Coming up in Serbia: Belgrade Pride

On 10 October 2010, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) people and their supporters will march at the Belgrade Pride.

LGBTI organization ILGA-Europe express their support for this important event on their website and will send its representatives to Belgrade to support the LGBTI community in Serbia.



American activists show their support for Serbia outside the United Nations Plaza in San Francisco / Photo: Bill Wilson

In 2001, the first attempt to host a Pride event in Belgrade resulted in bloody violence when football hooligans and nationalists attacked the participants of the first Belgrade Pride and Serbian police did not provide adequate protection of the participants. LGBTI activists in Serbia abandoned the idea of a Pride event until last year, when Belgrade Pride March was cancelled at the very last moment. The authorities said the risks to participants’ safety were too great and they would not be able to ensure protection.

Assurances have been given by the Serbian authorities and Serbian police that this year’s Pride event will be properly protected and all attempts to disturb it will be prevented. All I can say to that is: I hope that’s true. We at eurOut hope all participants will finally be allowed to express who they are and stand up for themselves in safety and peace.

Linda Freimane, Co-Chair of ILGA-Europe’s Executive Board, who is going to Belgrade, said:


We are very pleased with the statements by Serbian authorities and police assuring they will do everything to ensure a peaceful Belgrade Pride. We hope this year’s Pride will be a turning point in the attitudes of the Serbian authorities towards fundamental rights exercised by LGBTI people.


Nataša Suki?, Member of ILGA-Europe’s Executive Board, who will also be in Belgrade, said:


We want to show [the] Serbian LGBTI community that their efforts are supported by the broader European LGBTI movement. This is [a] very significant event in their struggle for visibility and respect and we will be there to demonstrate that they are not alone in this struggle.


More information about Belgrade Pride can be found on the Belgrade Pride website. A promo spot for this year’s Pride can be found below:



Are you from Serbia or are you going to Belgrade to support the Serbian LGBTI community? Please share your expectations and experiences with us in the comments!

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