BELGRADE -- About 40 members of the LGBT population marked the International Pride Day in Belgrade on Wednesday.
Source: Beta
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The International Pride Day was also marked by flying the rainbow flag at a building housing the ombudsman’s office.
Novi Sad-based NLO lesbian association launched a campaign dubbed “Lesbians wish you a good day” which is aimed at getting the public’s attention to the fact that they are active participants of the society.
Belgrade Pride representative Boban Stanković told reporters that the manifestation's slogan “Silence will not stop us” pointed to everyday lives of the LGBT population.
“Banners saying ‘I am not allowed to kiss my girlfriend’, ‘I was kicked out of the house’, ‘I live in a lie’ point to some of the problems we face every day,” he said and expressed regret that the LGBT population was only mentioned when violence occurred.
Stanković believes that the new government would, due to its pro-European orientation, be more open toward the LGBT population.
According to him, today’s manifestation was organized in order to commemorate Stonewall riots when members of the LGBT community stood up to a police raid on June 27-28, 1969 in New York.
He stressed that first Pride Parades were held in the U.S. on the anniversary of the riots.
“It is important to open the topic, so the majority can recognize that people of different sexual orientation live among them,” Stanković noted and added that the situation in Serbia was slowly changing and that the support ahead of the Pride Parade in the fall was a proof of that.
He said that the state was showing good will when LGBT rallies are concerned, adding that large numbers of police officers proved it and sent a message to those were the most brutal toward the LGBT persons.
The Gay-Straight Alliance representative Lazar Pavlović said that progress had been made in the attitude of the state institutions toward the LGBT community but that it was nesessary to do more.
He noted that position of the LGBT persons needed to be improved through changes in the education system and training of the state organs, primarily police and judiciary.
At a panel discussion dubbed “Together for equality of the LGBT persons” he said that civil organizations got funds for gatherings and campaigns for the first time this year.
“We held manifestations in Novi Sad, Belgrade and Niš but we did not get a permit for the use of the public place for our gathering in Kragujevac,“ Pavlović explained.
Human and Minority Rights Ministry representative Jasna Plavšić pointed to homophobia in Serbia and stressed that “we must work on affirmation of acceptance of differences”. She added that a preparation of the National Strategy for Combat against Discrimination was underway.
Novi Sad-based NLO assessed that in countries like Serbia, the Pride Parade was a political protest but that it could hardly be held.
“Since 2001 until today, when the time comes to hold the Pride Parade there are of course no security conditions and it becomes very clear that more than ten percent of the population, that makes the LGBT population, cannot express their dissatisfaction,” the association said in a release.
The NLO wondered whether it was possible that other Serbian citizens really felt good when so many people were being exposed to discrimination and various forms of violence on a daily basis.
Pardon me, but I do live in the United States. All I am saying is this topic is getting old. I don't care if your gay or trans-gendered or what! LOl..like lady Gaga said " your born that way" my point to this issue is move on and live your life like the rest of us. What rights are we talking about? The right to go to a public square and proclaim your homosexuality? If that is important to you, well hell go do it,but don't force people by law, and punishment to except you. As far as educational administrators, yes they pretty much all support gay-trans-gender rights..my question is what rights, the right to go and make mockery out of people who are religious? The right to go to children in public school and feed them something that may be against their personal belief? The right to parade like " PeaCocks" butt naked like they do in many Pride Parades, like Folsom Pride parade , where they perform public sex acts? What we should all be concerned with is childrens welfare, how many of you care about crimes against the innocent children, how many times do you read about children used as sex slaves? Kidnapped and abused? Folks if we cannot take care of the children we are all screwed. Today we have enough issues and concerns, from our economy and survival, it does not matter where you live. Whats important to most human beings is a job, food, and some sense of security. And most of all, lets all protect our children,which is our future.
(Fred, 28 June 2012 18:36)
As a gay American educator I would challenge the assertion that the discussion of homosexuality is limited to the San Francisco education system. As evidence I would cite the number of LGBT organizations supported by administrations across the US educational system.
(Michael, 28 June 2012 10:06)
Fred.
"well I dare anyone to go out in any public street in America and proclaim your a gay person".
Have you ever been to the U.S. Fred? Or do you just figure if you tell a big enough lie that everyone will believe it. Sorry to say that almost every large city in the U.S. has a gay pride day/parade. I completely dislike homosexuality and I'm not even going to pretend to agree with it but your comment made me fall out of the chair. Maybe you were asleep when the Kenyan in Washington DC endorsed gay marriage.Fred go stand in the middle of Buckhead in downtown Atlanta and proclaim "I'm Queer" I promise that you will have all the gay men you could want surrounding you.
(Karl, 28 June 2012 07:51)
I have friends who are gay. I am not, and I really don't care of your sexual preference either. In fact gays in former Yugoslavia never had a problem, I remember when I brought the topic up with my father, he said " oh heck gays have always been around in old Yugoslavia, " Big Deal" he said, we knew who was what, but no one cared they were treated like all others. Sex and religion should be a private matter, kept in doors. But when any organization starts to parade like " Peacocks " on public streets wearing inappropriate attire to draw attention to them self, this is when I have a problem. The unfortunate thing is Serbias gay community has become a western sponsored militant organization who demand change over night. Their aggressive style of public demonstrations in a very conservative, religious population will only draw negative perception of this community. Out side of certain San Francisco public schools, homosexuality is not discussed in the United States, as far as homophobia, well I dare anyone to go out in any public street in America and proclaim your a gay person. Serbia is no more homophobic than any other country. Oh , and the 10% gay statistic of Serbia, this 10 %, or one in every 10 people are gay, I have heard this here in the States too...no one believes it. I believe a State should allow gays to have a legal right to have a civil partnership, so their rights are protected, but reality is life is not fair. Live your life like the rest of us.
(Fred, 27 June 2012 22:46)
I have friends who are gay. I am not, and I really don't care of your sexual preference either. In fact gays in former Yugoslavia never had a problem, I remember when I brought the topic up with my father, he said " oh heck gays have always been around in old Yugoslavia, " Big Deal" he said, we knew who was what, but no one cared they were treated like all others. Sex and religion should be a private matter, kept in doors. But when any organization starts to parade like " Peacocks " on public streets wearing inappropriate attire to draw attention to them self, this is when I have a problem. The unfortunate thing is Serbias gay community has become a western sponsored militant organization who demand change over night. Their aggressive style of public demonstrations in a very conservative, religious population will only draw negative perception of this community. Out side of certain San Francisco public schools, homosexuality is not discussed in the United States, as far as homophobia, well I dare anyone to go out in any public street in America and proclaim your a gay person. Serbia is no more homophobic than any other country. Oh , and the 10% gay statistic of Serbia, this 10 %, or one in every 10 people are gay, I have heard this here in the States too...no one believes it. I believe a State should allow gays to have a legal right to have a civil partnership, so their rights are protected, but reality is life is not fair. Live your life like the rest of us.
(Fred, 27 June 2012 22:46)
Fred.
"well I dare anyone to go out in any public street in America and proclaim your a gay person".
Have you ever been to the U.S. Fred? Or do you just figure if you tell a big enough lie that everyone will believe it. Sorry to say that almost every large city in the U.S. has a gay pride day/parade. I completely dislike homosexuality and I'm not even going to pretend to agree with it but your comment made me fall out of the chair. Maybe you were asleep when the Kenyan in Washington DC endorsed gay marriage.Fred go stand in the middle of Buckhead in downtown Atlanta and proclaim "I'm Queer" I promise that you will have all the gay men you could want surrounding you.
(Karl, 28 June 2012 07:51)
As a gay American educator I would challenge the assertion that the discussion of homosexuality is limited to the San Francisco education system. As evidence I would cite the number of LGBT organizations supported by administrations across the US educational system.
(Michael, 28 June 2012 10:06)
Pardon me, but I do live in the United States. All I am saying is this topic is getting old. I don't care if your gay or trans-gendered or what! LOl..like lady Gaga said " your born that way" my point to this issue is move on and live your life like the rest of us. What rights are we talking about? The right to go to a public square and proclaim your homosexuality? If that is important to you, well hell go do it,but don't force people by law, and punishment to except you. As far as educational administrators, yes they pretty much all support gay-trans-gender rights..my question is what rights, the right to go and make mockery out of people who are religious? The right to go to children in public school and feed them something that may be against their personal belief? The right to parade like " PeaCocks" butt naked like they do in many Pride Parades, like Folsom Pride parade , where they perform public sex acts? What we should all be concerned with is childrens welfare, how many of you care about crimes against the innocent children, how many times do you read about children used as sex slaves? Kidnapped and abused? Folks if we cannot take care of the children we are all screwed. Today we have enough issues and concerns, from our economy and survival, it does not matter where you live. Whats important to most human beings is a job, food, and some sense of security. And most of all, lets all protect our children,which is our future.
(Fred, 28 June 2012 18:36)
I have friends who are gay. I am not, and I really don't care of your sexual preference either. In fact gays in former Yugoslavia never had a problem, I remember when I brought the topic up with my father, he said " oh heck gays have always been around in old Yugoslavia, " Big Deal" he said, we knew who was what, but no one cared they were treated like all others. Sex and religion should be a private matter, kept in doors. But when any organization starts to parade like " Peacocks " on public streets wearing inappropriate attire to draw attention to them self, this is when I have a problem. The unfortunate thing is Serbias gay community has become a western sponsored militant organization who demand change over night. Their aggressive style of public demonstrations in a very conservative, religious population will only draw negative perception of this community. Out side of certain San Francisco public schools, homosexuality is not discussed in the United States, as far as homophobia, well I dare anyone to go out in any public street in America and proclaim your a gay person. Serbia is no more homophobic than any other country. Oh , and the 10% gay statistic of Serbia, this 10 %, or one in every 10 people are gay, I have heard this here in the States too...no one believes it. I believe a State should allow gays to have a legal right to have a civil partnership, so their rights are protected, but reality is life is not fair. Live your life like the rest of us.
(Fred, 27 June 2012 22:46)
Fred.
"well I dare anyone to go out in any public street in America and proclaim your a gay person".
Have you ever been to the U.S. Fred? Or do you just figure if you tell a big enough lie that everyone will believe it. Sorry to say that almost every large city in the U.S. has a gay pride day/parade. I completely dislike homosexuality and I'm not even going to pretend to agree with it but your comment made me fall out of the chair. Maybe you were asleep when the Kenyan in Washington DC endorsed gay marriage.Fred go stand in the middle of Buckhead in downtown Atlanta and proclaim "I'm Queer" I promise that you will have all the gay men you could want surrounding you.
(Karl, 28 June 2012 07:51)
Pardon me, but I do live in the United States. All I am saying is this topic is getting old. I don't care if your gay or trans-gendered or what! LOl..like lady Gaga said " your born that way" my point to this issue is move on and live your life like the rest of us. What rights are we talking about? The right to go to a public square and proclaim your homosexuality? If that is important to you, well hell go do it,but don't force people by law, and punishment to except you. As far as educational administrators, yes they pretty much all support gay-trans-gender rights..my question is what rights, the right to go and make mockery out of people who are religious? The right to go to children in public school and feed them something that may be against their personal belief? The right to parade like " PeaCocks" butt naked like they do in many Pride Parades, like Folsom Pride parade , where they perform public sex acts? What we should all be concerned with is childrens welfare, how many of you care about crimes against the innocent children, how many times do you read about children used as sex slaves? Kidnapped and abused? Folks if we cannot take care of the children we are all screwed. Today we have enough issues and concerns, from our economy and survival, it does not matter where you live. Whats important to most human beings is a job, food, and some sense of security. And most of all, lets all protect our children,which is our future.
(Fred, 28 June 2012 18:36)
As a gay American educator I would challenge the assertion that the discussion of homosexuality is limited to the San Francisco education system. As evidence I would cite the number of LGBT organizations supported by administrations across the US educational system.
(Michael, 28 June 2012 10:06)