Ministry to support "Gay Pride" parade

I think that this is really good news and I hope that any events pass peacefully. Belgrade is a vibrant young city and this is part of it.

Nobody chooses to be gay and face all of the hate, social exclusion and bigotry.

In any civilised modern country gay people should be able to have carnivals, marches or whatever they choose as long as it doesn't affect the rights of others.

There have always been gay people, it's just that so often they are forced to hide and live false lives.

There's too much hate in the world - who cares who loves who? As long as people are consenting adults they should be free to do whatever they choose and love whoever they want.

oudrs: "Personally i and the majority of us, choose to have our sexual activities in our private sphere, in our sleeping rooms respecting our common public places as neutral for everybody."

Then why do we have pornography on every newsstand, lap dancing clubs, strip joints etc? Why are so many programmes, ads and films full of sex?

The heterosexual world is very 'out there' to the extent that it's often intimidating to a lot of women (and maybe some men).

I don't see these gay people's right to march as any type of political or social threat whatsoever.

Well said Kate. I support the right to assemble -without violence comitted against demonstrators.

Skinheads and their ilk should just stay away if they don't like it.

Well, i can agree to some extent with you Kate. But the big "but" here is why?

Why are Soros & Co pumping in so much money in americanized homosex-culture and these sexual parades in the eastern europe?
Personally i and the majority of us, choose to have our sexual activities in our private sphere, in our sleeping rooms respecting our common public places as neutral for everybody.

Why can´t the sexuals do the same?

"Then why do we have pornography on every newsstand, lap dancing clubs, strip joints etc? Why are so many programmes, ads and films full of sex?"

But these people aren't making a parade (and in front of children) on their sexual orientation and practices.

The parade is flaunting and provoking people. Plus it is foreign government meddling if they are heavily financing and promoting it against a traditional culture.

The same people promoting this do nothing for the Serbian refugees and say nothing about the Serbs in Kosovo or Croatia denied the most basic and essential human rights.

“Personally i and the majority of us, choose to have our sexual activities in our private sphere, in our sleeping rooms respecting our common public places as neutral for everybody. (oudrs, 16 March 2009 14:04)”

So you’ve never walked down the street holding a girl’s hand, or kissed a girl in public?

The sad reality is in a lot of places gays can not do such things without fear of harassment.

Its very easy for those of us in main stream society not to notice what they live with everyday.

I’m sure its very much the same feeling as well I go out with my kids and we’re all wearing our Serbian Hero T-Shirts here in the US. I get a lot of dirty stares from people.

syla: "if this is great news then i say either you all people are gay or the world is coming to an end"

Not gay or apocalyptic - how about you? Perhaps just a tad apoplexic?

It just doesn't bother me who other people love. It's not a threat in any way.

All people have the right to peaceful protest and self-expression.

This is great news. And a great chance for the government in Serbia to show that they are far more mature than their colleagues in BiH, especially after the fiasco that was last year's Sarajevo Queer Festival.

if this is great news then i say either you all people are gay or the world is coming to an end

Indeed, a common public place is for everybody and should be neutral as such.

Thing is that "the market" of pornography profiteers and others occupie our minds trough commercial propaganda distributed in such places and even in our own homes. In a better world their activities should be strictly regulated but today they are allowed to correspond with the lowest of human instincts...

"I don't see these gay people's right to march as any type of political or social threat whatsoever"

I still can´t see why the sexuals just dont "march" through their own bedrooms like the rest of us...

"Hi i´m Mike and im gay"

why would i care? If you did´nt tell me i would´nt know, to me you are just a fine human being, Carpenter or whatever and i respect you as such.

I dont march trough the streets demonstrating to the world how a prefer to satisfy myself sexually, why would i? these are private things.

Same for sexuals methinks, and more than that, speaking of relations, of course our society should respect all kinds of unfertile relationships, man-man woman-woman transsexuals shoe-fetishists man-machine or even w-nkers.. (except those with children and animals), but promote the traditional relationship between man and woman simply beacuse it gives birth to more human being in a natural way....

Kate, Roberto. Shame that there aren't more people like you guys in the world. Gay people in Serbia need all the support they can get. I have been to Serbia many times and friends there know I am gay. Unfortunately there are too many narrowminded people who get so paranoid that they think it could be catching and they might somehow contract this homosexual disease. We are all human beings with the same rights as each other no matter where we come from or how our sexuality might be expressed. I hope Belgrade can out on a great show for the world to see. You did it well with the Eurovision Song Contest. Do it again. And I know how warm and friendly the people of Srbija are. So crack open the Jelen and rakija, serve up that cvapi and join the party. ZIVELI!! ;)

Ida - I really respect you and most of your comments.

But I don't think that supporting equality has to be exclusive from supporting more 'basic rights' (ie. survival) in Kosovo.

I do understand what you mean about the people who support a single issue often not supporting other major issues of more immediate importance.

But the rights of the individual shouldn't be put to one side.

I am, as you know, 100% in favour of improving conditions for the Serbian communities in Kosovo and I think that they are having their human rights infringed on a daily basis.

I am also in favour of their right not to sign with the state electricity supplier because they do not recognise a new state in their own country.

I think it's shocking how the media is keeping so quiet about what has happened, is continuing to happen and the terrible crimes which are never even mentioned let alone tried.

The international attempt to just take part of Serbia and hand it to one ethnic group is outrageous and simple theft.

But I do at the same time believe that the rights of the individual must not be overlooked.

There was a recent case of a gay man from Kosovo seeking asylum on the basis that he would be killed if he returned. I can't see any marches take place in Pristina any time soon.

It would be great if Belgrade could lead the way and show that it is a tolerant and modern nation.

roberto from frisco,

So you state and believe that, "after all, i come from the midwest (US) which is not exactly known as cutting edge."

Cutting edge? Your standards, I suppose?

There are Americans, like myself, who moved to the Midwest, America's Heartland, because we appreciate all that it has to offer.

“Harmony and tolerance” you say? Attempting to belittle a vast area of the U.S. serves no positive purpose and does not promote tolerance and harmony.

I very much appreciate the support shown by some of you for the rights of sexual minorities, which means for the human rights of all of us.

this is a global struggle, and as i have written before it affects each country of the former YU and in differing ways. but whether framed on a political or religious basis, we need to resist discrimination, prejudice, and violence, especially violence against minorities.

the struggle for equal rights and respect for lgbt people continues in bosnia and everywhere else.

i especially agree with Kate's proposition that we should celebrate love (obviously consensual, between adults) wherever we can find it.

vote yes for love :-)

roberto/ frisco

Great news, and well said, Kate.
To those who say "this is a private matter": Open any magazine, Look at almost any advert anywhere - on TV, on billboards, in magazines, and you'll see some expression of heterosexuality - a man and a woman holding hands, kissing, sitting on a beach together. The whole world is a giant expression of heterosexuality. I can hardly imagine what it would be like to be gay and feel completely different in the world. So, power to the brave people that have to endure such a hostile environment in Serbia on something that is and should be such a non-issue.

I have no illusions that Serbia will be anywhere but in the dark ages on this subject for at least 50 years, but I'm happy to see these baby steps.

thank you Kate, you really made my day/night, and in such a spot-on British way.

being inclusive and muti-cultural is not the end of western civilization as we know it. it is a way of expanding it, especially to those who have been marginalized or worse. the LGBT community (as we call it here) is very eclectic -- made up of all professions, political perspectives, styles, etc. some are religious, and have even formed religious congregations (if that matters), some are agnostic. i mean it all seems so obvious and self-evident to me, but for some people i can imagine why they feel threatened. after all, i come from the midwest (US) which is not exactly known as cutting edge. but Tolerance (in an open and accepting way) is a good thing, and promotes societal harmony, not vis versa.

thank you.
roberto/frisco

Well, i can agree to some extent with you Kate. But the big "but" here is why?

Why are Soros & Co pumping in so much money in americanized homosex-culture and these sexual parades in the eastern europe?
Personally i and the majority of us, choose to have our sexual activities in our private sphere, in our sleeping rooms respecting our common public places as neutral for everybody.

Why can´t the sexuals do the same?

"Then why do we have pornography on every newsstand, lap dancing clubs, strip joints etc? Why are so many programmes, ads and films full of sex?"

But these people aren't making a parade (and in front of children) on their sexual orientation and practices.

The parade is flaunting and provoking people. Plus it is foreign government meddling if they are heavily financing and promoting it against a traditional culture.

The same people promoting this do nothing for the Serbian refugees and say nothing about the Serbs in Kosovo or Croatia denied the most basic and essential human rights.

Indeed, a common public place is for everybody and should be neutral as such.

Thing is that "the market" of pornography profiteers and others occupie our minds trough commercial propaganda distributed in such places and even in our own homes. In a better world their activities should be strictly regulated but today they are allowed to correspond with the lowest of human instincts...

"I don't see these gay people's right to march as any type of political or social threat whatsoever"

I still can´t see why the sexuals just dont "march" through their own bedrooms like the rest of us...

"Hi i´m Mike and im gay"

why would i care? If you did´nt tell me i would´nt know, to me you are just a fine human being, Carpenter or whatever and i respect you as such.

I dont march trough the streets demonstrating to the world how a prefer to satisfy myself sexually, why would i? these are private things.

Same for sexuals methinks, and more than that, speaking of relations, of course our society should respect all kinds of unfertile relationships, man-man woman-woman transsexuals shoe-fetishists man-machine or even w-nkers.. (except those with children and animals), but promote the traditional relationship between man and woman simply beacuse it gives birth to more human being in a natural way....

if this is great news then i say either you all people are gay or the world is coming to an end

I very much appreciate the support shown by some of you for the rights of sexual minorities, which means for the human rights of all of us.

this is a global struggle, and as i have written before it affects each country of the former YU and in differing ways. but whether framed on a political or religious basis, we need to resist discrimination, prejudice, and violence, especially violence against minorities.

the struggle for equal rights and respect for lgbt people continues in bosnia and everywhere else.

i especially agree with Kate's proposition that we should celebrate love (obviously consensual, between adults) wherever we can find it.

vote yes for love :-)

roberto/ frisco

Well said Kate. I support the right to assemble -without violence comitted against demonstrators.

Skinheads and their ilk should just stay away if they don't like it.

syla: "if this is great news then i say either you all people are gay or the world is coming to an end"

Not gay or apocalyptic - how about you? Perhaps just a tad apoplexic?

It just doesn't bother me who other people love. It's not a threat in any way.

All people have the right to peaceful protest and self-expression.

thank you Kate, you really made my day/night, and in such a spot-on British way.

being inclusive and muti-cultural is not the end of western civilization as we know it. it is a way of expanding it, especially to those who have been marginalized or worse. the LGBT community (as we call it here) is very eclectic -- made up of all professions, political perspectives, styles, etc. some are religious, and have even formed religious congregations (if that matters), some are agnostic. i mean it all seems so obvious and self-evident to me, but for some people i can imagine why they feel threatened. after all, i come from the midwest (US) which is not exactly known as cutting edge. but Tolerance (in an open and accepting way) is a good thing, and promotes societal harmony, not vis versa.

thank you.
roberto/frisco

I think that this is really good news and I hope that any events pass peacefully. Belgrade is a vibrant young city and this is part of it.

Nobody chooses to be gay and face all of the hate, social exclusion and bigotry.

In any civilised modern country gay people should be able to have carnivals, marches or whatever they choose as long as it doesn't affect the rights of others.

There have always been gay people, it's just that so often they are forced to hide and live false lives.

There's too much hate in the world - who cares who loves who? As long as people are consenting adults they should be free to do whatever they choose and love whoever they want.

roberto from frisco,

So you state and believe that, "after all, i come from the midwest (US) which is not exactly known as cutting edge."

Cutting edge? Your standards, I suppose?

There are Americans, like myself, who moved to the Midwest, America's Heartland, because we appreciate all that it has to offer.

“Harmony and tolerance” you say? Attempting to belittle a vast area of the U.S. serves no positive purpose and does not promote tolerance and harmony.

oudrs: "Personally i and the majority of us, choose to have our sexual activities in our private sphere, in our sleeping rooms respecting our common public places as neutral for everybody."

Then why do we have pornography on every newsstand, lap dancing clubs, strip joints etc? Why are so many programmes, ads and films full of sex?

The heterosexual world is very 'out there' to the extent that it's often intimidating to a lot of women (and maybe some men).

I don't see these gay people's right to march as any type of political or social threat whatsoever.

“Personally i and the majority of us, choose to have our sexual activities in our private sphere, in our sleeping rooms respecting our common public places as neutral for everybody. (oudrs, 16 March 2009 14:04)”

So you’ve never walked down the street holding a girl’s hand, or kissed a girl in public?

The sad reality is in a lot of places gays can not do such things without fear of harassment.

Its very easy for those of us in main stream society not to notice what they live with everyday.

I’m sure its very much the same feeling as well I go out with my kids and we’re all wearing our Serbian Hero T-Shirts here in the US. I get a lot of dirty stares from people.

This is great news. And a great chance for the government in Serbia to show that they are far more mature than their colleagues in BiH, especially after the fiasco that was last year's Sarajevo Queer Festival.

Great news, and well said, Kate.
To those who say "this is a private matter": Open any magazine, Look at almost any advert anywhere - on TV, on billboards, in magazines, and you'll see some expression of heterosexuality - a man and a woman holding hands, kissing, sitting on a beach together. The whole world is a giant expression of heterosexuality. I can hardly imagine what it would be like to be gay and feel completely different in the world. So, power to the brave people that have to endure such a hostile environment in Serbia on something that is and should be such a non-issue.

I have no illusions that Serbia will be anywhere but in the dark ages on this subject for at least 50 years, but I'm happy to see these baby steps.

Kate, Roberto. Shame that there aren't more people like you guys in the world. Gay people in Serbia need all the support they can get. I have been to Serbia many times and friends there know I am gay. Unfortunately there are too many narrowminded people who get so paranoid that they think it could be catching and they might somehow contract this homosexual disease. We are all human beings with the same rights as each other no matter where we come from or how our sexuality might be expressed. I hope Belgrade can out on a great show for the world to see. You did it well with the Eurovision Song Contest. Do it again. And I know how warm and friendly the people of Srbija are. So crack open the Jelen and rakija, serve up that cvapi and join the party. ZIVELI!! ;)

Ida - I really respect you and most of your comments.

But I don't think that supporting equality has to be exclusive from supporting more 'basic rights' (ie. survival) in Kosovo.

I do understand what you mean about the people who support a single issue often not supporting other major issues of more immediate importance.

But the rights of the individual shouldn't be put to one side.

I am, as you know, 100% in favour of improving conditions for the Serbian communities in Kosovo and I think that they are having their human rights infringed on a daily basis.

I am also in favour of their right not to sign with the state electricity supplier because they do not recognise a new state in their own country.

I think it's shocking how the media is keeping so quiet about what has happened, is continuing to happen and the terrible crimes which are never even mentioned let alone tried.

The international attempt to just take part of Serbia and hand it to one ethnic group is outrageous and simple theft.

But I do at the same time believe that the rights of the individual must not be overlooked.

There was a recent case of a gay man from Kosovo seeking asylum on the basis that he would be killed if he returned. I can't see any marches take place in Pristina any time soon.

It would be great if Belgrade could lead the way and show that it is a tolerant and modern nation.