Centre in Chisinau.

Also, half of the respondents to a survey conducted by this NGO also would not accept people who have been detained as neighbours. According to the study, the three social groups are among the most discriminated against in Moldovan society.

“These figures tell us very clearly about the level of discrimination and prejudice in Moldova, but also about the fact that we are still at a very, very early stage when we talk about combating stereotypes and including people from minority groups,” said Natalia Covrig, executive director of the Partnership for Development Centre.

The coordinator of the Genderdoc-M Information Centre, another NGO based in Chisinau, Leo Zbanca, said that in a hostile society, people do not feel safe to reveal their sexual orientation or gender identity .

He also noted that much of the misinformation related to the LGBT community in Moldova is propagated through media sources coming from Russia.

“The Russian Federation is creating narratives that the internal enemy is the LGBT community, and these narratives, unfortunately, come through the media and some Russian-affiliated actors. That is why more emphasis must be placed on implementing the laws in force. We have a very good law against hate speech, and it must be respected,” Zbanca said.

An expert on combating hate speech from the Promo-LEX Association, Irina Corobcenco, said that data show that hate speech is constantly present in the Moldovan public space – and increases in intensity during election periods.

“Men use hate speech more often than women. It is frequently encountered among people aged between 35-50. Hate speech generated by people with fame in the public space, such as the police or state officials, has a much greater impact,” she explained.