Yesterday, Belgrade hosted its annual Pride parade, marking another year in the ongoing struggle for LGBTQ+ rights in Serbia. While the event went forward peacefully, with no immediate threats, the core issues facing the LGBTQ+ community remain unaddressed, with government inaction continuing to stall progress on legal recognition and protection.
Unmet Legal Demands
For ten years, Belgrade Pride organizers have called for the adoption of legislation recognizing same-sex unions and addressing gender identity—essential rights for LGBTQ+ citizens. These include laws that would allow same-sex couples to access property, inheritance, and visitation rights. Although a draft law was proposed three years ago, President Aleksandar Vučić blocked its passage, citing Serbia’s “traditional values.” His refusal to support same-sex marriage or partnerships remains a significant roadblock in Serbia’s path toward LGBTQ+ equality1. Serbia’s lack of action on LGBTQ+ rights is particularly critical given its ongoing bid to join the European Union, where human rights, including those of the LGBTQ+ community, are central to negotiations2.
Institutional Apathy
Despite the peaceful nature of this year’s Pride Week, there remains a striking absence of institutional cooperation. Government officials have refused to participate in or support the Pride events, neglecting even symbolic gestures such as raising Pride flags or opening Pride Week at the City Assembly. The absence of such actions highlights the state’s reluctance to engage with the LGBTQ+ movement.
Moreover, Serbia’s failure to act on violence targeting LGBTQ+ individuals remains a significant issue. Last year, the NGO Da se zna reported 85 cases of violence and discrimination, many of which remain unresolved due to institutional inaction. Hate crimes often go unpunished, with authorities failing to treat these cases as aggravated offenses, despite legal provisions3. For more on Da se zna and their work documenting LGBTQ+ violence in Serbia, visit Da se zna’s official site.
Pride as Protest
Although Belgrade Pride 2024 proceeded without incident, the event remains more of a protest than a celebration. While Pride in cities like Berlin, Amsterdam, or many North American cities, is a joyous occasion celebrating progress, in Belgrade, it continues to serve as a defiant stand for change. Bojan Tomic, an activist with Da se zna, emphasized that Pride in Serbia must persist in challenging both government and societal norms until legal protections are established.
According to Belgrade Pride organizers, last year’s Pride was the largest ever held in Serbia, and this year’s event similarly attracted large crowds4. Yet, the core issues of legal recognition and safety for LGBTQ+ individuals remain unresolved. The fight continues as activists press for essential rights that the government has repeatedly delayed.
Looking Ahead
Despite another successful Pride march, Serbia’s LGBTQ+ community continues to face significant challenges. With no legal changes on the horizon and officials like Vučić openly opposing same-sex marriage, the road ahead remains difficult. Belgrade Pride 2024 serves as a reminder that the fight for equality and recognition is far from over, even as the country inches forward in the global LGBTQ+ movement.
At Transonic Media Labs, we believe it’s important to report on events like Belgrade Pride, particularly because Serbia and other parts of Eastern Europe don’t receive as much global attention in the LGBTQ+ rights discourse. While progress has been made in places like North America, where Pride is often a celebration of achievements hard-won over decades, Belgrade’s ongoing struggle is a stark reminder of the work that remains. This is not just a local Serbian issue, but a crucial part of the global movement for equality. In thr words of Marsha P Johnson, “No pride for some of us without liberation for all of us.”
Reporting on Belgrade Pride helps the broader LGBTQ+ community reflect on how far we’ve come and how much further there is to go. It reminds us of the resilience required to keep pushing for change, even in places where progress seems impossible. By shining a light on the challenges facing LGBTQ+ individuals in Serbia, we encourage a broader understanding of global queer struggles and inspire solidarity across borders. Pride, wherever it takes place, is not just a celebration of identity, but a continued call for justice, recognition, and equal rights for all.
- https://www.dw.com/en/belgrade-pride-serbias-lgbtq-fight-on-after-no-progress/a-70151493 ↩︎
- https://www.rferl.org/a/serbia-pride-march-belgrade-lgbt/33110855.html ↩︎
- https://crd.org/2021/12/24/12th-attack-on-belgrades-pride-info-center-shows-unwillingness-and-inability-of-serbias-authorities-to-protect-lgbti-community/ ↩︎
- https://prajd.rs/en/largest-belgrade-pride-ever-successfully-held-next-one-scheduled-for-september-7-2024/ ↩︎