CHISINAU -- About 100 people have taken part in a high-profie march organized by Moldova's lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community in the capital, Chisinau, under the slogan "Equal rights for all."
The May 19 march was joined by U.S. Ambassador to Moldova William Moser, European Union envoy Dirck Schuebel, and EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fuele.
Police stopped the march at the halfway point, saying they wanted to prevent possible clashes with people protesting gay rights.
Earlier in the day, several hundred Orthodox priests and believers protested outside the Metropolitan Cathedral in Chisinau against Moldova's equal opportunities law, which bans employment discrimination against sexual minorities.
The law was adopted in 2012 as part of efforts by the pro-Western government of Prime Minister Vlad Filat toward greater European integration.
The May 19 march was joined by U.S. Ambassador to Moldova William Moser, European Union envoy Dirck Schuebel, and EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fuele.
Police stopped the march at the halfway point, saying they wanted to prevent possible clashes with people protesting gay rights.
Earlier in the day, several hundred Orthodox priests and believers protested outside the Metropolitan Cathedral in Chisinau against Moldova's equal opportunities law, which bans employment discrimination against sexual minorities.
The law was adopted in 2012 as part of efforts by the pro-Western government of Prime Minister Vlad Filat toward greater European integration.
