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Fri, May 25 2012
Serbian gay pride rally is cancelled amid threat of violence
Vice-president Joe Biden is greeted by Serbian prime minister Mirko Cvetković on his arrival in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, May 20, 2009.
Photo: Wikipedia
A Gay Pride march in the Serbian capital of Belgrade, scheduled for September 20, has been cancelled after organisers were told that police could not guarantee the safety of marchers.
Earlier, on September 18, president Boris Tadic had vowed to protect demonstrators.
Gay and human rights activists had been urged to move the venue away from central Belgrade for security reasons after opponents of the march had threatened violence if the rally went ahead. Reportedly, opponents of the march had even placed posters near the site of the demonstration, saying "We're waiting for you".
"We were told in the meeting with prime minister Cvetkovic that the gathering is impossible for security reasons and that we should choose another location," said Dragana Vuckovic, member of the Pride Parade organising team.
"Taking the Pride Parade to another location is simply not acceptable," Vuckovic said. "Pride parades are traditionally organised in the main streets of big cities and the message is that groups kept on the fringes of a society need to be integrated."
A government source, who did not wish to be identified, said the decision to move the march to a venue usually used for music gigs was prompted by concerns police might not be able to contain violence towards marchers.
The Yugoslav Committee for Human Rights (YUCOM), an organisation of lawyers, accused the authorities of having capitulated.
"The prosecutor's office has openly acknowledged that they are incapable of finding the legal grounds to prosecute the hooligans who openly call on murder, violence and human rights violation," YUCOM said in a statement.
A previous gay pride rally, staged by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) activists in Serbia in 2001, ended in clashes, with dozens of gay activists and policemen injured by nationalists, neo-Nazis and soccer hooligans.
Earlier, on September 18, president Boris Tadic had vowed to protect demonstrators.
Gay and human rights activists had been urged to move the venue away from central Belgrade for security reasons after opponents of the march had threatened violence if the rally went ahead. Reportedly, opponents of the march had even placed posters near the site of the demonstration, saying "We're waiting for you".
"We were told in the meeting with prime minister Cvetkovic that the gathering is impossible for security reasons and that we should choose another location," said Dragana Vuckovic, member of the Pride Parade organising team.
"Taking the Pride Parade to another location is simply not acceptable," Vuckovic said. "Pride parades are traditionally organised in the main streets of big cities and the message is that groups kept on the fringes of a society need to be integrated."
A government source, who did not wish to be identified, said the decision to move the march to a venue usually used for music gigs was prompted by concerns police might not be able to contain violence towards marchers.
The Yugoslav Committee for Human Rights (YUCOM), an organisation of lawyers, accused the authorities of having capitulated.
"The prosecutor's office has openly acknowledged that they are incapable of finding the legal grounds to prosecute the hooligans who openly call on murder, violence and human rights violation," YUCOM said in a statement.
A previous gay pride rally, staged by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) activists in Serbia in 2001, ended in clashes, with dozens of gay activists and policemen injured by nationalists, neo-Nazis and soccer hooligans.
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The Sofia Echo
Come on Serbia, get on with the times.
Who cares. We're all God's children.
Let them be happy.
I've personally made it a mission in life to uncover the secret lesbian in every woman I've met, (sorry Dianne, you strike me as too butch) and if the Serbs based their national pride on various individual's sexual habits, then that's a bit odd;))
as a serb can say that 90%,and thats the minimum,of us sebs dont want to look that parade or its participant here.Than why should we,as majority,be tortured with it.i mean they have their gay clubs here in belgrade,couple of them,and thats no problem,but parade will never took place here.people simply dont want to see that here.10 years ago it was a shame to be gay,and still is,at least for hetero ones.it would be a natonal failure when people of the same sex could be seen in the streets holding hands or kissing.and as for EU,if the only problem is recognition [...]
Read the full comment of gay,well we managed so far without eu and will
This comment has been hidden by the moderator because it contained квалификации.
I agree entirely with Jon Mills.
I agree with what both have said,so i will now give my view i hope it does not offend. I agree with the people of Serbia & Russia & parts of the US and many other parts of the world that will not allow this kind of human defect being advertised in public, but i also feel sorry for these shirt lifters and lesbians, i agree that voilence is not an answer but can understand how disgusted people feel.
Yes i do know what paper this is,queers have nothing to do with eye sight, also i do not buy any tabloid newspapers we now have the news at our fingertips.I am one of the so called silent many who had no choice in what laws our goverment in the UK made but i can tell you that in a lot of countries around the world we are a laughing stock. Men marry men & women marry woman is not normal if you think it is then you have a problem.You will be surprised at how many people in the [...]
Read the full comment UK could and would do physical harm but we abide by a law that stops us that does not mean we would not like to.I see from your PS that you are a normal male i wonder why you stressed that point.
Cosmos: This is the Sofia Echo - I assume you were looking for the'Sun' or possibly 'News of the World'.
"We the normal people" !! I assume you mean heterosexual citizens who advocate violence and imprisonment for any person or group that does not fit your personal view of 'normal'. So what limit do you place on 'abnormal' Possibly wearing glasses because the genetic deformity of eyesight is less than normal. How about any tattoo or body peircing - which many would say is not normal. Or better still what about the Muslim, Jews, Roman Catholics [...]
Read the full comment (list is endless so anyone who is not Church of England).
You are entitled to your views; many will agree, and many will disagre - but advocating physical harm and violence will put you in a very small minority and weakens your argument.
Be careful what you wish for, in case your particular viewpoint on any subject will one day not be regarded as normal, and end sending you to prison or cause you injury for your beliefs or lifestyle. The citizens of Nazi Germany learned that lesson the hard way.
PS: From a very heterosexual, white, Anglo-Saxon Male, who believes violence is always the last resort of the incompetent and the stupid.
This comment has been hidden by the moderator because it contained квалификации.
So Serbian police cannot protect citizens and cannot comply with their presidential instructions because people have threatened violence!
And they want to joint the EU - where equality is guaranteed in law (Race, religion, sexuality, ethnicity, political beliefs) and they must open borders between member nations. I just cannot see how this all fits with their national ethic. I do not say their position is right or wrong; just that it is so very opposite from what is expected from an EU member.