PINK Embassy / LGBT Pro Albania is a non-profit organization which works for the protection and advancement of the rights of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender, intersex and queer people in Albania.
Our work started in the mid-2000s with a group of LGBT activists close to CRCA Albania who worked for the first legal advancements regarding LGBT people and crafted the PINK Embassy idea. The first program started with “PINK Embassy” thanks to the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in collaboration with COC Netherland, one of the oldest LGBT organizations in the country. Public activities started off on May 17th 2010 with the program “PINK Embassy – creating opportunities and encouraging the LGBT community in Albania”. Designed within a three year long framework the program made possible the mainstreaming of the LGBT cause in Albania through awareness campaigns and a periodic media communication, to stimulate participation and institutional engagement and strengthen their capacities and create social, creative and emancipatory spaces for the LGBTI community. During this period PINK registered as an organization, created a compact, dedicated and professional team and worked for the coordination of all interest groups at the benefit of the LGBT cause in the country.
Through these efforts and the support of national and international partners, on May 17th 2012, PINK held the “Festival of Diversity”, the first outdoor public event in the country. This has been one of the most decisive moments for the recognition of the LGBT cause in the country.
PINK believes that the advancement of LGBT rights cannot be achieved without the engagement of relevant institutions and the community. For this purpose, during these years the organization has developed cooperation with institutions such as the Albanian Parliament (Kuvendi), the People’s Advocate, Commissioner for Protection from Discrimination, Ministry of Social Welfare and Youth, Municipalities etc. In these endeavours we thank all institutions, organizations and governments which have supported and continue to support the LGBT movement in Albania. Our friends, in these endeavour have been civil society and many organizations working for the rights of women, children, people with disabilities and other minorities.