March 10, 2025 | Monday
“Life is a one time shot”
Rajmonda Sylbije is a powerful voice in the fight to defend and promote LGBTIQ+ rights in Kosovo. She grew up alongside the LGBTIQ+ movement in the post-war era of the country. From her early involvement in community initiatives to founding CEL Kosovo, and now serving as the Program Director at CSGD, Sylbije has remained unwavering in her commitment to the cause. In this interview, we embark on a journey with her as she reflects on the milestones of her development as an activist and the growth of the LGBTIQ+ movement in Kosovo—progressing from enclosed spaces to openly walking in public squares. The struggle for dignity for the LGBTIQ+ community continues.
Europe House Kosovo: Could you share with us the beginnings of your activism and how your efforts have been channeled through non-governmental organizations? Additionally, could you provide some context about the social environment when you first began your activism? How have the circumstances for the LGBTIQ+ community in Kosovo evolved over time, particularly thanks to the work of activists like yourself?
Rajmonda Sylbije: I believe that regardless of whether it was called activism or not at the time, I began engaging in activism much like many children in post-war Kosovo. Back then, we had access to some organizations present in various municipalities across Kosovo, including in Prizren, which dealt with issues of coming to terms with the past and building peace. I think that, unconsciously, my involvement with social issues began there, and I realized that I enjoyed working on these matters.
So, when I came to Prishtinë, I was already familiar with the work of non-governmental organizations and community organizing, though absolutely not with any organization focused on LGBTIQ+ issues. At that time, the community was almost airtight, and access was difficult unless you knew someone. Safety and confidentiality were critical concerns for the LGBTIQ+ community, which made it hard to engage openly.
Safe spaces and well-being have long been issues that the LGBTIQ+ movement in Kosovo has worked on. It was crucial to create an environment of mutual trust, where individuals could first find comfort within themselves and have the opportunity to talk to someone who shared their experiences or who supported the issues about which they were concerned.
If we compare the situation from how I found it in 2006 to how it is today, it’s almost incomparable. Non-governmental organizations addressing LGBTIQ+ issues back then worked in a very closed-off manner. “Drop-in” centers operated both as offices and meeting spaces, but advocacy work was rare. So, we can say that in the early stages of the movement, creating these safe spaces was of paramount importance.
Europe House Kosovo: How did you get involved in the movement, and what were your personal priorities at the time? Did you find a way to address them through the organizations that were active back then?
Rajmonda Sylbije: It happened by chance that some people told me about an organization in Prishtinë dedicated to promoting and defending the rights of the LGBT community. At that time, it wasn’t even referred to by that name. I still remember the first time I attended a meeting, as they were organized back then. It was a source of joy in itself—a lifestyle different from what was seen outside. I encountered a very supportive and united community. What initially drew me in was the atmosphere of mutual support. If you ask what kept me involved in the movement, it was the sheer need I saw—the realization of how many people felt unrepresented, how many issues remained behind closed doors, how many lived double lives. This situation felt overwhelming to me, that such a community had to continue living in such a way.
And it wasn’t just me; some of us felt the need to take a step forward to disrupt that way of functioning. People tend to settle into a comfort zone and forget that it takes effort to change external circumstances. If the external situation is what concerns us most, then that’s where the work needs to be done—it must change. With this belief, I continued my engagement with various organizations, starting with QeSh and later with LIBERTAS.
Europe House Kosovo: You are a founder of CEL – the Center for Equality and Liberty, which remains a powerful voice for defending and promoting LGBTIQ+ rights in Kosovo. Initially, there was CSGD, followed by QeSh and LIBERTAS, and later, you established CEL. What was the context that made the founding of CEL a pressing need for you?
Rajmonda Sylbije: At the time, a foreigner led LIBERTAS, and we felt that we had both the capacity and the need for stronger local representation. After LIBERTAS closed, there was already a momentum where young people had started being much more vocal and engaging in diverse community-building activities beyond just “drop-in” centers. Especially following the attacks on Kosovo 2.0 and LIBERTAS, there was a need to consolidate the legacy of all the efforts we had made for greater visibility and to be more public.
At that point, it became essential to establish an organization like CEL, led by young individuals with a slightly different approach—not different in terms of the issues it addressed, but in creating a space not just for the community but also for allies to gather so that members of the LGBTIQ+ community could feel supported.
I believe the establishment of CEL marked a turning point, as our movement became more vocal. This was not only because of CEL but also due to the fact that we now had three organizations, three leaders—two of them women. I believe we gave the movement a new spirit, where people were now coming forward, speaking publicly, and defending the rights of members of the LGBTIQ+ community. We began participating more in the media and organizing the first marches, which I consider the foundation upon which we now have parades and many other developments. Without the support of certain individuals who were involved at the time, this would not have happened. However, it was necessary to have something break out of the usual patterns of functioning.
Europe House Kosovo: From your perspective, as someone who has been part of the LGBTIQ+ movement in Kosovo from the early days, what would you consider to be its key achievements from the post-war period until today?
Rajmonda Sylbije: I hardly know where to begin when talking about the achievements. The first would definitely be the comfort that members of the LGBTIQ+ community feel today and the fact that we now have many outspoken activists, as well as members of the LGBTIQ+ community who openly address these issues. Back then, this was a far-fetched dream.
If at that time everything was taboo, today we openly discuss matters such as mental health among members of the LGBTIQ+ community. Moreover, there are mental health services provided by various organizations. Unfortunately, I cannot say these are institutional improvements, as these services are not offered by our institutions, even though they should be established as a standard. However, one key achievement is that we have managed to identify the needs and provide the services that the community no longer hesitates to access. Then there is the educational work that has been done through training sessions for various institutions, such as journalists, prosecutors, law enforcement, and students.
Another key achievement is the protection against discrimination. While the law existed before, it was neither well-promoted nor well-understood by members of the LGBTIQ+ community or other marginalized groups. Today, hate crimes explicitly include characteristics such as sexual orientation and gender identity. We now openly discuss transgender issues, including necessary therapy such as hormone therapy and other related needs. Today, there are individuals who have successfully changed their gender markers on official documents.
If I had imagined these developments at the start of the movement, they would have seemed impossible. Not to mention, we now see people fully out in the streets and occupying public spaces through events like parades, supported by a growing number of allies. Although it wasn’t easy in the beginning, today we walk openly in the streets. Every year, we address institutions with different slogans tackling various issues. We’ve had a prime minister, a president, and various ministers participate in parades.
Another positive aspect is the increasing number of public spaces, whether organizational offices, cafés, clubs, or cultural centers, which are accessible to members of the LGBTIQ+ community, even though, unfortunately, this remains limited to the capital.
The fact that we’re discussing a constitutional matter is a clear indicator of the movement’s readiness to address key issues. Had the movement not been prepared to engage in certain political developments, we might not even be talking about the Civil Code today. I always say that we’re fortunate to have a constitution that provides a strong legal foundation. Beyond the strong will and belief that everyone deserves the right to marry, the constitution itself is a crucial legal basis. Without it, we would have had to fight for even more fundamental legislative changes.
Europe House Kosovo: What are the pressing issues or needs that require intervention in the future?
Rajmonda Sylbije: Our institutions need to understand that non-governmental organizations cannot continue indefinitely to dedicate all their capacities to providing services that should be offered by the institutions themselves. Currently, 60-70% of the work of organizations involves delivering services. This includes mental health support, other health-related services, and legal assistance. If these services are not institutionalized, it will place a significant burden on organizations to ensure their provision.
Another pressing issue is addressing legal gaps. Members of the LGBTIQ+ community don’t have time to waste because you only live once. We are talking about human lives, and I believe that enough sacrifices have been made before us and during our time so that the current generation, as well as all members of the LGBTIQ+ community, can have dignified treatment and equal access. Therefore, issues such as the Civil Code, same-sex marriage, the right to adoption, and similar matters should not even be up for debate,
These rights were settled long ago in many parts of the world, and when Kosovo committed to following the European path, it should have addressed these discussions as well —placing human dignity at the center. After all, one cannot live their life twice!