Mayor doesn’t “honestly” support parade

Belgrade Mayor Dragan Djilas said that it is important for the Pride Parade to be held without incident, though he does not honestly support the event. Djilas said that politicians should honestly say what they think, regardless of whether people will like their stance or not. Mayor doesn’t “honestly” support parade He is denying claims that he said this about the gay population in order to increase his political popularity. After speculation on what Djilas meant when he said that the issue of “sexual orientation” should remain “inside four walls,” Djilas told a press conference that he said what he honestly believes, regardless of who likes it. “I say what I believe—maybe I was raised patriarchal—but sexual orientation is a personal thing, and I do not know why anyone would have to come out with it in public, regardless of whether they are homosexual or heterosexual. I did not imperil anyone, I am not prohibiting anything, I just said that such an event will cause a reaction from those that destroy the city every several dozen days and I am expressing concern for the participators,” Djilas said. The mayor said that he hopes that his statements will help improve safety conditions for participators in the event, which is expected to be held on September 20. “The organizers of the Pride Parade want to remind the mayor that minority sexual orientations are not a private thing because people of other sexual orientations are subjected to violence and discrimination. We support the stance of the mayor that the Pride Parade will be adequately secured, and we remind that we submitted a request last week to the mayor regarding the Pride Parade, and we expect that he will accept us as his fellow citizens of the city,” Majda Puaca of the parade’s organization committee told B92. She said that by supporting the parade, or even appearing at the event, state officials could show that they support rights for all of Serbia’s citizens. Organizers say that the parade is necessary as a political protest against homophobia in Serbia, and that this is why such ideas should not be kept “inside four walls,” as the mayor said. Dragan Djilas (FoNet)

Mayor doesn’t “honestly” support parade

He is denying claims that he said this about the gay population in order to increase his political popularity.

After speculation on what Đilas meant when he said that the issue of “sexual orientation” should remain “inside four walls,” Đilas told a press conference that he said what he honestly believes, regardless of who likes it.

“I say what I believe—maybe I was raised patriarchal—but sexual orientation is a personal thing, and I do not know why anyone would have to come out with it in public, regardless of whether they are homosexual or heterosexual. I did not imperil anyone, I am not prohibiting anything, I just said that such an event will cause a reaction from those that destroy the city every several dozen days and I am expressing concern for the participators,” Đilas said.

The mayor said that he hopes that his statements will help improve safety conditions for participators in the event, which is expected to be held on September 20.

“The organizers of the Pride Parade want to remind the mayor that minority sexual orientations are not a private thing because people of other sexual orientations are subjected to violence and discrimination. We support the stance of the mayor that the Pride Parade will be adequately secured, and we remind that we submitted a request last week to the mayor regarding the Pride Parade, and we expect that he will accept us as his fellow citizens of the city,” Majda Puača of the parade’s organization committee told B92.

She said that by supporting the parade, or even appearing at the event, state officials could show that they support rights for all of Serbia’s citizens.

Organizers say that the parade is necessary as a political protest against homophobia in Serbia, and that this is why such ideas should not be kept “inside four walls,” as the mayor said.