SERBIA: Around 2000 people protest against a Gay Pride parade planned for October 10 in Belgrade

Record ID: 276972

  • Title: SERBIA: Around 2000 people protest against a Gay Pride parade planned for October 10 in Belgrade
  • Date: 10th October 2010
  • Summary: PROTESTERS WALKING AND SINGING: "Save Serbia and kill yourself, Borise, Borise" [referring to Serbian President Boris Tadic] VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS WALKING IN CENTRE OF BELGRADE
  • Embargoed: 25th October 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Serbia
  • Country: Serbia
  • Topics: Domestic Politics,Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVA8BGFRQMXT78L2DJWEXU6LAZS5
  • Story Text: Several thousand people protested on Saturday (October 9) against a planned Gay Pride Parade due to be held on Sunday (October 10) in Belgrade.
    The anti-gay protest was organised by the right-oriented organisation. Those taking part in the protest demanded the cancellation of the parade because, according to them, it is not in the spirit of the Serbian people.
    "When you take into account that the majority of traditional Serbia and all other religions are against such manifestation, we think and we want to send a message from this protest of family people that gay parade must be cancelled," Bosko Obradovic, one of the organisers of anti gay protest, said.
    Many of the protesters shared Obradovic's view.
    "I can only laugh how ironic it is that the name is Gay Pride Parade, that's not pride, that's humiliation," Rajko Dzakovic said.
    For Milena Milicevic, any gay parade is unacceptable for Serbian society.
    "That's the decline of our society and that's the end of the end. I do not support it," Milicevis said.
    One of the speakers at the protest, Srdjan Nogo, criticised Serbian officials for letting the parade be organised in the first place, with the need to deploy around 5,000 policemen to ensure participants' safety.
    "We are here today because we think that the Serbian security forces must defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia. No to protecting gay parade," said anti-gay protest organiser, Srdjan Nogo.
    After the rally, protesters walked through Belgrade centre, caring banners which read: "We are protecting family".
    Some of them were singing, referring to Serbian president Boris Tadic "save Serbia and kill yourself Borise, Borise", the same song which was used against late Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic.
    This is the third time that Gay Pride has tried organise a parade in Serbia. The first time the parade was cancelled due to street scuffles, and last year's parade was also cancelled because of security risks. High levels of security forces are expected to be engaged in securing the place where the parade will take place, and from Saturday night (October 9) many of Belgrade's streets in the downtown will be closed to traffic.
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