"With its plain white walls and barred windows, the building in Moldova's capital, Chisinau, also offers a splash of color in the sign with the bold pink lettering right above the entrance: Queer Cafe. "After we put it up above the entrance, all the threats came," Grigorita, the 27-year-old manager of the cafe, told DW. "But no," Grigorita said. "That sign is not going anywhere. It's the whole point of having a queer space in the city: It should be visible from the outside.""
"The name Queer Cafe is somewhat misleading. The venue is neither exclusively for queer individuals, nor is it a coffeehouse serving coffee and cake. The name stands for what many people associate with cafes: a meeting place where diverse individuals come together. "We want to be a place where people can have fun," said Grigorita, who studied journalism and communication. "If we'd called it a 'queer community center,' people might not have come because they'd think it was only for those in trouble.""
Queer Cafe in western Chisinau opened in July 2022 as a visible, inclusive meeting place for LGBTQ+ people and allies. The venue features a bold pink sign above plain white walls and barred windows, and the management insists the sign remains despite threats. The name signals a welcoming social space rather than an exclusive or clinical service center. Activities include a choir, movie nights, regular exhibitions, workshops and a small library. Discrimination against LGBTQ+ people remains widespread in Moldova, exemplified by a 2021 military bullying case and a 2024 study reporting 80% reluctance to have queer neighbors. The cafe is one of the few welcoming spaces in the capital.
Read at www.dw.com
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