“All eyes on Serbia ahead of gay Pride Parade”

BELGRADE -- EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmstrom has supported the Belgrade gay Pride Parade that should be held on October 6.

(file)

She stressed that “all eyes are on Serbia this week”.

Malmstrom said that homophobia in Europe should be treated as a serious problem.

The EU commissioner stressed she hoped that the Pride Week, that started on Monday, would end with a walk on Saturday despite “fears that the gathering will be banned”.

She noted that the Pride Parade organizers were “very brave”.

She also commented on the rights of the LGBT community in Europe, stating that systematic work was necessary in order to “get the right through to the society’s consciousness”.

The Belgrade authorities still have not decided whether the Pride Parade will be held on Saturday. The parade organizers have in the meantime stated that they expected them to ban the event.

Member of the Pride Parade Organizing Committee Goran Miletić says that the organizers respected the authorities’ decision to ban the parade in the previous years but that they “will not just sit” this year. He added that they would take certain steps if the parade was banned.

An exhibition dubbed Ecce Homo should be opened today. The Dveri Movement has announced that it will file charges against the organizers of the exhibition for inciting national, racial and religious hatred and intolerance. The movement believes that the manifestation is aimed against traditional religions and religious communities.