Gay rights in serbia
Sasa Milosevic
BELGRADE, Serbia — Although the Serbian parliament guaranteed the country’s LGBT citizens protection in 2009 by passing the hard-won Anti-Discrimination Law, gay Serbs tell their day-to-day reality is a nightmarish diversion from that egalitarian legislation.
This disconnect between law and apply leaves gays and lesbians vulnerable to vicious verbal and physical attacks in the streets, churches and homes of their territory and also provides a challenge to the US and EU in how best to apply more aggressive diplomatic tactics to enforce the principle that gay rights are human rights. Just weeks after the Obama administration unveiled a groundbreaking new foreign policy directing American agencies working abroad to step up their efforts to protect LGBT rights, the culture of fear that exists for gay Serbs underscores both the desire for this initiative and what some critics undergo is its weakness.
Historically, the Serbian government has demonstrated a stiff resistance to just about any build of international pressure. For example, the current government’s stubborn position on the autonomy of Kosovo is reportedly delaying the country’s offer to join th
Serbia Pride: Gay PM Brnabic 'not wanted' at parade
BBC Serbian
It's the only Balkan country to contain an openly gay prime minister - so why are some of Serbia's LGBT activists determined to keep PM Ana Brnabic away from Gay Pride?
When Ms Brnabic was appointed last year, hopes were high in the LGBT community: not only was she the first woman to head the Serbian cabinet, she was also the first LGBT politician to hold such high office in the Balkans.
She marched in the 2017 Pride parade in Belgrade, surrounded by posters reading "Ana is here," and took selfies with dozens of people.
But one year on, progress is scant: LGBT rights have not improved, brand-new laws are still far from being adopted and there has been no fall in the number of attacks on male lover people.
In largely conservative Orthodox Christian Serbia, a candidate for EU membership, discrimination and violence against the LGBT community are widespread.
Two gay Prides, one gay PM and no end to problems
Ahead of 2018 Pride, a team of activists disappointed with the slow pace of reforms launched a campaign called "S
A person waves a flag during the European LGBTQ pride march in Belgrade, Serbia, September 17, 2022. REUTERS/Zorana Jevtic
What’s the context?
LGBTQ+ couples in the Balkans are still fighting for recognition as Greece becomes first Orthodox nation to back same-sex marriage
- Serbia among European nations with no civil union law
- Orthodox leaders oppose progress on Queer rights
- Activists hope Greek queer marriage law boosts their fight
LONDON - Stefana Budimirovic and Radica Stevanov split a home and dreams of starting a family, but the lesbian couple's relationship does not live in the eyes of the law in Serbia - one of more than a dozen European nations yet to recognise same-sex unions.
"Everything (we have) is in just either one of our names," said Budimirovic, 33, as she described the everyday problems the couple encounter. "(Radica's) name needs to be on the paperwork for the house, we need to be legally covered."
But Greece's decision last month to legalise homosexual marriage - becoming the first Orthodox Christian nation to do so - has raised hopes of rights gains among Diverse people in other mainly Orthodox countries in the Balkans, such as Serbia.
"It doe
Public Opinion of Transgender Rights in Serbia
Introduction
This report presents information on public belief about transgender people and their rights in Serbia. We analyzed data from The Global Attitudes Toward Transgender People survey, Serbia panel, to provide fresh information on attitudes towards transgender people and their rights and status in Serbian society. This is of particular importance, because only a few studies provide information on the social position of gender diverse persons and their experiences in Serbia.
There are about 20,000 transgender people in Serbia.They are in a particularly vulnerable position because rules governing legal gender recognition still require undergoing medical procedures. Since 1989, after the first gender-affirming surgery was carried out,around 8 to 10 persons annually undergo the surgery.According to one estimate, 80% of transgender persons in Serbia are either interested or unable to undergo gender-affirming surgery.
The Constitution of Serbia enshrines fundamental human rights and freedoms, and its equality clauseprohibits discrimination on any ground; however, it does not explicitly mention sexual orientation or gender identity
.