Riots at Gay Pride March in Belgrade

Another historic milestone has been reached in the history of LGBT rights in Europe. On Sunday the first ever Gay Pride march was held in Serbia in Belgrade. Despite the attempt to attack the marchers and prevent the parade, police managed to protect the marchers and to arrest many of the ultra nationalists and neo-Fascists who wanted the parade stopped. The last time Belgrade tried to hold a march nine years ago it was called off because of the threat of violence and the refusal of the then government to protect the marchers. This indicates that human rights for all will be protected in Serbia and that the country is heading, slowly but inexorably, towards membership of the European Union. The comment below from a spokesperson from ILGA (International Lesbian and Gay Association) sums up the prevailing mood.

"Despite the rioting, this day can be marked in our calendars as a historic day for the LGBT movement in Serbia - it has become the third country (after Slovenia and Croatia) in former Yugoslavia to organise an undisrupted Pride march, which in this case had up to 1,000 participants. One day Pride participants will perhaps be able to march in streets which are not entirely deserted for security reasons and without fearing for their lives.


The next challenge for the Serbian authorities will be to ensure the proportionality of security measures with the true spirit of free assembly and free speech, so that the messages the marchers carry can be seen and heard. But the large-scale attacks against police officers is reason for serious concern and dampens hopes that change will come rapidly.

Social transformation rarely happens quickly. One should keep in mind that the phenomenon of LGBT people taking to the streets has at one time or another been seen as a very provocative act in most parts of Europe. Nowhere did Pride parades start out as the festive events we are now used to in cities such as London, Paris, Berlin or Brussels. Initially, it has always been the courageous few who decided to become visible and to demand equal rights and justice."