There are homosexuals in Macedonia, although no one wants to speak about them since they are stigmatized because they’re different. In Macedonia, if you say you’re homosexual, you could get insulted in public, laid off from work or beaten in the streets. (this is rare). The laws allow you to legally be homosexual, but in reality there’s no way for LGBT people to celebrate in public or expect protection from discrimination.
It is illegal to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation in employment. Young men and inhabitants of larger towns are generally more liberal in their attitudes towards homosexuality than the Muslims, elderly people, women and rural inhabitants. Gays are generally tolerated as long as they do not manifest their sexual orientation in public. The gay scene is not large; there was only one official gay club in Skopje, at the time of my visit, and several gay-friendly establishments located in the city. Also, there are three pubs/bars that have “gay nights” in their weekly programs. Attitudes towards gays are reportedly changing in this small Balkan country. There are gay news articles regularly in both printed and electronic media, as well as four web sites and blogs with solely gay content.
Name: Macedonia
Population: 2061000
Capital: Skopje - Pop. 508000
Area: 25713 sq. km/ sq. miles
Language: Macedonian
Religion: Macedonian Orthodox Church, Muslim
Status of Homosexuality: Legal
Telephone Country Code: 389
The ‘gayest’ city in the world?, 2017/Dec/17
Macedonia bans same-sex marriages and civil unions, 2015/Jan/21
Macedonia to ban same-sex marriage, 2015/Jan/06
Hate mob lays siege to gay TV star’s home, 2013/Jun/27
Macedonia: Skopje pride attacked by anti-gay mob, 2013/Jun/22
Suspected Gay Editors Outed in Macedonia, 2013/Feb/01
Homophobic Campaign Is Hovering Over Macedonia, 2012/Oct/19
Macedonia Gay Rights Record ‘Worst in Balkans’, 2012/Feb/16
Gay Macedonia News and Reports, 2009/Jan/01
Relentless Homophobia Rages in the Balkans, 2008/Jun/28