Kostas Gavriilidis, a significant figure in Cyprus for advocating human rights, equality, and diversity, has passed away, leaving an indelible mark on society.
The President of the Democratic Rally and Speaker of the House, Annita Demetriou, stated in a post that his loss is immense not only for DISY but also for all who had the honor to know and work with him. “A wonderful person who stood up and fought for human rights. His impact and contributions will remain indelible in our collective memory,” she said, expressing her condolences to his family and loved ones.
Nikos Tornaritis wrote on social media, “With deep sorrow and shock, I learned of the death of Kostas Gavriilidis, a pioneering individual who paved the way for liberalism and the defense of human rights in Cyprus. His contributions leave a substantial impact on our society, and his loss fills us with grief. Warm and sincere condolences to his loved ones. Eternal be his memory.”
Kostas Gavriilidis served as an advisor to the President of the Republic for promoting multiculturalism, was a co-founder and first president of Accept–LGBT Cyprus, and led the organization of the first Pride Festival in 2014. He represented Cyprus in international organizations for LGBTQ+ rights and actively contributed to shaping equality policies and bicommunal cooperation.
