EUROPRIDE AND PREJUDICE
This September, EuroPride will take place in the Serbian capital of Belgrade, marking the first time the event will be held in the Balkan region. When I look up the UK government’s travel advice for the south-east European country, it says: “The level of public prejudice against homosexuality and the LGBT population is still relatively high and public displays of affection may attract negative attention.”
To further illustrate levels of homophobia in Serbia, a survey in 2015.16 found that 83 per cent oppose gay marriage and 75 per cent feel that society should not accept homosexuality, according to Pew Research Centre data published on Equaldex.
It’s clear that this year’s EuroPride will have a different feel from previous events in host cities such as Vienna, Madrid and Amsterdam. Over the past 21 years, the Serbian capital has hosted nine Pride events, the first and second of which resulted in riots. Despite this, the country’s LGBTQ+ community has not given up on its right to protest for better treatment: this year’s EuroPride will be a culmination of this endeavour.
Pride in Belgrade
After the political reforms in 2000, when Serbia became a democracy, there was hope that life for the
