The sixth Skopje Pride Parade will take place on June 21, 2025.

The National Network Against Homophobia and Transphobia held a press conference today dedicated to this year’s Pride Parade. As in previous years, the starting point will be “Woman Fighter” Park, where participants will gather from 6:00 PM, and after brief opening speeches at 7:00 PM, the protest march through the streets of Skopje will begin. This year, Skopje Pride introduces a new route — both symbolically and literally.

This is not a celebration – this is a protest.
No public program. No entertainment. Only resistance.

In recent months, we’ve witnessed how the education system erases every mention of our identities, our stories, our existence.
The growing violence, hate, and ridicule in schools are not accidental—they are the result of institutional shame and silence.
Instead of protection, education policies offer invisibility. Instead of care—they offer denial.

“And that is exactly why we will stand before this Ministry, loud and unyielding—because young people deserve better. Because queer students’ lives matter,”
said activist Stefan Petrovski.

In front of the Ministry of Education, we will raise our voices for young LGBTI+ people whose reality is one of erased identities and systemic violence. In front of the Government, we will deliver our messages:

– Enough silence about Kochani
– Enough ignoring the Law on Legal Gender Recognition
– Enough neutrality in the face of genocide

This year’s slogan for Skopje Pride 2025 is:
“We (Will) Stand Together!”

This slogan is no coincidence. It carries our experience of survival, but also our determination—not only to endure but to endure together. In times of political pressure, hate speech, institutional silence, and global injustices, our answer is unity, solidarity, and radical care.

“We protest not out of tradition, but because it’s necessary. Because too many LGBTIQ+ people are still treated as invisible, unsafe, and unprotected. Because trans people are still waiting for legal gender recognition. Because education is being purged of any mention of our lives. Because we want to live in a society where bodies, love, and identities are not seen as threats.
Skopje Pride 2025 is not just an event—it is a movement. And everyone who stands with us contributes to change,”
said Lila Milić, trans rights activist.

There are many reasons to protest this year, and we do not believe there is room for celebration at Pride.

Every year, the Ministry of Interior demonstrates a high level of professionalism in securing Pride participants, with police officers managing not to cause fear or tension among attendees.

“During Pride season, we face a serious wave of hate speech every year. The Ministry monitors hate speech, and we will also continue to monitor and report on all such occurrences,”
said Uranija Pirovska, Executive Director of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights.

We call on everyone—LGBTIQ+ people, our allies, friends, colleagues, chosen and biological families—to join us on June 21.
Let’s show that we are many, that we are not afraid, and that we stand shoulder to shoulder for a society built on equality, freedom, and respect.