Hundreds joined the annual Belgrade Pride march, marking a quarter of a century since the first event was held in the Serbian capital in 2001, when it was disrupted by violence.
Serbia’s annual LGBTQ+ Pride March took to the streets of the capital Belgrade on Saturday, with participants waving rainbow flags as they walked through the city centre.
The march – held 25 years after the first Belgrade Pride was attacked by homophobic thugs – was held under police protection and passed off without incident. Part of Belgrade Pride Week, it had the slogan “There Is Room for All of Us” – the same as the first march in 2001.
Participants carried banners reading Visibility is not propaganda,
Participants carried banners reading “Visibility is not propaganda”, “God loves everyone” and “Queer students are winning too” – a refence to the slogan used by students who have led anti-government protests since 2024.
Journalist Danica Vucenic, who was named the ‘Godmother of Belgrade Pride 2026’, told participants in Belgrade’s in Manjez Park before the march started: “Pride is taking place at a time when violence is being glorified, amid serious threats to human rights” – a reference to the glorification of deceased war criminal Ratko Mladic and an increase in homophobic attacks, as well as police attacks on anti-government protesters.
“The way a majority treats a minority reflects how democratic a society is. Progress in the position of the LGBTQ+ community has been minor. An indication of the state of this society is that the same police who protect citizens at one gathering beat them at another. If there is no room for a minority, there is no room for anyone,” Vucenic said.
The march circled around the city centre, past
The march circled around the city centre, past the Serbian government building and the National Assembly, before returning to Manjez Park.
It was attended by several representatives of foreign embassies and European institutions, including the head of the European Union delegation to Serbia, Andreas von Beckerath, and UK ambassador Edward Ferguson, as well as Commissioner for the Protection of Equality Milan Antonijevic and representatives of the Movement of Free Citizens, a liberal political party
A verbal confrontation erupted near the Church of the Ascension in Kneza Milosa Street between Pride participants and a group of people opposed to the march who had gathered carrying religious symbols, burning incense and shouting at participants in the procession.
Near the National Assembly, riot police also removed
Near the National Assembly, riot police also removed a clergyman after several men broke through the police cordon protecting the march, Serbian media reported. No major incidents were registered, however.
After the marchers returned to Manjez Park, there was an entertainment programme with performances by Ivana Peters, Tam, Zejna, Alina Juhart, Sara Zinaic, the band Dolores and the Harem Girls collective, alongside a number of DJs.
Source: balkaninsight.com
