Tensions have been running high ahead of the event. Nobody should jeopardise" the Belgrade Pride event. Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic, a former ultra-nationalist who has re-branded himself as pro-European, refused to attend the Pride Parade, saying he had "better things to do".īut visiting a flooded town in eastern Serbia on Sunday Vucic also said that "in our country there are rights and freedoms guaranteed by the constitution and we respect these rights and freedoms. Homophobia is widespread in Serbian and other conservative Balkan societies. But none of ultra-nationalists were seen in town during the pride march.īelgrade has been under pressure to improve protection for minorities, including the LGBT community, since starting accession talks with the European Union this year. Members of Dveri were on the streets of the capital on Saturday night while another group, Obraz, called its supporters to join a march in another central Belgrade area Sunday. Several ultra-nationalist groups had threatened anti-gay protests to counter Belgrade Pride. Some Serbian cabinet ministers also joined, including Deputy Prime Minister Kori Udovicki and Culture Minister Ivan Tasovac, as well as Belgrade mayor Sinisa Mali. Several foreign diplomats, including the head of the EU's delegation to Serbia Michael Davenport, US ambassador Michael Kirby and European Parliament member Terry Reintke, attended the march. "For the first time, institutions have publicly supported the Pride Parade, and media reports were more favourable for the LGBT community," Boban Stojanovic told reporters on Saturday. Organisers hailed what they called a warmer reception for the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual) event than in previous years. "I really hope that this will help people to understand our needs, and that it'll be the first step toward respecting our rights," he said. The two-kilometre (one-and-a-half mile) march passed by parliament before ending in front of Belgrade City Hall.Ī 26-year old gay man, who declined to give his name, nevertheless said he was happy to be able to "march freely in my Belgrade." Only accredited reporters, organisers and participants wearing special bracelets were allowed to enter the area in central Belgrade closed off to traffic, which was patrolled by anti-riot and special police forces and helicopters flying overhead.
"I hope the vandals won't spoil the celebration, and that starting from this year, the parade will become a regular event," Kosmogina, a bisexual and gay rights activist, told AFP.īut in the crowd of up to 1,000 - isolated with the security cordon - the atmosphere was relaxed, with marchers dancing to music pumped in from loud speakers.