"Serbia has more important problems than gay parade"

Đilas makes a good point. Serbia has other problems, and all last year's parade and 2009's attempt to hold a parade did was increase the level of homophobic rhetoric and cause Belgrade/Serbia to be plastered with homophobic graffiti, posters, and stickers, and make the greater LBGT gay community angry and anxious. Over the past year there have been a number of LBGT-positive events in Belgrade and Serbia, such as the International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) week and mayor Djilas's press conference on the International Day Against homophobia. Even last year during the Belgrade Pride week, in the days preceeding the parade there were film screenings, parties, discussion evenings, gallery exhibits, etc., that went ahead under minimal police supervision and without violence. All year two LBGT dance-clubs have operated in Belgrade, and not once have they been attacked by thousands of football hooligans -- and it is no secret where these clubs are, as it is easy to find them on the internet, along with the 5 or so smaller gay bars/cafés in Belgrade. There was an LBGT area at Exit this year...

As a gay man who lives in Belgrade and hangs out with the "regular gay guys" who live and work in this city (who aren't members of activist groups, NGOs, or political parties, but work at the banks, private companies, retail stores in Delta and Usce, on TV, with JAT, ŽS, in the army, with the police, with the municipal and national governments, in schools, universtities, etc.), I know first hand that most of the average LBGT people in Serbia do not support the parade. They do not see the LBGT activists as the legitimate voice of Serbia's LBGT community, and feel that all the parade will do is make their lives harder. There are many more effective ways of advancing the LBGT-equality agenda in Serbia than a parade that most of Serbia's LBGT citizens do not support, that will cost all Serbian citizens a fortune to protect, and if last year is any indication, a fortune to clean up afterwards.

In my humble opinion, all arguments against the gay parade by Serbian politicians sound like poor excuses for homophobic resentments.

"The question is whether such an event can be held in Belgrade without endangering material goods, members of the gay population, police officers and citizens of Belgrade. Have we arrived at a point where the whole town won't be torn apart, where they can walk freely, instead of being in some sort of improvised cage, as was the case last year?"

Makes some sense. But: If this is the reason not to allow the parade, then you shouldn't allow soccer matches in Belgrade, neither, especially not the international ones. We know that there have even been people killed by the hooligans.

This will be another test on how far civil liberties and personal freedom are treated in Serbia, and the reaction of the serbian people in this matter will also show if they they are ready for a European integration. People who are gay, are borne this way, and it is not a lifestyle they choose, they simply have no other choice, or should they get married to a woman and make that persons life unhappy. In other words, god, if there is one, made them the way they are, and they should have any right to be what they are. Deneying them their basic human rights to live a fullfilled live is against anything the rest of Europe believes in, and if Serbia deneys these basic human rights it would just proof that it is not ready to become a part of Europe.

No gay parade - no EU.

Djilas plays with anti-gay resentment in Serbia. He says he cannot allow the parade if the whole city is destroyed and Belgraders threatened. The question is: who destroys the city and who threatens and beats people? The gay population or the activists? No, it's these anti-gay 'protesters'.

What Djilas does is to blame the gay population for anti-gay resentment. It's like blaming the Jews for antisemitism. Without Jews no Auschwitz. Without gays no anti-gay violence. What a perfidious attitude!

I agree with Mike's comments these sound like homophobic comments, from your politicians. Serbian politicians need to realise that gay people do exist even in Serbia even if they aren't all that visible. Live and let live, thats my motto. There are lots of people we might not agree with or like but we are all different and we have to learn to live with one another. The Mayor is right on one level that jobs, better health care and jobs are more important issues for ordinary people but that does include ordinary Gay people too they are part of society and shouldn't be marginalised any more.

As a first generation Serb in the US, I really feel the gays in Serbia is the least threatening issue to date. Just let them have their parade. And walk freely among the straight people. I support Serbia and the Serbian people on all issues regarding Serbia hell most of my family still lives there. Just leave the gay's alone they sent going to hurt anyone. Good point on the soccer comment. Ivan, well your Ivan and everyone knows your comments are ment to stir things up.

george sosos's open society is a big funder of these parades so please dont make it seem like its a legitimate parade.As to people like mike who says if youre against the parade youre homophobic,thats the rationale of an ignorant person.Most of the world isnt gay and doesnt support these parades be it for religious, moral reason etc .the term "homophobic" is the agendas new weapon to attack anyone who doesnt neccessarily believe in their plight.Ican tell you one thing people being forced to accept this is creating greater animosity in my opinion.God bless Serbia.

No gay parade - no EU.

This will be another test on how far civil liberties and personal freedom are treated in Serbia, and the reaction of the serbian people in this matter will also show if they they are ready for a European integration. People who are gay, are borne this way, and it is not a lifestyle they choose, they simply have no other choice, or should they get married to a woman and make that persons life unhappy. In other words, god, if there is one, made them the way they are, and they should have any right to be what they are. Deneying them their basic human rights to live a fullfilled live is against anything the rest of Europe believes in, and if Serbia deneys these basic human rights it would just proof that it is not ready to become a part of Europe.

In my humble opinion, all arguments against the gay parade by Serbian politicians sound like poor excuses for homophobic resentments.

"The question is whether such an event can be held in Belgrade without endangering material goods, members of the gay population, police officers and citizens of Belgrade. Have we arrived at a point where the whole town won't be torn apart, where they can walk freely, instead of being in some sort of improvised cage, as was the case last year?"

Makes some sense. But: If this is the reason not to allow the parade, then you shouldn't allow soccer matches in Belgrade, neither, especially not the international ones. We know that there have even been people killed by the hooligans.

Djilas plays with anti-gay resentment in Serbia. He says he cannot allow the parade if the whole city is destroyed and Belgraders threatened. The question is: who destroys the city and who threatens and beats people? The gay population or the activists? No, it's these anti-gay 'protesters'.

What Djilas does is to blame the gay population for anti-gay resentment. It's like blaming the Jews for antisemitism. Without Jews no Auschwitz. Without gays no anti-gay violence. What a perfidious attitude!

I agree with Mike's comments these sound like homophobic comments, from your politicians. Serbian politicians need to realise that gay people do exist even in Serbia even if they aren't all that visible. Live and let live, thats my motto. There are lots of people we might not agree with or like but we are all different and we have to learn to live with one another. The Mayor is right on one level that jobs, better health care and jobs are more important issues for ordinary people but that does include ordinary Gay people too they are part of society and shouldn't be marginalised any more.

Đilas makes a good point. Serbia has other problems, and all last year's parade and 2009's attempt to hold a parade did was increase the level of homophobic rhetoric and cause Belgrade/Serbia to be plastered with homophobic graffiti, posters, and stickers, and make the greater LBGT gay community angry and anxious. Over the past year there have been a number of LBGT-positive events in Belgrade and Serbia, such as the International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) week and mayor Djilas's press conference on the International Day Against homophobia. Even last year during the Belgrade Pride week, in the days preceeding the parade there were film screenings, parties, discussion evenings, gallery exhibits, etc., that went ahead under minimal police supervision and without violence. All year two LBGT dance-clubs have operated in Belgrade, and not once have they been attacked by thousands of football hooligans -- and it is no secret where these clubs are, as it is easy to find them on the internet, along with the 5 or so smaller gay bars/cafés in Belgrade. There was an LBGT area at Exit this year...

As a gay man who lives in Belgrade and hangs out with the "regular gay guys" who live and work in this city (who aren't members of activist groups, NGOs, or political parties, but work at the banks, private companies, retail stores in Delta and Usce, on TV, with JAT, ŽS, in the army, with the police, with the municipal and national governments, in schools, universtities, etc.), I know first hand that most of the average LBGT people in Serbia do not support the parade. They do not see the LBGT activists as the legitimate voice of Serbia's LBGT community, and feel that all the parade will do is make their lives harder. There are many more effective ways of advancing the LBGT-equality agenda in Serbia than a parade that most of Serbia's LBGT citizens do not support, that will cost all Serbian citizens a fortune to protect, and if last year is any indication, a fortune to clean up afterwards.

george sosos's open society is a big funder of these parades so please dont make it seem like its a legitimate parade.As to people like mike who says if youre against the parade youre homophobic,thats the rationale of an ignorant person.Most of the world isnt gay and doesnt support these parades be it for religious, moral reason etc .the term "homophobic" is the agendas new weapon to attack anyone who doesnt neccessarily believe in their plight.Ican tell you one thing people being forced to accept this is creating greater animosity in my opinion.God bless Serbia.

As a first generation Serb in the US, I really feel the gays in Serbia is the least threatening issue to date. Just let them have their parade. And walk freely among the straight people. I support Serbia and the Serbian people on all issues regarding Serbia hell most of my family still lives there. Just leave the gay's alone they sent going to hurt anyone. Good point on the soccer comment. Ivan, well your Ivan and everyone knows your comments are ment to stir things up.