Date of 2010 Pride Parade announced

Tip, you are comparing Serbia to places like Saudi Arabia? Your comment has zero merit. Homosexuality is something that goes against the grain of most people in the Balkans, not just Serbs. It took many years of chipping away by the gay community, and their backers, for even Americans to accept homosexuality. So relax, give it time, it will get better for the gays in the Balkans. But please, comparing Serbia to a Sharia country - when do you stop?

This is the sort of Western decadence which former socialist nations were warned about by the USSR.

If making homosexuality mainstream was in our best interests, Western NGOs like Queeria & GSA wouldn't be forcing it on the public.

I wish you a very happy pride! I'm coming from Sofia with some friends and we can't wait! See you there, my friends :-)))

May a successful parade show that Serbia became a modern european country and is not on the same level as some muslim sharia states.

May Serbia soon be dragged, kicking and screaming if necessary, into the 20th century

I know several gays personally and I see it quite pragmatic: if person a or person b is gay, so what, there are more women left for the hetero´s like myself! =)

but, let´s be serious, homophobia is something that shouldn´t dictate the state what to do.

I even know some gay k-albanians who are simply shaking their heads in regard to the level of homophobia in albanian internet-forums.

that shows that this kind of intolerance is ubiquitious in south-eastern europe.

just a matter of time until this changes.
just a question of time...

Good luck to members of serbia's pride committee -- because you'll need it.

The comment about "WARNINGS FROM THE USSR..." is frankly bizarre, on a # of levels.

First -- why would citizens from the former yugoslavia, which generally was so much more progressive that that of ussr, be looking back to the worst of ussr for its values??

Second -- the attitudes in the ussr towards gays (homosexuality) changed over time (i can't believe i am having to argue this all over again.) during the start of revolutionary ussr there were very progressive moves in the area of both homosexuality and the role of women -- but that was reversed, and in a big way, under stalin and his aftermath. not that in any way i am justifying the bolsheviks, but it is the case. and it is still a struggle to have one damned gay parade in moscow, not to mention belarus!

anyway, it's like arguing w extremist x-ians (or extremist jews or muslims -- sharia law indeed.)

again, you need to make alliances with as many people, as many groups as possible. including politicians and even religious figures (when possible.)

you have to make direct contact with the police and work with them when possible -- don't just count on "the govt" or you will be in deep trouble.

you need to make all possible alliances with media, at least progressive media, journalists, who will (hopefully) cover events fairly. and you need to let the blgd regime know that this isn't just another "internal" matter, that they will be held accountable for their actions and lack thereof. enough of "oh, we can't protect you, bla bla bla," and the rest of their usual lies.

you need as many outside supporters as possible -- from the whole of the former yu, and the rest of the world when possible. i won't be there until next march, but i am sure you can garner at least 100s of other europeans, in slightly closer proximity.

you have to be aware of security issues, make emergency plans, pls do NOT just count on state security...

thank you, and best of luck to my frnds and colleagues in serbia.

roberto
frisco

"Tip, you are comparing Serbia to places like Saudi Arabia? Your comment has zero merit."

Actually, it has some merit.

Can you name a single place, other than Serbia, where "death to faggots" is written in graffiti on almost every city block, including in front of the main tourist office??? (only recently cleaned up)

I suspect even not even in Saudi Arabia.

thank you, and best of luck to my frnds and colleagues in serbia.

roberto
frisco
(roberto, 6 September 2010 20:01)

Eh? You have friends in Serbia? They must be truly tolerant to put up with the torrents of racist bile you delight in spewing at them.

May a successful parade show that Serbia became a modern european country and is not on the same level as some muslim sharia states.

This is the sort of Western decadence which former socialist nations were warned about by the USSR.

May Serbia soon be dragged, kicking and screaming if necessary, into the 20th century

Good luck to members of serbia's pride committee -- because you'll need it.

The comment about "WARNINGS FROM THE USSR..." is frankly bizarre, on a # of levels.

First -- why would citizens from the former yugoslavia, which generally was so much more progressive that that of ussr, be looking back to the worst of ussr for its values??

Second -- the attitudes in the ussr towards gays (homosexuality) changed over time (i can't believe i am having to argue this all over again.) during the start of revolutionary ussr there were very progressive moves in the area of both homosexuality and the role of women -- but that was reversed, and in a big way, under stalin and his aftermath. not that in any way i am justifying the bolsheviks, but it is the case. and it is still a struggle to have one damned gay parade in moscow, not to mention belarus!

anyway, it's like arguing w extremist x-ians (or extremist jews or muslims -- sharia law indeed.)

again, you need to make alliances with as many people, as many groups as possible. including politicians and even religious figures (when possible.)

you have to make direct contact with the police and work with them when possible -- don't just count on "the govt" or you will be in deep trouble.

you need to make all possible alliances with media, at least progressive media, journalists, who will (hopefully) cover events fairly. and you need to let the blgd regime know that this isn't just another "internal" matter, that they will be held accountable for their actions and lack thereof. enough of "oh, we can't protect you, bla bla bla," and the rest of their usual lies.

you need as many outside supporters as possible -- from the whole of the former yu, and the rest of the world when possible. i won't be there until next march, but i am sure you can garner at least 100s of other europeans, in slightly closer proximity.

you have to be aware of security issues, make emergency plans, pls do NOT just count on state security...

thank you, and best of luck to my frnds and colleagues in serbia.

roberto
frisco

Tip, you are comparing Serbia to places like Saudi Arabia? Your comment has zero merit. Homosexuality is something that goes against the grain of most people in the Balkans, not just Serbs. It took many years of chipping away by the gay community, and their backers, for even Americans to accept homosexuality. So relax, give it time, it will get better for the gays in the Balkans. But please, comparing Serbia to a Sharia country - when do you stop?

If making homosexuality mainstream was in our best interests, Western NGOs like Queeria & GSA wouldn't be forcing it on the public.

I wish you a very happy pride! I'm coming from Sofia with some friends and we can't wait! See you there, my friends :-)))

"Tip, you are comparing Serbia to places like Saudi Arabia? Your comment has zero merit."

Actually, it has some merit.

Can you name a single place, other than Serbia, where "death to faggots" is written in graffiti on almost every city block, including in front of the main tourist office??? (only recently cleaned up)

I suspect even not even in Saudi Arabia.

I know several gays personally and I see it quite pragmatic: if person a or person b is gay, so what, there are more women left for the hetero´s like myself! =)

but, let´s be serious, homophobia is something that shouldn´t dictate the state what to do.

I even know some gay k-albanians who are simply shaking their heads in regard to the level of homophobia in albanian internet-forums.

that shows that this kind of intolerance is ubiquitious in south-eastern europe.

just a matter of time until this changes.
just a question of time...

thank you, and best of luck to my frnds and colleagues in serbia.

roberto
frisco
(roberto, 6 September 2010 20:01)

Eh? You have friends in Serbia? They must be truly tolerant to put up with the torrents of racist bile you delight in spewing at them.