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Gay News: Gay Pride will go ahead in the Serbian capital this Sunday despite threats of violence by right-wing extremists.
By: Nigel Robinson
Last year's Pride was cancellled
Last year's Pride was cancellled
Belgrade Pride to go ahead despite right-wing threats
8 October 2010
Extremist gangs violently broke up the first Pride march in Serbia in 2001, and last year’s Pride was cancelled after police could not guarantee the safety of the marchers.
Police have pledged to protest this Sunday’s marchers, and at a press conference Svetozar Ciplic, Serbia’s Minister for Human Rights and Minorities, said that he would attend, adding: “I believe Sunday will be written down in Serbia’s modern history.”
While not approving of the Pride event, the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church has issued a statement condemning violence as unacceptable, especially if carried out allegedly in the name of God or the Christian Church.
The event is being widely as a test for Serbian democracy, as the country is currently seeking membership of the European Union.
Both the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and Amnesty International have called on the Serbian government to protect the rights and safety of its country’s LGBT population.
A letter of support, signed by LGBT leaders from twenty countries, has also been delivered to the Serbian mission in New York.
Daiana Serafina Falloni, A representative of the OSCE said: “The maturity of Serbian democracy will be among other things judged by the degree to which the principles of non-discrimination, equal status and treatment by the law are enjoyed by all.”
Speaking for Amnesty International, Sabine Zwiers said: “We hope that the Pride will be a turning point for the government to really start working to provide equal rights.
“We hope the authorities will react very strongly to any incident that could happen in the coming days and weeks after the Pride because we know that danger for LGBT activists will not stop on Sunday.”
