Belgrade Pride Week begins with calls for LGBTI+ legal rights

Pride Week has commenced in Belgrade, organized under the slogan ‘There is room for all of us’. The week-long series of events includes exhibitions, theater performances, lectures, panel discussions, and sports activities, culminating in the traditional Pride march through central city streets on Saturday, September 5.

Organizers state the march serves as a protest against the lack of legal protections for the LGBTI+ community and the ongoing prevalence of discrimination and violence. Key demands include the adoption of laws regarding same-sex unions and gender identity/intersex rights. Bojan Lazić of the ‘Da se zna’ Association noted that over 70 incidents involving the community were recorded since the start of the year, with more than 20 involving physical violence, many of which remain unprosecuted.

The event also commemorates the 25th anniversary of the first Pride in Serbia, which was marked by significant violence. This year's program concludes on Sunday, September 6, with various cultural and musical performances.