EuroPride 2020 Bid Book: Thessaloniki Pride, Greece

the

bid book

CONTENTS Mayor's welcoming

About Us

Thessaloniki Pride: History, legal status, stracture and mission Few words about Thesaloniki Pride festival and its history.

Meet the team Full financial information for the past 3 years

3

4 - 11

5-6 7-8 9 - 10 11

Thessaloniki at a Glance

12 - 24

Why us? Why Thessaloniki?

25 - 29

EuroPride 2020

30 - 38

Business Plan

39 - 41

Budget

42 - 43

Marketing Plan

44 - 47

Support Letters

48 - 86

General information on Thessaloniki Food Drink Accomodation Transportation Travel to Thessaloniki + Safety and Health A brief description of LGBTI life in Greece and in Thessaloniki

Timeline for the 2 years leading up to the events Detailed plan of the EuroPride 2020 event

13 - 17 18 19 - 20 21 - 24

30 - 31 32 - 38

Support letters from the government, political parties & embassies 49 - 54 Support letters from international LGBTI organisations 55 - 67 Support letters from Greek LGBTI organisations 68 - 77 Support letters from other human rights, refugees and civil society organisations 78 - 80 Support letters from local tourism authorities, tourism organisations and travel partners 81 - 83 Support letters from prospective sponsors 84 - 85 Support letters from media 86

MAYOR’S WELCOMING Welcoming from the Mayor

ABOUT US Thessaloniki Pride: History, legal status, stracture and mission Thessaloniki Pride is a non profit civil society organization based in Thessaloniki which operates on the basis of voluntary service provided by its members and affiliated volunteers. It was founded in 2012, right in the middle of the Greek crisis, to organise the first Pride event in Thessaloniki but after that it extended its servives in other fields such us advocacy, social change campaigning and community support.

Thessaloniki Pride consists of an 8-member board, a 10 member secretariat and approximately 80 volunteers. The board decides on the organisation's missio and controls the budget. The secretariat is responsible for executing Thessaloniki Pride's mission and producing the events. The secretariat team will expand in 2018 with people from EVS - the European Volunteer Service project.

The Board GiannisPlakidis

PerseasGkekas

ThanosVlachogiannis

LoulaPolizoidou

PanosSkepadianos

ApostolisKarabairis

GrigorisGiakas

ChristosPanagiotou

The Secretariat RodanthiChalatzoglou

PanosSkepadianos

ThanosVlachogiannis

EltinaGiannopoulou

FeniaKirkmali

GiotaAvramidou

GiannisPlakidis

ApostolisKarabairis

AidaMatevosian

FaniVlachogianni

ABOUT US The mission of Thessaloniki Pride is to promote equality, support human rights and enhance visibility of LGBTI people in Thessaloniki and beyond. To achieve these goals the activities of Thessaloniki Pride are structured upon four pillars: • The organisation of the annual LGBTI Pride Festival in the city every June.

• Social intervention and informative events aiming to ensure the continuous

visibility of the LGBTI community in every aspect of social life. Currently, Thessaloniki Pride is the leading partner in two major projects: The first Nationwide Campaign for combating discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and the 11528 National LGBTI Helpline.

• Networking and capacity building at local, national, European and international

level in order to strengthen the role of the civil society. Thessaloniki Pride is a member of EPOA (European Pride Organisations Association), InterPride, ILGA-Europe, the LGBTIQ Network of Greece, Thessaloniki’s Network of Voluntary Organizations and the Balkan Pride Initiative.

• Legal activism to improve the legal status

of the LGBTI community in Greece.

Thessaloniki Pride has applied lawsuits againsts politicians and representatives of the Greek Orthodox Church to fight hate speech and it has a leading role advocating for LGBTI rights in Greece by lobbying politicians at a municipal and at a parliamentarian level. In 2015, the organisation joined the public consultation and the public hearing at the Greek Parliament for the voting of the Civil Partnership bill.

Contact Info

Afentouli 7 Str., 54630, Thessaloniki, Greece +302311289320 contact@thessalonikipride.com www.thessalonikipride.com Thanos Vlachogiannis +306972098273 a.vlachogiannis@thessalonikipride.com Fenia Kirkmali +306981821568 fenia_pm@yahoo.gr

ABOUT US Few words about Thesaloniki Pride festival and its history.

The first Thessaloniki Pride festival took place on 22-23 June 2017. It enjoyed massive popular support from the city, its periphery and the region, which was a heavy blow for the city's metropolitan bishop Anthimos, who had called believers to react.

More than 3.000 people took over the streets alongside the mayor being the first Greek politician to head a Pride parade. The White Tower, symbol of the city, was illuminated in the rainbow colours making it the first archaeological site to be so.

In 2014, Thessaloniki Pride was included to the official programme of the European Youth Capital, title that Thessaloniki holded for that year. Since 2012, Thessaloniki Pride has managed to increase the number of the participants almost 5 times and in 2017 more than 16.000 people marched at the parade making it the most succesful Thessaloniki Pride to date.

Thessaloniki Pride festival is a ticket-free event and apart of the parade it consists of concerts, street parties, art exhibitions, public discussions, film screening and more, all with free admission.

Thessaloniki Pride festival is an accessible event. The secretariat has been working close with the group Greek LGBT PwD (People with Disability) to reassure all venues are accessible, there is sign language translation for the hearing-impaired and Braille writing for the visually-impaired.

Thessaloniki Pride festival is an international event. Thessaloniki's proximity to countries and cities where Pride events are not well established or non-existent gives the opportunity for many LGBTI people from the Balkan region to visit.

Furthermore, Thessaloniki Pride is unique occasion for many LGBTI activists around the region to gather as the organisation encourages them to visit by providing the hospitality.

Thessaloniki Pride festival is a safe event and one of the reasons is the excellent cooperation with the Greek police. In 2017, a group of far-right extremists threatened the parade but the police's reaction was instant and led to them being detained and removed from the wider area of the festival.

1st Thessaloniki Pride 2st Thessaloniki Pride 3st Thessaloniki Pride 4st Thessaloniki Pride 5st Thessaloniki Pride 6st Thessaloniki Pride

Date 22-23 June 2012 14-15 June 2013 20-21 June 2014 19-20 June 2015 22-25 June 2016 21-24 June 2017

Participation 3.000 6.000 9.000 11.000 13.000 16.000

Slogan One love 1000 colors Free spirits, free bodies This is our time My claims, my demands Love one another Come as you are

Theme Welcoming Pride in the city Freedom of expression LGBTI Youth Institutional claims Combatting hate speech Respecting each other's identities

ABOUT US

2nd Thessaloniki Pride in 2013 Albanian and Cypriot LGBTI activists at the first Thessaloniki Pride Parade

Bosnian LGBTI activists at the 5th Thessaloniki Pride In 2012, Mayor Yannis Boutaris was the first Greek politician to head a Pride parade

In 2014, the 3rd Thessaloniki Pride was dedicated to LGBTI youth

In 2017, more than 16.000 people marched at the 6th Thessaloniki Pride parade The White Tower, symbol of Thessaloniki, illuminated in rainbow lights

Thessaloniki Pride is an international event that gathers LGBTI activists from the Balkan region 4th Thessaloniki Pride in 2015

ABOUT US Meet the team

Fenia Kirkmali is 30 years old and was born in Thessaloniki. She works in the

customer service of Cosmote, the largest telecommunications provider in the Greek market. She's a volunteer of Thessaloniki Pride since 2016 and she joined the organization’s secretariat in February, 2017. In this year’s Pride festival she was the co-ordinator of the equipent volunteers’ teams. If Thessaloniki Pride wins the bid for EuroPride 2020, she will be one of the persons heading the volunteers' department

.

Thanos Vlachogiannis was born in 1980 in Athens, Greece. He's a Dentistry

School graduate, however, in 2012, he decided to make a career shift and be engaged into LGBTI activism. Thanos is a founding member, executive director and spokesperson for Thessaloniki Pride. In 2014, he joined forces with OLKE – The Lesbian and Gay Community of Greece. Since then he's the vice-chairman of the organisation and he has been advocating for LGBTI rights at the Greek Parliament and at meetings with political parties. Thanos often works with the Greek media to raise awareness for LGBTI people and their rights in Greece. If Thessaloniki Pride wins the bid for EuroPride 2020, Thanos will be one of the executive directors of the event.

ABOUT US Meet the team

Petros Kehagias is 22 years old and he was born in Thessaloniki. Despite his

young age, he's a professional graphic designer and 3d animator. He's one of our most enthusiastic and talented volunteers. Petros is responsible for many of Thessaloniki Pride's posters, web and tv spots and of course for this bid book. If Thessaloniki Pride wins the bid for EuroPride 2020, Petros will be producing some of the events visual identity.

Yannis Plakidis is 45 years old and he was born in Thessaloniki. He's an actor and

a sausage dealer at the same time (!) Yannis is a founding member of Thessaloniki Pride, member of the board and member of the secretariat. He has been responsible for the Pride festival concert for 6 years and he has led the sponsorships team in the past. Yannis is a proud member of Thessaloniki's bear community and as an LGBTI activist has been working for bear visibility in the city.

If Thessaloniki Pride wins the bid for EuroPride 2020, Yannis will be in charge of the EuroPride concert.

ABOUT US Financial Report 2014 - 2016

Revenue Erasmus+ grants Private sponsors Municipal grants Bodossaki Foundation grants European Youth Capital - Thessaloniki '14 grant EEA grants NGOs donations (Pride Fair) US Consulate grants Private donations Scholarships

Expenses Implementation of HAPPY training course (Erasmus+) Office rents Equipment rental (sound and light) Equipment rental (tents, tables, chairs etc.)

Bilateral initiative "Visit to Arctic Pride" expenses Actors' fee Printed and electronic promotion Travel expenses (guests and staff) Office utilities Fireworks and helion balloons Parade equipment Volunteers' support Accountant's fee Prints and photocopies Events' expenses (other than Thessaloniki Pride) Membership fees Arts and crafts materials Office equipment Office supplies Parade float Office renovation Lawyer's fee Postal expenses Landbroker's fee

Balance

2014 9.578,00 €

2015 24.589,38 €

2016 14.686,94 €

3.018,00 € 3.100,00 €

15.776,00 € 2.601,98 € 2.335,47 € 2.388,00 €

5.956,84 € 2.335,47 € 2.489,00 €

2.790,00 € 660,00 €

425,00 € 1.062,93 €

10,00 €

565,00 € 457,50 €

9.818,30 €

24.340,73 €

1.320,00 € 1.476,00 € 1.519,42 €

15.537,65 € 1.920,00 € 1.234,09 € 1.002,38 €

2.000,00 € 590,20 € 350,40 € 350,00 € 491,01 € 365,65 € 246,00 € 40,60 € 135,00 € 183,00 € 222,12 € 56,20 € 230,00 € 150,00 € 31,20 € 61,50 €

-240,30 €

2.127,13 € 756,00 €

620,85 € 235,69 € 791,20 € 490,00 € 362,19 € 341,38 € 300,00 € 376,00 € 200,00 € 192,00 € 554,76 € 158,14 €

14.333,69 € 1.920,00 € 2.356,00 € 1.786,40 € 2.078,91 € 750,37 € 1.280,13 € 716,60 € 635,00 € 384,02 € 369,76 € 300,00 € 327,20 € 579,76 € 200,00 € 145,32 € 183,42 € 300,00 €

24,40 €

20,80 €

248,65 €

353,25 €

THESSALONIKI AT A GLANCE Friendly, charming and with a hint of mystery and wealth of cultural attractions, the second largest city in Greece is located in the northern part of the country.

It is a longtime melting pot of cultures, a feature that is reflected in the spicy flavors with eastern influences, as well as flavors from France and the Balkans, as well as the cosmopolitan atmosphere. This is also visible in the city’s architectural fabric, where Byzantine, neoclassical, turn of the century Art Nouveau and Eclecticism, Art Deco and more styles combine in the city center.

The Thessaloniki Metropolitan Area extends over an area of 1.455 km2 and its population in 2011 reached a total of almost 1.200.000 inhabitants.

At 2,300 years old, Thessaloniki has weathered many waves of merchants, migrants and marauders, but with more than 150.000 students it maintains a youthful energy.

It’s a city you can simply walk around, take in the sights and stop for excellent food.

The surrounding area is very fertile and the sea is on the doorstep, so the combination of fresh local produce and a new generation of chefs makes it a wonderful place to eat.

THESSALONIKI AT A GLANCE Thessaloniki sprawls around an arc of coastline at the top of the Thermaic Gulf.

The main area of interest to visitors is along the shore between the ferry port and the city’s emblem, the White Tower, and in the area that rises inland from here to the ancient city walls. It is the gateway to some fascinating parts of northern Greece – renowned beaches, inland destinations, and beautiful, refreshing mountains like Mount Olympus.

The city is walkable and lively – a worthwhile destination in its own right.

THESSALONIKI AT A GLANCE Thessaloniki has long been Greece’s real cultural capital. For a city of one million people, the number of monuments and museums is astonishing: 15 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and 30 museums dedicated to everything from archaeology to contemporary art and avant-garde Russian works. The Dimitria Cultural Festival, a three-month-long celebration of the arts first celebrated by the Byzantines, was revived in 1966. Then there’s the Thessaloniki Biennale of Contemporary Art, which runs from June to September every two years and the Thessaloniki International Film Festival, a ten days celebration of young cinematographers from around the globe, every November.

THESSALONIKI AT A GLANCE Thessaloniki is an affordable base for artists, but it’s also cosmopolitan and creative.

Multiculturalism isn’t just a politician’s buzzword here, it’s part of the city’s identity.

Until 1912, Thessaloniki was still an outpost of the Ottoman Empire, and most residents spoke several languages.

Much of Thessaloniki’s Ottoman character went up in smoke in 1917, when a fire destroyed most of the city centre. It was redesigned by a French planner named Ernest Hébrard, with a grid of boulevards stretching out from Aristotelous Square.

This seaside plaza, lined with colonnades and cafés, is filled with people day and night. Ships and seagulls ebb and flow across the Thermaic Gulf. On a clear day, you can see Mount Olympus on the horizon, across the water.

Commerce and culture flourished, largely thanks to the city’s sizeable Jewish community until the Nazi occupation, where more than 50,000 Jews, a quarter of the city’s population at the time, were sent to death camps in Germany. Today, the city is celebrates its Jewish history and heritage, and increasingly showcases it through tourism and culture activities.

THESSALONIKI AT A GLANCE The capacity for regeneration and the ability to blend the past with the present is typical of Thessaloniki. The misty sunsets, the spice stalls and faintly seedy meze joints in the bazaars, the traces of Byzantine and Ottoman splendour that survive among the street-art-covered modern blocks, the growing creative scene, the international events and crowds. This casual juxtaposition of historic monuments and urban culture is Thessaloniki’s trademark.

Thessaloniki is a popular tourist destination in Greece. In 2010, Lonely Planet ranked Thessaloniki as the world’s fifth-best party city worldwide. In 2013, National Geographic Magazine included Thessaloniki in its top tourist destinations worldwide, while, in 2014, Financial Times FDI magazine (Foreign Direct Investments) declared Thessaloniki as the best mid-sized European city of the future for human capital and lifestyle.

THESSALONIKI AT A GLANCE Food and Drink Thessaloniki is also known as Greece’s culinary and gastronomical capital. Having been a melting pot of cultures for over 2.000 years reflects in the blend of spicy eastern, Otoman, Balkan and Mediterranean flavours of its cuisine. The city is full of taverns, small restaurants, cafes and loads of bars and every kind of street food too.

In the Ladadika area of the city centre several small taverns can be found that offer delicious Greek "mezedes".

Accommodation Thessaloniki is also known for its cheap accommodation. Actually it is in the 4th place of Airbnb’s list of the 25 cheapest cities in Europe. There is also a wide range of charming and cosy hostels and hotels in the city center and Ano Poli (upper town), from 10 euros per person per night in a hostel and 25 euros in a hotel.

Transportation Thessaloniki has a wide network of bus lines offering routes that virtually cover every possible destination within the city and the suburbs. In general it is considered a reliable cost effective mean of trasportation. The bus fares are much cheaper compared to the average European prices (between 1 and 1,30 euros) The majority of the main routes are equipped with smart telematics system that offer real time passenger information about the arrival of the buses and the waiting times.

Taxis are very cheap with the minimum cost of ride at around 3 euros.

THESSALONIKI AT A GLANCE

Travel to Thessaloniki Visas

Greece is a member-state of the European Union and the Schengen Treaty.

Travelling within EU is simply done by showing a national identity. Consequently, the national identity card is sufficient for entering in Greece for citizens who come from EU countries. Nevertheless, for some other transactions (e.g. currency), a valid passport is necessary. For citizens of the member-states of the Schengen Treaty, a Visa is not required. Due to the bilateral relations with countries like Turkey, Macedonia, Albania and Serbia, the procedure of travelling to Greece for their citizens has been simplified.

By Rail Thessaloniki is well-connected by rail to most Balkan cities. There are daily routes from Thessaloniki to Skopje (19.50 euros/round trip) and Belgrade (54.10 euros/ round trip) and weekly ones to Sofia (33.60 euros/round trip) and Bucharest (79.60 euros/round trip). With an extra cost of 8-10 euros it is possible to reserve a space in a sleeper too. Eurail and InterRail passes are also available for these routes.

By Bus Thessaloniki is well-connected by bus to many European and Balkan cities too.

There are daily routes to Istanbul (72 euros/round trip), Sofia (33-42 euros /round trip), Tirane (52 euros/round trip) and Skopje (30 euros/round trip) and weekly to Budapest (140 euros for a round trip), Bratislava (150 euros for a round trip) and Prague (150 euros for a round trip).

By Air Thessaloniki’s airport is the International Airport of Makedonia (SKG).

Thessaloniki’s airport has seasonal and constant flights to destinations in Greece and abroad all year round, as well as charter flights. Low-cost airlines connect Thessaloniki with Brussels, Paphos (Cyprus), Copenhagen, Paris, Warsaw, Bratislava, Barcelona, Goteborg, Stockholm, London, Berlin, Bremen, Dortmund, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Karlsruhe, Memmingen, Bologna, Milan, Naples and Rome.

Airport’s facilities include restaurants, bars, pastry shops and duty-free shops, as well as ATMs, currency exchange, car rentals and parking space.

You can access Macedonia airport by car, taxi and bus. Bus lines are line 78 by day and line 78N by night (tickets cost 2 euros)

THESSALONIKI AT A GLANCE

Buses in Thessaloniki take you everywhere in the city and the near by areas

Safety and Health Thessaloniki is a very safe city especially if compared to other European cities. The city centre is alive and full of people all day and night, with many restaurants, bars and minimarkets open 24-7 which makes travellers feel safe to walk alone at late night.

Police are present at many city spots and they can be easily reached with the officers being well-versed in foreign languages.

Thessaloniki's safety issues are health related. The city can get very warm during the summer, and sunblock, sunglasses and hats are all necessities. Many hospitals and pharmacies are located in the city centre and have a 24 hour shift in case of emergency.

THESSALONIKI AT A GLANCE A brief description of LGBTI life in Greece and in Thessaloniki Legal situation in Greece Postive changes have been made in Greece over the past 2 decades, changes that have given a great amount of hope to the local LGBTI community. Most recently the government has been gradually building a legal shield for Greek LGBTI people.

The civil partnership expansion to same sex couples, an anti-discrimination law in the workplace, an anti-discrimination law which penalizes some forms of hate speech that target sexual orientation and gender identity and a new gender identity law that simplifies the procedure of trans people changing their legal documents, (deprived of sterilisation, GID/medical diagnosis,or surgical/medical intervention requirements) due to be voted in the parliament in few weeks, are some of the initiatives driven by the Greek government.

"Greece scored a total of 47% at the 2017 rainbow Europe map of ILGA - Europe"

THESSALONIKI AT A GLANCE Public Opinion Even though homosexuality and bisexuality have been a taboo for the Greek society for many years, recent surveys show that Greeks are becoming more and more accepting of same sex couples and their rights. And, surprisingly to many people, in 2015 Greece has seen the first opinion poll ever showing majority support for same sex marriage, which shows that Greece is progressing and is ready to embrace even greater changes that are about to come for LGBTI people. However, it's very common that even though many Greek people are claiming pro LGBTI they disapprove of Pride as a practice of claiming LGBTI rights thinking of it as provocative and inapproriate.

The LGBTI movement in Greece Over the past 13 years the LGBTI activist community in Greece has lead Pride events in 4 major cities across the country: Athens, Thessaloniki, Patra and Heraklion (Crete) where thousands of people participate every June. More than 10 LGBTI NGOs and groups have been formed in many cities and they cover a great range of services from psycological support and community empowerment to advocacy and campaigning.

Patras Pride 2017

The rainbow flag in front of the Greek parliament during Athens Pride 2017

THESSALONIKI AT A GLANCE The challenges Despite the victories of the LGBTI movement in Greece, there are still many fights to be won. The Greek crisis has given ground for the rise of the fascist political party that strongly opposes social progress and innovation. Hate speech from many politicians and representatives of the Greek Orthodox Church has been frequent, and alongside the conservative part of the society that still disapproves of LGBTI culture and identities, this is one of the main factors that discourages LGBTI community. Despite the initiative of the Greek government there is still a lot of progress to be made with rainbow families still being in legal limbo. Bullying at schools and sometimes even violence are also some of the main challenges for the LGBTI community and youth in the country.

Anthimos, the metropolitan of Thessaloniki, is notorious for his hate speech towards the LGBTI community Late researches show that only one out of four (1/4) LGBTI people in Greece are open to their wider environment and family about their sexual orientation or gender identity, which indicates a short self esteem of the rest 3/4. Only 35% of the LGBTI people think that it will get better for them in the near future that prooves that the majority of the LGBTI community in Greece is struggling with pessimism. (FocusBari Research, May 2015)

THESSALONIKI AT A GLANCE LGBTI life in Thessaloniki The municipality shift in 2010 and the Pride festival have given a breath of liberal and fresh air to the LGBTI life of Thessaloniki. Despite the fact that Thessaloniki does not have any particular LGBTI areas, the LGBTI life spreads through the whole city.

The lesbian community of Thessaloniki is really an active & present part of the society. Some of the most popular gay clubs are operated by very dynamic women who contribute to the city's LGBTI life.

Thessaloniki is safe destination for LGBTI travellers and distinguishing LGBTI-friendly character combined with the organized gay life, make Thessaloniki one of the best getaway destination for travellers from all over Greece and beyond.

WHY US? WHY THESSALONIKI? Our vision,

2020 marks a new era for EuroPride and Thessaloniki marks a new region, where EuroPride has never been hosted before. In Thessaloniki Pride, we envision EuroPride 2020 as the future where inclusion is the number one priority, therefore we want to give the chance and offer the liberating experience of the participation in a EuroPride event to LGBTI people from Greece, the Balkans, Turkey, LGBTI refugees and migrants, people in general that otherwise couldn't participate. No matter of their financial situation, their background, the place they live in or their refugee status, everyone should be able to join EuroPride.

In that context, the geographical vicinity of the city of Thessaloniki, the number of close ties in terms of politics, economy, business, and culture many countries of the Balkan region share with it and, of course, the fact that it's an affordable travel destination are all important factors that will contribute to the high participation

by LGBTI people from the regions mentioned above.

The content of the message

EuroPride 2020 in Thessaloniki will send a very strong message all across the Balkans and Turkey which will empower all LGBTI people who will join. This message will have a crucial role to attract the international attention towards the issues this part of Europe faces when it comes to homophobia and transphobia. It will be a message of hope marking that all Europeans are leaving behind the dark past of hatred and intolerance that the Balkans have been associated since the 1990s and all united we are stepping into a bright future, a future where everyone can join.

As Thessaloniki Pride embodies the solidarity spirit from which it was born, we also want to pass the message that Europe stands in solidarity with LGBTI people of the Balkans and Turkey. Furthermore, we want Europe to send the message that the LGBTI movement has succeeded where no other movement in the Balkan region has succeeded: in bringing together people of different nationalities, ethnicities and religiones and that way prove wrong all haters and opposers to the movement of Pride in the sense that Pride doesn't devide; Pride unites.

Bringing the Balkan Pride vision to life

The Balkan Pride Initiative is an ongoing initiative with LGBTI organisations from the Balkans and Turkey sharing the vision to establish a regional LGBTI Pride festival hosted in a different SE (South East) European city every year. The idea first emerged at a regional LGBTI activists' meeting in Thessaloniki, in 2013. In 2016, under the funding of Erasmus+, LGBTI activists from Greece, Serbia, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Albania, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Turkey had the chance to meet four times in four different cities (Skopje, Thessaloniki, Novi Sad and Tirana) and

WHY US? WHY THESSALONIKI? increase the capacity of their organisations related to holding an international Pride event. EuroPride 2020 will be the next step bringing the Balkan Pride vision to life, as, for the very first time, LGBTI organisations from the region will participate and co-organise a Pride event on an international scale.

EuroPride 2020 in Thessaloniki will create a beneficial impact on many scales and levels.

The beneficial impact on the Balkan region and Turkey: Pride events continue to be an extremelly important topic for countries of the Balkans and Turkey. The violent riots during Belgrade Pride in Serbia some years ago and the recent situation in Turkey where authorities have banned Istanbul Pride should always remind us that Pride in that part of Europe shouldn't be taken for granted. Even further, as the LGBTI movement in countries like Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina has not yet been able to organize its own Pride event due to the variety of difficult circumstances under which it has been operating in the past 15 years, EuroPride 2020 will have a symbolic value for all the LGBTI people who cannot have their voice heard in the public and political sphere in their country and beyond. In that context, EuroPride 2020 will provide a safe platform where people from the Balkans and Turkey will step on and will be able to freely express themselves, even if they live in countries which have established Pride festivals but they feel scared to participate there. The liberating sentiment of participating in a EuroPride event will empower them and give them the confidence to join their country's Pride event once the time has come. Last but not least, people

WHY US? WHY THESSALONIKI? from the Balkans and Turkey being able to join EuroPride will reinforce their European identity which is often doubted even by themselves.

The empowerment of the LGBTI movement in the region

The success story of Thessaloniki Pride being a young organisation organising EuroPride will inspire and give a huge boost to the self-confidence of the LGBTI activists of the region. It's a realistic estimation that EuroPride 2020 in Thessaloniki will make already existent Pride events in the region (and future ones) apply to be members of EPOA which will strengthen and enrich our network. As we plan to invite LGBTI activists to contribute to the organisation of EuroPride, we strongly believe that the gained useful knowledge and experience will be used in the implementation for similar activities in their respective countries.

EuroPride 2020: A beacon of hope for LGBTI refugees and migrants

Over the past years, Thessaloniki and the region of Northern Greece have received waves of refugees and migrants. Near Thessaloniki, there are more than 15 refugees sites and camps and in Thessaloniki there is a significant population of refugees and migrants that is growing. Because of their conservative backround the vast majority of the LGBTI refugees and migrants feel excluded and unfortunately, they often have to face xenophobia and racism from the local society. EuroPride will welcome LGBTI refugees and migrants in Europe and it will reproduce the message of hope to them.

Thessaloniki Pride has been working with related organisations to make its events more inclusive and more welcoming and safer for LGBTI refugees and migrants and it can assure that the message of EuroPride will reach to them using their respective language.

Thessaloniki Pride will ensure that the message of EuroPride reaches LGBTI refugees and migrants, like it did in 2017

WHY US? WHY THESSALONIKI? On a political level, EuroPride 2020 will raise awareness on the deficiency of many countries of the region in providing asylum to seekers due to their sexual orientation and gender identity.

The beneficial impact on Thessaloniki and Greece

EuroPride 2020 will be used as a lever to promote LGBTI rights in Greece and satisfy the institutional claims of the Greek LGBTI community. With marriage equality and the legal recognition of rainbows families still pending, EuroPride 2020 will raise awareness at a European level of the fact that Greece is an EU country that fails to fully protect its LGBTI citizens. The international pressure towards politicians will rise, especially when they will be asked to march at the EuroPride Parade.

Thessaloniki will enjoy much more extraversion and openness during and after EuroPride, with the Human Rights conference leaving an LGBTI legacy to both Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and University of Macedonia's students and staff. On an economic point of view, Thessaloniki will be put on the map of the LGBTI friendly cities, which will stimulate the local tourism and the city's economy.

EuroPride 2020 will affect positively the fragile psychological state of many Greek LGBTI people who are struggling through the Greek crisis. It will help them believe in themselves, in the local LGBTI community and regain their faith in their country's future because it will be the first large scale event organised in Greece since the Olympic Games in 2004 or the Eurovision song contest in 2006. Then, as in every Pride everywhere in the world, EuroPride in Greece will definitely give the reason for many Greek LGBTI people to come out to their friends and family.

Benefits for our organisation and the Pride festival

In Thessaloniki Pride, we love setting goals that help us evolve. Organising EuroPride 2020 will increase the capacity, the annual budget and the number of people involved in the organisation, including the staff and the number of volunteers. New sponsorships and partnerships will occure that we intend to maintain for life. Then, Thessaloniki Pride festival will never be the same after EuroPride 2020. The number of participants will increase expontentially and its program will flourish with new events as the increased budget will permit so.

CONTENTS EUROPRIDE 2020 TIMELINE Year Month

Event

Location

2017 2018 2018 2018 2018 2018 2018 2018 2018 2018 2018 2018 2018 2018

EPOA AGM - Licence Genderfest Payment of Licence Fee 1 Thessaloniki Pride Promo Party 1 Thessaloniki Pride Promo Party 2 IDAHOBIT Party Tirana (P)Ride Cyprus Pride Athens Pride Sofia Pride Thessaloniki Pride Patras Pride Istanbul Pride EuroPride 2018

Gothemborg, Sweden Athens, Greece N/A Thessaloniki, Greece Thessaloniki, Greece Thessaloniki, Greece Tirana, Albania Nicosia, Cyprus Athens, Greece Sofia, Bulgaria Thessaloniki, Greece Patra, Greece Istanbul, Turkey Stockholm-Gothenburg Sweden Thessaloniki, Greece

September January February - March March April May May May June June June June June-July July-August

2018 September

Thessaloniki International LGBTQI Film Festival 2018 September Payment of Licence Fee 3 2018 September Belgrade Pride 2018 September ERA conference (LGBTI Equal Rights Association for Western Balkans and Turkey) 2018 September-October EPOA AGM-First Update 2018 October InterPride AGM 2018 October ILGA - Europe conference 2018 November Transgender Day of Remembrance

N/A Belgrade, Serbia T/A

2018 NovemberDecember 2018 December

Montenegro Pride AIDS-HIV Day

Vienna, Austria Saskatoon, Canada Brussels, Belgium Thessaloniki and Athens, Greece Podgorica, Montenegro Thessaloniki, Greece

2019 2019 2019 2019 2019 2019 2019 2019

Genderfest Thessaloniki Pride Promo Party 1 Thessaloniki Pride Promo Party2 IDAHOBIT Party Tirana (P)Ride Cyprus Pride EuroPride 2019 Athens Pride

Athens, Greece Thessaloniki, Greece Thessaloniki, Greece Thessaloniki, Greece Tirana, Albania Nicosia, Cyprus Vienna, Austria Athens, Greece

January March April May May May May-June June

EUROPRIDE 2020

TIMELINE Year Month

Event

2019 2019 2019 2019 2019 2019 2019

Sofia Pride Sofia, Bulgaria Thessaloniki Pride Thessaloniki, Greece Patras Pride Patra, Greece Istanbul Pride Istanbul, Turkey WorldPride 2019 New York City, USA XLsior Festival Mykonos, Greece Thessaloniki International LGBTQI Film Festival Thessaloniki, Greece Belgrade Pride Belgrade, Serbia ERA conference T/A (LGBTI Equal Rights Association for Western Balkans and Turkey) EPOA AGM-Second update Thessaloniki, Greece

June June June June-July June-July August September

2019 September 2019 September 2019 SeptemberOctober 2019 October 2019 October 2019 November 2019 November 2019 NovemberDecember 2019 December

Montenegro, Pride

T/A T/A London, UK Thessaloniki and Athens, Greece Podgorica, Montenegro

AIDS-HIV Day

Thessaloniki, Greece

2020 2020 2020 2020 2020 2020 2020 2020 2020 2020 2020 2020 2020 2020 2020

Genderfest FITUR Tourism Expo Payment of Licence fee 3 ITB Tourism Expo EuroPride Promo Party 1 Press Conference EuroPride Promo Party 2 IDAHOBIT event EuroPride Promo Party 3 Tirana (P)Ride Cyprus Pride Athens Pride Sofia Pride EuroPride 2020 (8 days) EPOA AGM-Final report

Athens, Greece Madrid, Spain N/A Berlin, Germany Thessaloniki, Greece Thessaloniki, Greece Thessaloniki, Greece Skopje, Macedonia Thessaloniki, Greece Tirana, Albania Nicosia, Cyprus Athens, Greece Sofia, Bulgaria Thessaloniki, Greece T/A

January January February-March March March April April May May May May June June June SeptemberOctober

InterPride AGM ILGA - Europe conference WTM London (Tourism Expo) Transgender Day of Remembranc

Location

EUROPRIDE 2020 PROGRAM

Proposed date: 20-28 June 2020

Proposed program • Saturday, 20-6-20: Opening Ceremony , Art Exhibitions' opening • Sunday, 21-6-20: All day beach party at the Thessaloniki Seafront • Monday, 22-6-20: Human Rights Conference – Outdoor Movie Night • Tuesday, 23-6-20: Human Rights Conference – Outdoor Movie Night • Wednesday, 24-6-20: Human Rights Conference – Outdoor Movie Night • Thursday, 25-6-20: Mediterranean Cuisine Exhibition – Street Food Festival - Oudoor Educational Workshops – EuroPride Street Party • Friday, 26-6-20: Mediteranean Cuisine Exhibition – Street Food Festival - Outdoor Educational Workshops – EuroPride Street Party • Saturday, 27-6-20: EuroPride Fair – EuroPride Parade – EuroPride Concert • Sunday, 28-6-20: Closing Ceremony, Art Exibitions' Closing

Proposed locations:

City Hall

EUROPRIDE 2020 PROGRAM

Thessaloniki Seafront

YMCA Park

EUROPRIDE 2020 PROGRAM

Alexander΄s Garden Sq.

Archaelogical Museum

EUROPRIDE 2020 PROGRAM

Port of Thessaloniki

Univercity of Macedonia Campus Aristotel Univercity of Thessaloniki Campus

EUROPRIDE 2020 Detailed plan of the EuroPride 2020 event

Saturday, 20-6-20 Location: City Hall 17:00 - 19:30 Art Exibitions Opening In cooperation with the Faculty of Fine Arts of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki 20:00 - 01:00 Location : City Hall EuroPride 2020 Opening Ceremony Mayor and Hosts' welcoming EPOA members and international guests. Inauguration of the City Hall's rainbow righting. Greek singers, drag acts and dj Party.

Sunday, 21-6-20 12:00 - 21:30 Location : Thessaloniki Seafront "Proud beach" All day beach party at the beach simulated seafront. Picnic and summer sports in the sand.

Monday, 22-6-20 10:00 - 17:00 Location : City Hall Opening of the Human rights conference and plenary sessions The Human Rights conference will focus on the LGBTI rights in the Balkan region and Turkey. Keynote speakers from the Balkan Pride initiative, Greek LGBTI organisations, the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Unit of the Council of Europe, ILGA Europe, ERA - LGBTI Equal Rights Association for Western Balkans and Turkey, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and University of Macedonia.

20:00 - 00:00 Location: Thessaloniki Port Movie night Open air movie screening in cooperation with Thessaloniki International Film Festival and Thessaloniki International Lgbtq Film Festival Tuesday, 23-6-20 10:00 - 17:00 Location :Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Human Rights conference - Panels and workshops

EUROPRIDE 2020 Detailed plan of the EuroPride 2020 event 20:00 - 00:00 Location: Thessaloniki Port Movie night Open air movie screening in cooperation with Thessaloniki International Film Festival and Thessaloniki International Lgbtq Film Festival Wednesday, 24-6-20 10:00 - 17:00 Location : University of Macedonia Human rights conference - Panels and workshops - Closing plenary 20:00 - 00:00 Location: Thessaloniki Port Movie night Open air movie screening in cooperation with Thessaloniki International Film Festival and Thessaloniki International LGBTQ Film Festival Thursday, 25-6-20 12:00 - 02:00 Location: Alexander's Garden "Lure them with food!" Part 1 Mediterranean cuisine exhibition and street food festival where participants will be educated on LGBTI rights while...tasting the local cuisine.

20:00 - 02:00 Location: Chrimatistiriou square EuroPride Street party Part 1 DJs and drag acts (Photo Οξ street party) Friday, 26-6-20 12:00 - 02:00 Location: Alexander's Garden "Lure them with food!" Part 2 Mediterranean cuisine exhibition and street food festival.

20:00 - 02:00 Location: White Tower square EuroPride Street party Part 2 DJs and drag acts

EUROPRIDE 2020 Detailed plan of the EuroPride 2020 event Saturday, 27-6-20 12:00 - 02:00 Location: Alexander's Garden Pride Park Stands and info kiosks with LGBTI and humans rights organisations’ informative material. Body painting. Human library.

19:00 - 22:00 Location: Thessaloniki's historical center and Seafront EuroPride 2020 Parade LGBTI groups and organisations, floats and more than 30.000 people marching on the 51st Stonewall anniversary.

22:15 - 02:00 Location: Alexander's garden EuroPride Live Concert.

DJs, drag acts, Greek and International singers at a 4 hour concert.

Sunday, 28-6-20 20:00 - 00:00 Location : City Hall Open Theatre EuroPride 2020 Closing Ceremony Passing the EuroPride title to the next EuroPride organisers. Djs, drag acts, Greek singers.

BUSINESS PLAN EuroPride 2020: a co-organised event Europride 2020 will be co-organised by Thessaloniki Pride and the municipality of Thessaloniki at both organisational and financial level. The municipality of Thessaloniki has been a close partner since the first Pride event providing its financial support every year. The municipality department that Thessaloniki Pride will be working with is the Directorate of Tourism and International Relations of the city of Thessaloniki.

Sponsorships As soon as the licence is given there will be an approach of Thessaloniki Pride's sponsors and the ones that have expressed interest in supporting the Pride events for the upcoming years and EuroPride 2020. Thessaloniki Pride's sponsors so far are: Vodafone Greece, Hot Dog King, Capsis Hotels, Anatolia Hotel, Nikopolis Hotel, ERT - The Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation, ERT3 , TV100 - The Thessaloniki Municipality's Broadcasting Corporation, FM100 - Thessaloniki Municipal Radio, Thessaloniki Guide, E-Radio, Enola Bar , Aegean airlines etc. Some of our sponsors support financially , others in-kind and services, others both. The sponsorships can be on several levels and have the advantage of flexibility regarding the marketing goals of the specific companies.

The NGO mobilising Thessaloniki Pride will mobilise Greek and international LGBTI organisations for participating in EuroPride 2020. The Balkan Pride initiative's partners will be given an active role forming the EuroPride agenda and the content of the message that we want to pass through during EuroPride 2020.

Partnerships 1. The Universities Thessaloniki Pride is aiming to establish partnerships with the two main universities of Thessaloniki, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and University of Macedonia.

Especially, there will be a certain focus on the Faculty of Fine Arts of the Aristotle University for creating the art exhibitions. It will be the first time that an LGBTI NGO will reach educational institutions and apart from the infrastructure for the Human Rights conference they will offer, we strongly believe that their scientific constribution will be irreplaceable.

BUSINESS PLAN 2. Working with the city's two film festivals: Thessaloniki Pride is aiming for a partnership with the Thessaloniki International Film Festival and the Thessaloniki International LGBTQI Film Festival in order to co-organize the outdoor movie nights of the proposed program and guarantee the high quality of the event.

Volunteers Last and definitely not least, many of the events will be co-produced by our enthusiastic and capable volunteers as they have helped putting the Pride festival together all these years. The Volunteers department will step in and facilitate events such us the EuroPride parade, the floats, the concert and its backstage, the street parties, the decoration and the city dressing, the hospitality and guiding of the international guests, etc.

BUDGET Marketing and Communication

50.000 euro

Lights and Sound

65.000 euro

City Decoration

15.000 euro

Fireworks

3.500 euro

Safety

9.000 euro

Printig Materials

5.000 euro

Artists Fees

20.000 euro

Seafront Beach Simulation

15.000 euro

Artists and Guests Accomodation & Transportation

15.000 euro

Floats

10.000 euro

Insurance Toilets,tends,backstage equipment

2,500 euro 10.000 euro

Mini Bus and Van rental

5.000 euro

Unexpected Costs

5.000 euro

Total

230.000 euro

MARKETING PLAN Logo, visual identity and website Creation of the logo and visual identity of EuroPride 2020 within the 8 first months from the date the licence is given. The logo will be distributed to the partners and sponsors of Thessaloniki Pride. The EuroPride 2020 Website will be launched 1 year and 6 months prior to the event. Webspot, tv spot and radio spot of EuroPride 2020 will be launched 6 months prior to the event.

Participation (banners at the parade) and distribution of the EuroPride 2020 printed material at the following Pride events up to 2 years in advance.

Thessaloniki Pride, Athens Pride, Patras Pride (Greece), Cyprus Pride, Sofia Pride (Bulgaria), Montenegro Pride, Istanbul Pride (Turkey), Belgrade Pride (Serbia), Tirana (P)Ride (Albania).

Participation and distribution of the EuroPride 2020 printed material at a special IDAHOBIT event in Skopje, Macedonia in May 2020.

Participation (banners at the parade) and distribution of the EuroPride 2020 printed material at the following EuroPride and WorldPride events EuroPride 2018 (Sweden), EuroPride 2019 (Austria) and WorldPride 2019 (USA) Distribution of the EuroPride 2020 printed and visual material at the Thessaloniki Pride promo parties up to 2 years in advance.

Distribution of the EuroPride 2020 printed material at the following LGBTI Festivals within Greece up to 2 years in advance Genderfest in Athens (January 2018, January 2019 and January 2020) Thessaloniki International LGBTQI Film Festival in Thessaloniki (September 2018 and September 2019) XLsior in Mykonos (August 2019) Distribution of the EuroPride 2020 printed material at the following Anti Racist Festivals within Greece 1 year in advance Anti - Racist Festival in Thessaloniki (June 2019) Anti - Racist Festival in Athens (June 2019) Anti - Racist Festival in Kozani (July 2019) Participation at 4 international turism expos 6-7 months in advance. The municipality of Thessaloniki and the Thessaloniki Tourist organisation, a non-profit organization which constitutes the official tourism board of Thessaloniki’s Region will carry the EuroPride 2020 printed material as they will be represented at the

MARKETING PLAN following expos: November 2019: Filoxenia in Thessaloniki, Greee November 2019: WTM in London, UK January 2020: FITUR in Madrid, Spain March 2020: ITB in Berlin, Germany Distribution of the EuroPride 2020 printed material at the following conferences ERA - LGBTI Equal Rights Association for Western Balkans and Turkey conference (September 2018 and September 2019) ILGA Europe conference (November 2018 - November 2019) The content of the printed material will be in English, Greek and the languages spoken within the Balkans and Turkey so that many communities can relate to it.

Press Conference at the City Hall 2 months prior to the event.

Media partnerhips Thessaloniki Pride has already several media partners that they will be invited to continue their partnership over the next years and sponsoring EuroPride 2020.

LGBT magazine Antivirus, T-Zine, E-Daily, ERT - The Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation, ERT3 - The Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation of Northern Greece , TV100 - The Thessaloniki Municipality's Broadcasting Corporation, FM100 Thessaloniki Municipal Radio, Thessaloniki Guide, E-Radio, LiFO magazine.

E-marketing Thessaloniki Pride, the municipality of Thessaloniki and the Thessaloniki Tourism Organisation will provide information on EuroPride 2020 on their websites and mobile apps.

Social media Usage Thessaloniki Pride's facebook page with almost 11.000 followers.

Television The channels that will broadcast the tv spot of EuroPride 2020 are ERT - The Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation ERT3 - The Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation of Northern Greece V100 - The Thessaloniki Municipality's Broadcasting Corporation

MARKETING PLAN Radio The radio station that they will broadcast the radio spot of EuroPride 2020 are: FM 100 - Thessaloniki Municipal Radio, 102 FM, V Fm 91,1, Proto Programma 91,6 E-Radio

Advertising EuroPride 2020 ads will be put at the magazines Thessaloniki Pride is already partnering with such as LGBT Antivirus Magazine and LifO magazine and at certain LGBTI guides like Spartacus International Gay guide.

Promotional banners and posters Promotional banners and posters of EuroPride 2020 will be put at the City Hall, at the Makedonia Airport and at the Thessaloniki port, railway and bus station.

Promotional posters will be put inside the buses of Thessaloniki.

SUPPORT LETTERS Support letters from the government, political parties and embassies

SUPPORT LETTERS The government, political parties and embassies

SUPPORT LETTERS The government, political parties and embassies

SUPPORT LETTERS The government, political parties and embassies

Athens, 21-7-2017

Dear Thessaloniki Pride, PASOK - The Panhellenic Socialistic Movement is proud to support Thessaloniki Pride's bid tohost EuroPride 2020.

Over the past years, PASOK and PASOK YOUTH have formed strong alliances with the Greek LGBTI organisations and they have included a full pro LGBTI agenda into their political program.

Europride 2020 in Thessaloniki will be an event of major importance to both the Greek LGBTI community and the rest of society. It will lead to the prioritisation of the issues that concern the Greek LGBTI community in the public sphere and we believe thatit can be a landmark of progress for LGBTI rights in Greece and beyond, as it will help form the public opinion in favor of them and in eliminating the hateful voices that oppose to them.

PASOK - The Panhellenic Socialistic Movement and PASOK YOUTH wish ou y good luck with your bid to host EuroPride 2020.

Yours Sincerely, Pavlos Christidis Pasok youth SG

SUPPORT LETTERS The government, political parties and embassies

SUPPORT LETTERS The government, political parties and embassies

SUPPORT LETTERS International LGBTI organisations

SUPPORT LETTERS International LGBTI organisations

SUPPORT LETTERS International LGBTI organisations

Different people, same rights!

13.07.2017 Dear Mr. Thanos Vlachogiannis,

Sofia Pride fully supports Thessaloniki Pride's bid to host EuroPride 2020.

We believe that EuroPride 2020 in Thessaloniki will help raise awareness on the rights of LGBTI community in neighboring countries like Bulgaria and promote the dialogue on issues that concern LGBTI individuals in the Balkan region.

Thessaloniki Pride has been a close partner of ours, because of the Balkan Pride initiative, therefore we guarantee that they can create a safe and accepting environment for their international guests and provide the platform where LGBTI organizations and people from neighboring countries can step on and freely express themselves.

Sincerely,

Monika Pisankaneva On behlaf of the Organizing Committee of Sofia Pride

www.SofiaPride.org | info@sofiapride.org

SUPPORT LETTERS International LGBTI organisations

To Whom It May Concern 19 July 2017, Nicosia Recommendation Letter – Thessaloniki Pride’s bid for EuroPride 2020 We hereby would like to confirm that Accept– LGBT Cyprus is very excited to support Thessaloniki Pride's bid to host EuroPride 2020.

Accept – LGBT Cyprus is the national LGBTI organisation of Cyprusand the only registered LGBTI organisation in the Republic of Cyprus,operational only since September 2011, helping promote the human rights of all people, groups and minorities subjected to discrimination or mistreatment and especially those who suffer due to their sexual orientation, gender identity or sex characteristics.

Accept has been annually organising the Cyprus Pride March since May 2014 bringing together thousands of people marching for the rightsof the Cypriot LGBTI community in what has been classified as the most successful gathering eventson the island for social rights locally.

In 2015, following years of advocacy, two milestone pieces of legislation for the LGBTI community came into force; the criminalisation of homophobic and transphobic rhetoric in May 2015, and the Civil Union Law offering same- and opposite-sex couples equal rights to Civil Marriage, apart from joint adoption, in December 2015.

The organisation has been supporting the LGBTI community in many ways,e.g. with the creation of the Trans Group, giving voice and empowering the local trans community to act independently, the Women’s Group that supports the rights of LGBTI women, the Youth Groupthat caters for the rights of the young LGBTI, the Parents of LGBTI Group where parents came out to speak about their experiences, helping other parents, and the Rainbow Meetings which are regular discussion meetings in Greek and English. Emergency legal aid is also available where needed with the help of volunteer lawyers. Accept also actively promotes education to the public through research, publications and presentations in schools and Universities amongst others, while it also actively cooperates with specialised asylum NGO’s to support LGBTI immigrants seeking asylum inyprus.

C We believe that EuroPride 2020 in Thessaloniki will help raise awareness on the rights of LGBTI community in neighbouringcountries and it will have a positive impact especially on Cypriot LGBTI people because of the common bond the two countries share.Thessaloniki Pride has participated in the first ever Cyprus Pride 2014, while Accept has participated in Thessaloniki Pridein the past. We can thus guarantee that the organisers are able to create a safe and accepting environment for their international guests and provide the platform where LGBTI organisations and people from neighbouringcountries can step on and freely express themselves.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me for any further information on costa@acceptcy.org or +35799642334.

Sincerely,

Costa Gavrielides President, Accept – LGBT Cyprus Accept – LGBT Cyprus, P.O. Box 25561, 1310 Nicosia, Cyprus www.acceptcy.org info@acceptcy.org +357 - 99812343

SUPPORT LETTERS International LGBTI organisations

SUPPORT LETTERS International LGBTI organisations

18 July 2017 Letter of support Dear Thessaloniki Pride, Queer Montenegro and Montenegro Pride fully supports Thessaloniki Pride's application to host EuroPride 2020.

Queer Montenegro as organizer of the Montenegro Pride the biggest annual central public event of LGBTIQ persons, family members and supporters since 2013 in Montenegro fully supports your application.

Thessaloniki Pride was a strong supporter of Monteneg ro Pride and Queer Montenegro since 2013 and showed its commitment to provide support to human rights of LGBTIQ persons in Montenegro.

As our two countries are traditionally well connected we strongly believe that EuroPride 2020 in Thessaloniki will contribute to improvement of human rights of LGBTIQ persons in the Balkan region.

As Thessaloniki Pride is one of the biggest Prides in Balkan region always organized in highly professional way we believe that your organization has enough capacities to organize and host EuroPride in a highly professional way.

Sincerely, Danijel Kalezic Queer Montenegro Montenegro Pride

SUPPORT LETTERS International LGBTI organisations www.s-front.org.mk Twitter: @SubversiveFront Facebook: SubversiveFront YouTube: Subversive Front E-mail: info@s-front.org.mk E-mail: contact@s-front.org.mk

LETTER OF ENDORSEMENT Dear colleagues and friends at Thessaloniki Pride, On behalf of Subversive Front - association for a critical approach to gender and sexuality, it is my utmost pleasure to endorse the bid of Thessaloniki Pride for hosting the EuroPride 2020.

Subversive Front has closely collaborated with Thessaloniki Pride throughout the implementation of the Balkan Pride project in 2016 and within the scope of the Balkan Pride initiative. In addition, it participated at the last three Pride festivals – in 2015, 2016 and 2017.

Thessaloniki Pride is of significant importance to the LGBTI community in Macedonia for several reasons. The geographical vicinity of the city of Thessaloniki, the number of close ties in terms of politics, economy, business, and culture between the two nations, as well as the fact that the official promotional materials of the Pride festival use the Macedonian language, add an additional value of the event and all the efforts the organizing team are conducting every year. Even further, as the Macedonian LGBTI movement has not yet been able to organize its own Pride parade due to the variety of difficult circumstances under which it has been operating in the past 15 years, the Thessaloniki Pride festival has a symbolic value for all the LGBTI people in Macedonia that cannot have their voice heard in the public and political sphere in the country and beyond. Last but not least, despite that the Thessaloniki Pride festival is organized with minimum or no police presence, it still meets all the security and safety criteria for its participants, via providing a supportive environment for its international guests, as well as a safe platform for free expression of everybody.

For any additional enquiries on our endorsement of Thessaloniki Pride, kindly reach us out at contact@s-front.org.mk Sincerely, Antonio Mihajlov Skopje 7/24/2017 President Subversive Front SUBVERSIVE FRONT Association for a critical approach to gender and sexuality Makedonija 11/2-10 1000 Skopje, R. of Macedonia 1

SUPPORT LETTERS International LGBTI organisations

SUPPORT LETTERS International LGBTI organisations

SUPPORT LETTERS International LGBTI organisations

Grupa za podr ku mladim LGB osobama “IZA I”

!

Grupa za podr ku mladim LGB osobama “IZA I”

Dear EPOA members, LGB Youth Support Group “COME OUT” is more than excited to endorse Thessaloniki Pride's bid for EuroPride 2020.

LGB Youth Support Group “COME OUT” is a youth community-based learning organisation with main aim to improve livelihood of young LGB people and to encourage them to take active participation and action in the society. Our main activities are psychosocial support for young LGB people and their families, mobilising young LGB activists, non-formal learning and youth work and improvement of human rights in Serbia.

Thessaloniki Pride has been a valuable partner from our early steps. Together we implemented quite a few projects, including our visionary Balkan Pride, and our cooperation has been fruitful and effective.

The team of Thessaloniki Pride is made up of visionary and dedicated people, with vast experience of implementing successfully Thessaloniki Pride for the last 6 years. Their experience is the guarantee to a successful EuroPride.

We believe that hosting EuroPride 2020 in Thessaloniki will raise LGBTI issues high in the regional agenda and attract international attention to our causes. Our experience of participating in Thessaloniki Pride the previous years has strengthen our conviction that LGBTI visibility can spill over throughout the Balkan region, since we will show that a high profile LGBTI event like EuroPride can be successfully held in our neighbourhood.

We are at your disposal should you require more information.

We wish you the best for your mission.

Yours sincerely,

"#$%#!&$'()#(*(#!+!,!-./*!0#1!,!0$2*)#!,! 33345.1$6%#4*(4$6 !, !' 78#*9!#1$'6#:!*;#1)*<5.1$6%#4*(4$6 !

SUPPORT LETTERS International LGBTI organisations

SUPPORT LETTERS International LGBTI organisations

‘’Open Mind Spectrum Albania – OMSA’’ Tirana, July 2017 LETTER OF SUPPORT

Dear Mr Thanos Vlachogiannis, Open Mind Spectrum Albania (OMSA) fully supports Thessaloniki Pride's bid to host EuroPride 2020.

OMSA is a young organisation, established in 2013 with main focus of its work being community work and advocacy. It aspires an Albanian society where every individual regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, gender, colour, age, social status, marital status, physical disability, health status, ethnicity enjoy full rights and freedoms, to provide social, health, education and legal assistance.

OMSA works on two main challenging projects: 1.

Family Education - Educating and empowering families of LGBTI in Albania: providing counseling and a safe space for protection and inclusion.

2.

Advocacy Program: Political Participation and Representation of LGBTI people in Albania. The main aim of the project is to increase participation of LGBTI people in political life and mainstream issues related to LGBTI people into political arena.

Important to mention is that OMSA in collaboration with PINK Embassy organized the two first TIRANA PRIDE PARADE.

We believe that EuroPride 2020 in Thessaloniki will help raise awareness on the rights of LGBTI community in neighboring countries like Albania and promote the dialogue on issues that concern LGBTI individuals in the Balkan region. It will be important also for the movement in the whole region and will attract international attention.

Address: Rr. Mihal Grameno, P. 010, Shk. 1, Ap. 6 – Tirana Albania Cel. +355693953920 • www.omsalbania.org • omsa.albania@gmail.com

SUPPORT LETTERS International LGBTI organisations

‘’Open Mind Spectrum Albania – OMSA’’ Thessaloniki Pride is an example to other neighboring countries, and is beneficial in combination with their experience, professionalism and fight to create a better environment for all of us.

Thessaloniki Pride has been a close partner of ours, because of the Balkan Pride initiative, therefore we guarantee that they can create a safe and accepting environment for their international guests and provide the platform where LGBTI organizations and people from neighboring countries can step on and freely express themselves.

Sincerely, Arber Kodra Executive Director

Address: Rr. Mihal Grameno, P. 010, Shk. 1, Ap. 6 – Tirana Albania Cel. +355693953920 • www.omsalbania.org • omsa.albania@gmail.com

SUPPORT LETTERS Greek LGBTI organisations

SUPPORT LETTERS Greek LGBTI organisations

Athens, 13 June 2017

To Whom It May Concern Letter of support for Thessaloniki Pride's bid to host EuroPride 2020 The Lesbian and Gay Community of Greece (OLKE) is the oldest NGO advocating LGBTI rights in Greece, founded in 2004. Together with Thessaloniki Pride, as well as Athens Pride and Positive Voice, we have formed a consortium and are running the By Your Side - The first Nationwide LGBT Campaign for combating discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, and the 11528 National LGBTI Helpline. Currently, Thessaloniki Pride is the leading partner in these projects.

Thessaloniki Pride is a reliable and effective organization. By its mere existence, it has motivated deep changes in a very conservative part of Greece. It has built strong alliances with the municipality and the local community, and organizes the second bigger Pride Parade of Greece.

OLKE fully supports ThessalonikiĘźs Pride bid to host EuroPride 2020. We strongly believe that such a high profile event will reinforce the progress on LGBTI rights in Thessaloniki and the wider region. We have the utmost faith in Thessaloniki PrideĘźs capability to successfully organize and host such an event.

Kind regards, on behalf of the Board of OLKE Telis Raptis President

SUPPORT LETTERS Greek LGBTI organisations

ΟΙΚΟΓΕΝΕΙΕΣ ΟΥΡΑΝΙΟ ΤΟΞΟΜΚΟ ΑΣΤΙΚΗ ΜΗ ΚΕΡΔΟΣΚΟΠΙΚΗ ΕΤΑΙΡΕΙΑ ΧΑΡΙΛΑΟΥ ΤΡΙΚΟΥΠΗ 45 – 10681, ΑΘΗΝΑ http://ouraniotoksofamilies.blogspot.gr/

Dear Mr Thanos Vlachogiannis,

Oikogenies Ouranio Tokso- Rainbow Families Greece fully support Thessaloniki Pride's bid to host EuroPride 2020.

Rainbow Families Greece is a Greek LGBTIQ* NGO established in 2014. Our main objective is to support the claims and the rights of same-sex families in Greece. We bring together various types of alternative family structures and organize meetings and events in an effort to raise awareness within the LGBTIQ* community and beyond with regard to various parenting schemes and options. Unfortunately, despite the fact that civil unions recently became universal in Greece, no second-parenting or adoption rights were granted to same sex couples, thus maintaining the current lack of recognition of our parenting rights over our children and all red tape involved thereof.

We believe that having EuroPride 2020 in Thessaloniki, Greece will give our organization a unique opportunity to raise awareness ofthe rights of same-sex families in Greece and liaise with sister organizations from across Europe. We hope that hosting such an event in Thessaloniki would encourage the Greek State to finally adopt the legal framework that would be inclusive for our families and protect our children's rights.

We wish you all the best with the EuroPride 2020 bid from the bottom of our rainbow heart.

Athens 16/7/2017 For the board of directors Stella Belia President

SUPPORT LETTERS Greek LGBTI organisations

SUPPORT LETTERS Greek LGBTI organisations www.colouryouth.gr info@colouryouth.gr facebook.com/ColourYouth twitter.com/colouryouth T: +30 694 55 83 395

Athens 20 July 2017 Dear Mr Vlachogiannis,

Colour Youth – Athens LGBTQ Youth Community is very happy to support Thessaloniki Pride’s bid to host Europride 2020.

Colour Youth is an LGBTQ youth organisation based in Athens. Colour Youth was founded in 2011, aiming to create a space for LGBTQ youth to better express ourselves and assert our rights. We envision a world where homophobia, biphobia, transphobia are eliminated. A society where there is no discrimination based on sexuality, gender or body. We wield colourful markers and draw a colourful reality. Our mission is to highlight the problems we face and position ourselves bravely in the social and political canvas that surrounds us.

We aim to raise social awareness regarding our community´s demands, apply institutional pressure for the modernisation of the legal framework regarding gender identity and sexual orientation and create a strong youth community functioning as a shelter for every LGBTQ person.

We believe that by hosting Europride 2020 in Thessaloniki will increase the visibility of LGBTQ youth, which is very important especially in cities outside the capital of Greece.

Thessaloniki Pride has done a great work in bringing up LGBTQ issues on the North, and we stronglybelieve that having Europride will enhance the impact of their work, as well as help local LGBTQ youth organisations get in touch with other youth groups from all around Europe.

In case you need further information you may contact me at 6945082023 or via e-mail at manager@colouryouth.gr

Sincerely, Philippos Paganis Manager

SUPPORT LETTERS Greek LGBTI organisations

July 12, 2017

Dear Thessaloniki Pride, Rainbow School proudly supports Thessaloniki Pride's bid to host EuroPride 2020.

Rainbow School is a group of volunteers consisting of teachers, mental health professionals and sociologists, promoting an LGBTQI inclusive education in Greek schools via training and education material.

We believe that having EuroPride 2020 in Thessaloniki will give the Greek educational community the opportunity to come in contact with organizations with similar scope and objectives from other countries and exchange experiences, ideas and good practices concerning LGBTQI inclusive education. This will em power educators, parents and students, offering them knowledge, different perspectives and new tools that will combine to bring about a more inclusive education.

We wish Thessaloniki Pride good luck and we strongly support your candidacy for EuroPride 2020.

Sincerely, Petros Sapountzakis Secretary of Rainbow School

SUPPORT LETTERS Greek LGBTI organisations

SUPPORT LETTERS Greek LGBTI organisations

SUPPORT LETTERS Greek LGBTI organisations

SUPPORT LETTERS Greek LGBTI organisations

SUPPORT LETTERS Human rights, refugees and other civil society organisations

SUPPORT LETTERS Human rights, refugees and other civil society organisations

SUPPORT LETTERS Human rights, refugees and other civil society organisations

Athens, 20/07/2017 Reg. No 17-153 Letter of Support Dear Thanos Vlachogiannis, Positive Voice, the Greek Association of People living with HIV/AIDS, is delighted to support the bid by ThessalonikiPride to host the 2020 EuroPride.

Positive Voice was founded in Athens Greece in 2009 with the purpose of defending the rights of PLHIV, addressing the spread of HIV/AIDS and reducing its social and economic impacts in Greece. The association strives to ensure better prevention and renovation practices, health care services an d social care for patients and social groups who are sensitive to HIV. We promote social acceptance, solidarity, and support for these groups, addressing violations of dignity and of their human rights, especially for the ones living in conservative environments. Additionally, we offer free of charge non clinical HIV / HBV and HCV tests in a very discrete way in our premises in Athens and Thessaloniki, named Checkpoints, run annual events and campaigns in order to raise public awareness all over Greece thro ughout the year and especially on the occasion of World Days of HIV/AIDS, Athens Pride or days dedicated to health prevention.

Thessaloniki Pride and Positive Voice have had a continuous and excellent collaborationever since the first pride was organized in Thessaloniki. We admire the commitment of Thessaloniki Pride to incorporate and feature the health issues of the LGBT+ community in its main annual festival as well in numerous auxiliary events during Pride Week and througho ut the year. In so doing, Thessaloniki Pride has helped to raise awareness and eliminate the stigma attached to HIV and other STDs. If Thessaloniki Pride is awarded the bid for the 2020 Europride, Positive Voice looks forward to running an internationally oriented workshop/presentation, as well as a possiblesocial event as part of the Europride program.

Good luck ThessalonikiPride!

Best, Yiannos Livanos

Positive Voice â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Director 13 Agion Anargiron str. , 10554, Athens |

Τ: +30 210 86 27 572 |

16 Tsimiski str. , 54671 Thessaloniki | T : +30 231 55 25 020 |

F : +30 211 80 01 051

F : +30 211 80 01 051

www.positivevoice.gr | info@ positivevoice .gr \

\

SUPPORT LETTERS Tourism authorities, tourism organisations and travel partners

SUPPORT LETTERS Tourism authorities, tourism organisations and travel partners

SUPPORT LETTERS Tourism authorities, tourism organisations and travel partners

SUPPORT LETTERS Prospective Sponsors

Athens, July 24, 2017 TO: Thanos Vlahogiannis Thessaloniki Pride Our ref: L1648

DearMr. Vlahogiannis , At Vodafone, we are committed to providingan inclusive work environment which respects, values, celebrates and makes the most of the individual differences our employeesbring tothe company.

On behalf of Vodafone Greece, we would like to reaffirm our commitment foster to an open workplace where employees can be themselves and empowered to unleash their full potential.In this direction we adop t policies, includingan LGBT inclusion policy, to support differentemployeeneeds andwe maintain an active LGBT & Friends network to helpemployeesengage withthe LGBT community.

Following our participation in the Thessaloniki Pride 2017, wehappy are to express our supportin favour ofThessaloniki Pride's bid to host EuroPride 2020.

As we are extending our support to the Greek LGBTI community, we welcome the idea of EuroPridebeing hostedin Thessaloniki in 2020. Hereby, we express our support to the bid and our interest to support theevent. and remain atyour disposal We would like towish you good luck with your candidacy should you require additional information .

Sincerely,

Nicole Ioannidi Head of Corporate Affairs Vodafone Greece nicole.ioannidi@vodafone.com

Corporate Affairs VODAFONE- PANAFON S.A. 1-3, Tzavella str.Halandri, 152 31, Greece

Phone +30 (210) 6702 000 Fax +30 (210) 6703200

vodafone.gr Registered Office: 1–3, Tzavella str, 152 31 Halandri, Greece. Registered in Greece No. 26089/01ΑΤ/Β/92/276/04

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SUPPORT LETTERS Prospective Sponsors

SUPPORT LETTERS Media