Reykjavik Gay Pride Warns Queer People Going to Belgrade

27.2.2008

Reykjavik, Iceland, 27 February 2008 - Reykjavik Gay Pride, Iceland, would like to bring to your attention the poor record of human rights in Serbia, especially as regards the rights of lesbian, gay men, bisexuals and transgender people.
 

The European Song Contest, Eurovision, will be held in Belgrade, capital of Serbia, on May 20-24. Many of the participants; artists, stylists and other staff are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. A large portion of the fans are also lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. Many of them will want to go to Belgrade to attend the festivities.

There is a good reason to worry about their safety and security. The attempts of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender people to hold Gay Pride events in Belgrade, have been beaten back with great brutality by those who do not want to accept their existence.
 

There have been instances of thousands of these people gathering to attack a few dozen courageous pioneers of human rights in the country.


Attacks by extremists in Serbia, and especially in Belgrade, have repeatedly taken place without any action or protection from the police. The police have even deliberately and systematically avoided being present attempts to hold pride events where such attacks might be expected and have indeed happen.

These attacks have left behind severely injured people that have even been arrested for trying to draw attention to their plight.
 

Reykjavik Gay Pride cautions people against going to Belgrade. It is how ever quite natural that many people will do so regardless.

Reykjavik Gay Pride urges lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender people who go to Belgrade in connection with Eurovision to avoid being alone about in the city and to avoid as far as possible to attract attention to their sexuality, unless security is acceptable.

Reykjavik Gay Pride urges the Icelandic State Radio (RUV) to safeguard the Icelandic delegation, and to take this threat seriously.

Reykjavik Gay Pride also urges the Icelandic government to bring these worries to the attention of the government of Serbia. And to bring pressure on the government of Serbia to respect European and international laws and agreements on human rights that guarantees queer people the same human rights as other citizens of Europe.


Video of Attacks on Belgrade Pride 2001