The biggest march for human rights in Bulgaria will take place in the streets of Sofia for the 18th time in a row. The event will start with a concert on Sofia Square, “Knyaz Aleksandar I” (Battenberg), and is expected to gather more than 10,000 people again in support of the fight for equality of the LGBTI community in Bulgaria.
In recent days, speculation has emerged that changes in US policy towards international financial aid will lead to the cancellation of Sofia Pride. These claims are completely false. Although the US Embassy in Bulgaria has repeatedly provided financial and public support, the march is not dependent on any particular institution or foreign embassy. Sofia Pride is an expression of the fundamental constitutional right of Bulgarian citizens to peacefully assemble and demonstrate on issues important to them.
“The claim that the US Embassy has annually allocated BGN 100 000 for the event is also unfounded. In 2024, the GLAS Foundation, as the coordinator of Sofia Pride, received USD 15,000 (about BGN 27,000) to organize the event. Funding from the US Embassy has always been transparent and regulated, and for 2025 Sofia Pride has not even applied for such support,” adds Simeon Vassilev from the Sofia Pride organizing committee.
Following changes in the criminal code in the summer of 2023, incitement to discrimination, collective defamation based on sexual orientation and gender identity, advocacy of hatred, hostility and violence, as well as discriminatory restriction of human rights are illegal and in some cases criminal offences in Bulgaria.
The organizing committee of the largest human rights march is adamant that if Sofia Pride ever ceases to exist, it will only be when LGBTI people in Bulgaria achieve full equality and acceptance. They add: “Unfortunately, our country is far from that goal. That is why today, more than ever, Sofia Pride is needed.”
