More than 56% of Serbian citizens still believe that homosexuality is an illness, 37% think that homosexuality comes from the West and 82% have nothing against the LGBT+ community if sexual orientation is not manifested in outside the home. At the same time, 80% think LGBT+ people are like everyone else, 73% think same-sex couples should be able to visit their partners in hospital or prison, while 59% support inheritance between same-sex partners. This shows that Serbia, as well as all Western Balkan countries, is changing its attitude towards the LGBT+ community. This change is slow but permanent. In line with Council of Europe standards, all countries in the region have adopted numerous laws in which the prohibition of discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity is explicitly mentioned, but their implementation remains a major problem.
However, the visibility of the LGBT+ community remains a big taboo in the region. Despite this, Belgrade Pride has made enormous progress over the past two decades. Acer violent pride in 2001 and 2010, four bans (2009, 2011, 2012, 2013), Belgrade Pride has become the largest annual public event for the LGBT+ community in Serbia. With over 80 events each year during Pride Week, numerous guests, artists and community members, Belgrade Pride has become comparable to any other European pride march.
In 2019, this progress was recognized internationally, where 76% of European Pride organizers voted for Belgrade (the other candidates were Barcelona, Dublin, Lisbon/Porto and Gran Canarias).
After years of fighting for equality for the LGBTI+ community in the region, Belgrade will host EuroPride in September, making it an important milestone for the LGBTI+ community across the region and ushering in a new era.
EuroPride 2022 will take place in Belgrade from September 12 to 18, 2022. Despite the pandemic, the war in Ukraine and the elections in Serbia, the EuroPride team has made great progress and 30 days before the start of EuroPride Week, our message is quite clear: “Belgrade is ready!”
Serbia’s capital will be the first city in the South East European region and the first city outside the European Economic Area to host a major event for the pan-European LGBTI+ community.
More than 130 events are prepared for EuroPride Week (September 12-18), including Pride Theater Festival, Pride Art, International Human Rights Conference, Community Program, Festival lesbian, Merlinka Classic Film Festival and many more. The Pride House, the Pride Info Center and many other venues are being prepared for September, while the Pride Park, near the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, will be built for the concerts on September 16 and 17.
The International Human Rights Conference will bring together local and European decision-makers, activists and public figures who, through their work and efforts, contribute to a greater position of the LGBTI+ community. Belgrade will receive a visit from MEPs, representatives of the Council of Europe, as well as the European Commissioner for Equality.
