IZAĐI do Nubla

They were organized by Labris, state institutions and local civil society organizations, Beta reported, citing to a press release issued by Labris.

It said that this was the first time Novi Sad, Nis, Subotica, Pancevo, Novi Pazar and Kragujevac joined Belgrade in observing this day by organizing public action to call attention to the position of LGBT people.

All seven cities have local networks for preventing discrimination of and supporting LGBT persons, the organizers said.

These local networks consist of LGBT organizations and representatives of police, prosecutor’s offices, city administrations, social welfare centers as equal participants. They monitor and react to instances of discrimination of this minority group.

“For the first time this year, we’re marking International Day Against Homophobia with public actions outside Belgrade,” said Labris representative Jelena Vasiljevic.

According to her, this shows the strength and influence of local networks in those cities, helps dispel prejudice and improve the position of LGBT people.

The event took place in Belgrade City Hall and saw awards given to a number of amateur and professional campaigners.

Also in Belgrade, independent activists organised an ‘IDAHoBiT Queer Picnic’ for members of the public. The open event welcomed the LGBT community, as well as allies, for an inclusive day celebrating gender and sexuality of all forms. The event included food, music and the chance for the community to meet, discuss, and gain support from their peers.

The event will take place at Belgrade City Hall. For more information and to RSVP please email info@GSA.org.rs.

Also in Belgrade, local activists from the LGBT community have organised an ‘IDAHoBiT Queer Picnic‘ for members of the public. The event invites the LGBT community and allies to join together for a fun event dedicated to celebrating victory and diversity.

From the organisers:

Gayten-LGBT and Labris are inviting you to a queer picnic to celebrate this year’s IDAHoBiT day at Studentski park in Belgrade. Lesbians, gays, bisex, trans*, queer, asexual, agender, bigender, nogender, cisgender, genderqueer, gender fluid, non-binary, third gender, cross-dressers, drag queens and kings, women, men, people, come to Studentski park, to hang, chat and chill out; we’ll be bringing some bagels, homemade rolls, fruit and drinks, cool music, and EVERYONE is welcome, no exclusions allowed!

Bring picnic blankets, LGBT flags, some food or drinks (some food and drinks will be provided). Bring your partners, friends, dogs, cats and other pets, kids, moms or dads, whoever you want, to enjoy a sunny day and mark the International day against homophobia, biphobia and transphobia, by going outside and reclaiming the park.

Report by Labris, the organization of lesbian human rights in Serbia:

To mark the International day against homophobia, transphobia and biphobia (IDAHOT/B), on Sunday, May 17th, a rainbow flag together with a trans rights flag were dropped from the Ombudsman’s building in Belgrade

In this symbolic way, people of different sexual orientations and gender identities were shown support and attention was drawn to the problems these people have to live with on day to day basis.

Photo: RTS

Besides Gordana Stevanović, Ombudsman’s deputy, members of the Gender equality council were also present, and representatives of Gayten-LGBT and Labris, Milan Đurić and Jovanka Todorović respectively. Afterwards, Ombudsman’s deputy headed to Students’ park to an IDAHOT queer picnic, organized by Gayten-LGBT and Labris, also in order to mark this year’s IDAHOT day.
The event was well attended – it is estimated that around 80 to 90 people came. Flags were put up around the park, there was music and refreshments. The event was guarded by police forces and there were no incidents during, before or after the event.

Different groups and organisations in Belgrade, Serbia prepared for a variety of actions to commemorate IDAHOT, but due to the natural disaster – creating mass floods – in the Balkans right before May 17, all the actions on and after the day had to be cancelled. The only IDAHOT event that could be held was a Stand Up Comedy show on May 14.

In commemoration of IDAHOT and as part of an international tour, on May 14 there was the show “Laugh out proud” which consists of stand up comedy that took place at KC Grad, a social club in Belgrade. Making part of the show were LGBT comedians from the UK, Scott Capurro and Lara King, and the host Marina Orsag, from Croatia. The organiser of the show in Belgrade was standup.rs

As the rain and floods started to become more devastating during the week, the organisers of the other IDAHOT actions decided to cancel all events. In a statement by IDAHO Belgrade, organisers called out for solidarity with all the victims of the floods that struck Serbia and Bosnia & Herzegovina in the week leading up to IDAHOT. Many members of groups who had planned events were involved in supporting and assisting people who needed help after the catastrophe.

Planned events included a conference and a public event hosted by Labris, the Lesbian Human Rights Organization in Belgrade. Also, an advocacy campaign “Get a safe space for the LGBT community”, organised by Safe pulse of Youth, Gayten-LGBT and Labris – to raise awareness of the necessity of safe spaces, and ultimately to establish a centre for counselling and supporting the LGBTIQ community and their families. Activists also planned to hold a conference to inform the public about these issues.

The IDAHO Committee was in regular contact with activists organising in the country, and issued statements of support, which we reaffirm here.

…it is the ground I stand on to desire and act toward the world without discrimination of all types. In everyday life it means to connect with lesbians and other women in solidarity and actions smashing patriarchy and capitalism! Now!

…feminist politics led me to became anti- fascist and anti-war activist in my town Belgrade, from where the war started. Radical Feminism is politics from which I understood the context of violence against women and worked for 20 years as a feminist counselor for women who survived male violence and war in supporting the increase of their authority.

…it inspires responsibility of citizen in me, as a 60 year old white asphalt dyke, to share my privileges – bread and roses with some other lesbians, women & girls and dance together. Around the world, with the tender touch of Luna the Moon on our faces.”

Lepa Mladjenovic, Belgrade

Photo: International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia 2013 in Belgrade

Labris – Lesbian Human Rights Organization in Belgrade, Serbia will host various activities on May 17. Together with other LGBTI groups they are organising a conference and a public event.

Three LGBT organisations from Belgrade, Safe pulse of Youth, Gayten-LGBT and Labris -Lesbian Human Rights Organisation, are working jointly to advocate for obtaining the municipality space that will be used as a “safe space” for LGBT people where they will be provided the high quality legal, psychological and health advise and support.
For the purpose of this advocating activities, the campaign “Get a safe space for the LGBT community” is conducted. The goal is to establish a centre for counselling and supporting the LGBTIQ community and their families.
To raise awareness of the necessity of the safe space, they will also hold a conference which will underline the hard position of the LGBT people that are often confronted with hate speech and/or hate crime. High level of intolerance, discrimination and violence directed towards LGBTIQ community in Serbia presents a constant threat for people whose gender expression is different that those proscribed by traditional gender roles. LGBTIQ community members are thus forced to keep their sexual orientation and gender identity repressed and hidden. On the other hand, mainstream media generally don’t report on numerous difficulties LGBTIQ people are facing on everyday basis and decision-makers on all levels, as well as experts in different relevant areas (legal experts, health professionals, social workers, psychologist, psychiatrists and psychotherapists) are, in general, not well informed on those issues. All this factors contribute to unacceptable level of invisibility of LGBTIQ community in the country.

Round table ‘LGBTIQ center as an efficient approach in dealing with psycho-social and health issues in LGBTIQ population’, organised within our project, aims to address those issues and contribute to visibility, freedom of expression and freedom of speech of LGBTIQ community in Serbia.

Welcome speech will be devoted to the common problem in Serbia, general topic of the IDAHO 2014 – Freedom of speech.

Labris was founded in 1995 and is therfore one of the oldest Lesbian organisations in the region. Their mission is to eliminate all violence against lesbian and all women in general and to fight for equal Human Rights for LGBTI people. Their vision is a society in which everyone has equal rights and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity does not exist anymore.

Their work consists of various programs.
– The information centre: empowerment workshops and meetings for LGBTI people- and especially lesbians
– The educational program: workshop to sensitize various relevant stakeholders, especially health and social workers, professors etc. for LGBTI rights and to raise awareness of discrimination and the obstacles sexual and gender minorities face on a daily basis
– The Lobbying and Advocacy Program: Labris has been involved in various campaigns and lobbying work on a national and European level.

Labris’ work has had and still has a big impact on the community in the area and beyond. If you would like to know more about their work, visit their website or check out their Facebook page.

LAUGH OUT PROUD
As part of an international tour, on May 14 there will be the project “Laugh put proud” which consists of stand up comedy night which will be held in Zagreb, Belgrade and Split.
In the show with the symbolic name will appear LGBT comedians from the UK Scott Capurro and Lara King, and the show will host Marina Orsag from Croatia.

The aim of the project “Laugh put proud” is to influence people’s awareness regarding LGBT rights through humor and stand-up comedy in the period of the International Day Against Homophobia. The project was launched by LGBT groups “Lezer” from Zagreb, led by Marine Orsag.
Organizer for Belgrade: Standup.rs

Here is a small taste of last year’s IDAHOT in Belgrade.

Source of images Labris Beograd Photos

Belgrade Pride 2013: LGBTI activists outside Serbian Parliament. Source. Serbian Prime Minister Ivica Dacic announced on September 28 that the planned event would have to be cancelled after far-right groups threatened protests. The last pride to be held in Belgrade – in 2010 – ended in violence, after police clashed with several thousand anti-gay protestors who had organised in response. At least 124 police and around 20 civilians were injured as a response and, since then, all attempts to organise have met with state prohibition. EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele said in a statement that the decision to ban this year’s parade was regrettable. Fuele said, “It is a missed opportunity to show respect for fundamental rights.” Serbia has been a candidate for EU membership since mid-2012, and Belgrade is expected to open accession talks with Brussels in January 2014. The United States embassy also issued a statement saying it was “very disappointed” by the parade ban. Uncertainty had hung over the planned event for weeks before. Earlier on Friday the government announced that the parade would go ahead, and that 6,500 police officers had been designated to ensure its safety. However, later on Friday, just 20 hours before the parade was due to set off, the Prime Minister’s office confirmed rumors of a ban, citing ‘security risks’. One of many international LGBTI activists present, Kristi Pinderi from Albania, reported: ‘Some hundreds LGBT activists marched on Friday night at the main streets of Belgrade in what should be called the most peaceful and original pride parade, very similar to the time of Stonewall. Soon after they learned that authorities banned the pride the activists were promptly organized and around 11 p.m. they gathered in hundreds in front of the Prime Minister office. The police was there immediately but they could not stop anymore the activists who started to march in the streets joyfully and shouting “We don’t give up!”. Later this afternoon Ivica Dacic PM, as one year ago, stated that for “security reasons” the pride could not be held. It is important to ask him now: where were the extremists when the activists marched and stood enough time in front of the symbolic building of the Parliament?! “There are no more workshops and conferences inside! This is the real activism”, said a girl from Belgrade. During all the parade that started as a protest the activists were joyful and they should: it was the most peaceful, beautiful and probably the first real pride parade in the history of Belgrade.’ Local activists report that the Parade went ahead without violent incident.