tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31417199.post724484811550787065..comments2023-12-14T11:26:51.959-05:00Comments on Life After Jerusalem: Albania protects LGBT people from discriminationDiggerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03856750834804127824noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31417199.post-71699194130159390672010-02-17T15:57:19.064-05:002010-02-17T15:57:19.064-05:00Ambassador Withers has been amazing...my partner a...Ambassador Withers has been amazing...my partner and I are posted in Albania. Ambassador Withers spoke to us last fall, asking how he could help with gay issues in Albania, which were absolutely invisible (we had been here for 2.5 years at that point). We began asking around and meeting human rights activists, and finally met some gay Albanians, many of whom did not know anyone else. That was the beginning of a new Albanian LGBT group, which has been growing, and growing, and growing over the past year. Now there are social events and a discussion group and outreach events and a vibrant facebook group. Suddenly people who have been isolated and alone are finding community.<br /><br />It is beyond my ability to use words to explain what a liberating feeling it is to be with all of them. And, while I firmly believe this would have happened sooner or later here, I believe equally as firmly that it happened NOW because of what John Withers said to us last fall and our response to his request.<br /><br />It is a privilege to be here in this moment, and it is a privilege to be at an Embassy with Ambassador Withers.Mindy Michelsnoreply@blogger.com