What happened: On 03.02.2020, three marketing billboards were installed on three different locations in Bitola, as part of an art action. The billboards advertised the fictive medication Homophobiol as part of an artist’s intervention in public space. The same evening, two of the billboards in the town were sprayed with white colour, while the following evening, on 04.02.2020, Nazi symbols were drawn on them with black colour. On 05.02.2020, the billboards were completely sprayed with black colour. On 14.02.2020, the LGBTI Support Centre reported the event to MOI SIA Bitola.
Brief description of the incident with bias indicators: In this incident the bias motive is sexual orientation, with the bias indicators being:
- Sexual orientation – the presence of the LGBTI community in a public space is a target of violence, attempts to erase the billboards and vandalism;
- Pattern of previous incidents – hate speech and previous assaults against LGBTI people.
Impact on the victims and the community: These types of incidents call into question the general safety in the country, the cohabitation among the different groups in society.
