Serbian Officials Ban Belgrade Pride, Cite Security Reasons

Belgrade's Pride parade has been called off due to security concerns, reports website Balkan Insight.

The national security council of Serbia canceled the festivities for the third year in a row, citing threats of violence from right-wing extremists as the reason.

"No one should question the political orientation of the state and whether the constitutionally guaranteed rights are respected. The only limitation are security reasons," said Serbian prime minister Ivica Dacic over a public broadcast.

The cancellation, announced Friday, was a last-minute decision by officials, as the parade was scheduled for this weekend. All other public gatherings were banned along with it.

This marks the fourth time that the parade has been canceled in the past five years. A march occurred in 2010, but it was disrupted by several thousand protesters, who set fire to buildings, threw stones, and injured members of the police force.

Ivan Ivanovic, a right-wing activist, had warned that there would be "bloodshed" if this year's parade went forward, "just like in 2010."

"People are deeply unsatisfied and are telling us that they will go on to the streets in vast numbers to protest," Ivanovic said at a Tuesday press conference, Balkan Insightreported. "If that happens again, we all know that Belgrade streets will see bloodshed, and that's in no one's interest."

Trending stories

Broadway's best raise over $1 million for LGBTQ+ and HIV causes

Joe Biden has tied the record for most LGBTQ+ judges confirmed in federal courts

Season 4 of The Switch on resilience & radical self-love returns this spring

'Survivor' star Teeny Chirichillo comes out as trans in candid new essay

Issa Rae says 'Black Mirror' love story with Emma Corrin created 'curiosity and chemistry'

French Polynesia doesn’t need Pride flags to earn its place on every LGBTQ+ bucket list

Broadway bound: The best hotels in NYC’s Theater District for every type of traveler

Discover the power of Wellness in your life

Gerald Garth is keeping people of color happy and healthy through trying times

Trump's orders prompt CDC to erase HIV resources

Elon Musk uses burner accounts on X, doesn’t fact-check: report

Robert Irwin is stripping down & rocking tiny briefs in new underwear campaign

Bobby Berk reveals his favorite part about being gay: 'The sex!'

How climate disasters hurt mental health in young people

All 6 rogue Mississippi cops got long prison sentences in 'Goon Squad' torture of 2 Black men

Troye Sivan, Billie Eilish, Lorde turn Charli XCX's Coachella set into gay 'Brat' heaven

Out and About with Karan Soni

France becomes world’s first country to enshrine abortion rights in constitution

Beyond Wonderland's accepting & unifying rave culture is needed more than ever

The Charles is Pacific Grove's new LGBTQ+ hotel

From Z to APT: Here's who won the 'Drag Race' S17 Lip Sync Smackdown

15 lesbian coming-of-age movies that will hit you right in the feels

23 brutally funny 'Hands Off' protest signs that prove the resistance is alive & hilarious

'The Last Of Us' stars share powerful messages to queer fans: 'We hold space for you'

The Kilted Age: Claybourne Elder models the power of queer history and parenting

• 0
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8