Serbia gay
LGBTIQ
Serbia: Gays and lesbians “temporarily” declared personae non-grataeWhat are the reactions of the Serbian LGBTIQ community to the cancellation? Are people appalled, or do they resign because discriminatory behaviour on the part of the government has become a habit?
The reaction of the organizers of EuroPride was definitive and responsible – the President of the Republic cannot cancel EuroPride because he did not even organize it. The Pride procession can only be banned not by a verbal law of the President, but by a decision of the Ministry of the Interior. Organizations and supporters have stated firmly and unequivocally that the stroll will take place, regardless of the decision of the authorities. I have faith this is fearless and the right decision – because this will build the EuroPride a real protest, not just a ceremonial walk.
Are there ways and means to support the Serbian LGBTIQ community in its struggle for equal rights and social participation from within the EU and its member states?
The European Union and its member states should exert as much pressure a
One of my first encounters with the concept of other sexualities was when, as kid visiting my grandmother`s tiny summer dwelling in Montenegro I was walking around the yard and pointed to a far-away house on a land neighbouring ours and asked who lived there.
„That was cousin M.`s house…“ she said, somewhat darkly, unlike her eager explanations of who else lived in the 20km radius.
As the day went on and I pestered my grandma and other relatives for some family history , it was revealed that cousin M. was gay (a „peder“) and spent most of his professional life as a clerk of some sort in Belgrade (where he had relationships with local University proferssors) only to return to this village by Nikšić and disburse his last days as an unmarried village alcoholic. That side of my family rarely lets on anything more about M. which is hardly surprising: my grandma was famous for having strained relationships with many of her family, especially when they were neighbours, and then, there is the local culture. Another story that I heard, albeit much later, about the local attitude towards b
A person waves a flag during the European LGBTQ pride parade in Belgrade, Serbia, September 17, REUTERS/Zorana Jevtic
What’s the context?
LGBTQ+ couples in the Balkans are still fighting for recognition as Greece becomes first Orthodox nation to back same-sex marriage
- Serbia among European nations with no civil union law
- Orthodox leaders oppose progress on LGBTQ+ rights
- Activists hope Greek male lover marriage law boosts their fight
LONDON - Stefana Budimirovic and Radica Stevanov share a home and dreams of starting a family, but the lesbian couple's bond does not exist in the eyes of the law in Serbia - one of more than a dozen European nations yet to recognise same-sex unions.
"Everything (we have) is in just either one of our names," said Budimirovic, 33, as she described the everyday problems the couple face. "(Radica's) name needs to be on the paperwork for the house, we necessitate to be legally covered."
But Greece's decision last month to legalise same-sex marriage - becoming the first Orthodox Christian nation to do so - has raised hopes of rights gains amo
Serbia Pride: Gay PM Brnabic 'not wanted' at parade
BBC Serbian
It's the only Balkan country to hold an openly gay prime minister - so why are some of Serbia's LGBT activists determined to keep PM Ana Brnabic away from Gay Pride?
When Ms Brnabic was appointed last year, hopes were high in the LGBT community: not only was she the first woman to head the Serbian cabinet, she was also the first LGBT politician to hold such high office in the Balkans.
She marched in the Pride parade in Belgrade, surrounded by posters reading "Ana is here," and took selfies with dozens of people.
But one year on, progress is scant: LGBT rights contain not improved, new laws are still far from being adopted and there has been no descend in the number of attacks on gay people.
In largely conservative Orthodox Christian Serbia, a candidate for EU membership, discrimination and violence against the LGBT community are widespread.
Two gay Prides, one same-sex attracted PM and no finish to problems
Ahead of Event , a group