Every year in September, on the eve of Pride, it arrives regularly Pride Week program which, from the Poetry Workshop, through the Wikipedia Editing Workshop, also offers serious discussions on the topic of LGBTQ rights, which are almost always the same unfortunately and with the same people, because essentially nothing changes (for the better) in Serbia when this topic is discussed.
The idea arises whether it is better for the organizers of Pride and the society of Serbia to ask themselves "who is to blame" for not getting anywhere with the fulfillment of demands and respect for the rights of gay people, instead of stating that "we are not even close", because we really are not close, this could also be seen when the president of Serbia said that he "showed his personal attitude towards that law by electing Ana Brnabić as prime minister", but that at the same time he is not an "ardent advocate" of same-sex unions.
Maybe it's time for the organizers and LGBT people to stop looking pleadingly in the direction of the government, looking for a grain of respect and protection of gay people's rights, and turn to the potential friends of LGBT people in Serbia, i.e. the opposition, i.e. "Serbia against violence."
That gay people in Serbia seek stronger and greater support from the opposition, unequivocal, clear, and to exert joint pressure on the government to first of all respect one's human rights.
Considering that the political situation in the country is currently more than complicated, and that even a blockade of the Parliament is expected, as announced by a part of the opposition, it is still not known whether the next protest of the opposition "Serbia against violence", which has been postponed and will be held on September 8, and the Pride Walk on September 9, to support Serbia against violence against LGBT people.
"We didn't discuss whether we will support this year's Pride under the brand "Serbia against violence", but I know that some of us will certainly support it because it is, above all, our obligation," says Pavle Grbović, a member of parliament in the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia and the president of the Movement of Free Citizens for the Vremena portal.
"Respecting the rights of gay people in Serbia is not only an important part of building our society, but also a civilizational shift, and I can't wait for the moment in this country to go to the Pride Walk, not because I have to, but if I'm in the mood."
He added that they have not yet discussed joint support at the opposition level, nor is he sure that everyone will have the same tone on that topic, nor that everyone will make a statement, but he expects that the majority of the opposition will support Pride.
However, a few days earlier, the mayor of Belgrade, Aleksandar Šapić, announced in an almost threatening tone that "Belgrade Family Days" will be 10 times bigger. It is incomprehensible why the mayor got so angry, considering that he officially said that he will not come to Pride, and considering that no one is forcing him, his tone on Instagram the post is embarrassing and overly defensive.
"They will attack everything that is traditional and created by nature." That's why I myself was attacked when I "dared" to organize an event called "Belgrade Family Days" in Belgrade for the first time this year. Let me tell everyone right now, next year "Belgrade Family Days" will be 10 times bigger and will last a month," the mayor of Belgrade threatened someone.
The commissioner for the protection of equality, Brankica Janković, told journalists that this year, compared to 2022, "the atmosphere is different, without great tensions." "I expect this year's Pride Parade to be dignified and safe for all participants, without any manifestations of extremism," Janković said.
LGBT_protest_06Source: FoNet
This year, the organizers of Pride see everything black.
The director of Belgrade Pride, Goran Miletić, said that, unlike previous years, this is not an optimistic moment. "There are no positive changes to announce the opening of this year's Pride Week." There is nothing colorful. The situation for us, the LGBT community, is much worse than in the previous period," said Miletić and pointed out that there is no interest on the part of the authorities to do anything, to fulfill any of the demands.
He said that their demands, which were held by LGBT activists at the opening of Pride Week, "are not extravagant, but the fulfillment of ordinary life things", and that they have been the same since 2014.
"It is the passing of a law on same-sex partnerships, a law on gender identity, inclusion of this topic in the education system, inclusion in local action plans, an apology to all who were convicted before 1994 under the Criminal Code for unnatural fornication, a declaration against homophobia, inclusion in health the PrEP and PEP system as what the community needs," said Miletić. He said that this year they have another request, which is that the government "at least symbolically stand behind the LGBT community and display rainbow flags during Pride Week."
The Pride Walk will be held on September 9 from Manjež Park to the Government of Serbia, then along the streets of Knez Miloš and Kralj Milan, to Nikola Pašić Square, then down Knez Miloša Street and back to Manjež.
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