The situation is consistently bad
On 13 May, the European division of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex Association published an updated homophobia rating. Over the year, Belarus has dropped from 42nd to 43rd place with only 49 countries in the ranking. The authors of the study point out that there is still no anti-discrimination legislation in our country, while officials of the highest rank allow themselves to publicly call same-sex relations a fake. Registration of an LGBT organization in Belarus, which could protect the rights of LGBT people, is out of the question.
"The situation is consistently bad, but there are a lot of people who start to do something for themselves, their friends and relatives," comments LGBT activist Andrei Zavaley. "We come to an understanding that there is no hope for anyone else but ourselves. We are beginning to interact with each other, to strengthen ourselves. Basically, this is how civil society develops. I find it very inspiring at the moment."