The draft law for "Gender equality"has been accompanied in recent days by misinterpretations in the media and social networks, presenting it as a step towards "legalization of gay marriage", "transgender" or even “70 new genders in Albania”.
But these claims are completely untrue and constitute a form of public misinformation as the bill does not change biological sex, does not legalize same-sex couples, and does not invent new genders.
Citizens.al reviewed its content and found that the draft does not contain any article related to same-sex marriages, nor does it affect the law on civil status or the Family Code.
Given the importance and sensitivity of the issue, such changes that would affect the family would require not only other acts, but also more public debate, which is not happening in this case.
The purpose of the draft law on “Gender Equality” is to strengthen protection against discrimination on the basis of gender identity and gender expression. It has been drafted under European Union directives in accordance with Istanbul Convention, ratified by Albania since 2013.
The draft law defines "gender" as a social and legal category, enabling institutions to implement gender equality policies that include people beyond the traditional male-female spectrum.
This does not constitute "new invention", but it is in line with international human rights standards.
In the absence of a precise legal definition, Albanian institutions and courts may have difficulty handling cases of discrimination against LGBT people.
The draft law attempts to fill this gap, helping to better implement the law on "Protection from Discrimination" and ensuring that no one is excluded from the right to equality because of the way they experience and express their gender.
It is worth noting that the draft law has no content related to "animal identifications", "invented genders", or similar scenarios used to incite insecurity or hatred.
These narratives reflect neither the legal reality nor the international practice to which the Albanian state aspires to belong: the European Union.
The discussion about gender equality requires clarity and more ethical reporting from the media since, as the latest case shows, there is social sensitivity.
Therefore, it is important that public debates – especially in television studios – are based on official documents, international conventions, and concrete facts, not on misinterpretations or ideological manipulations.
He completed his master's studies in the department of Journalism and Communication Sciences at the University of Tirana. She has been reporting for more than four years in Citizens.al on issues of culture, urban development, feminism, etc. She is also a contributor to other local and foreign online media, and has worked in the editing of various materials. She is the author of the podcast "Pezull" on Citizens.al and is engaged as a coordinator of projects related to the empowerment of young journalists and migration issues.
