Largest Belgrade Pride ever successfully held, next one scheduled for September 7, 2024
Belgrade, September 11, 2023
The Pride march and concert of Belgrade Pride 2023 gathered more than 10,000 people and were the largest to date. Organizers announced that Pride Week in 2024 will be held from September 2 to September 8, 2024. The Pride march is scheduled for Saturday, September 7, 2024.
This year, the Pride march, as well as all other events during Pride Week, took place without incidents.
"We are proud to have once again walked the streets of the city and shown support for the rights of the LGBTI+ community. We are proud of the large number of people who joined Pride and sent a strong message that Belgrade supports diversity and inclusivity. We continue the fight for love and equality and demand that all of Belgrade Pride's demands be met," stated Belgrade Pride after Pride Week.
It is worth noting that Belgrade Pride's demands have not changed since 2014 and include the adoption of the Law on Same-Sex Partnerships; the Gender Identity Law and the improvement of healthcare services for transgender individuals; a swift and adequate response from state authorities and public condemnation by government officials of hate speech and hate-motivated crimes against the LGBTI+ community; the adoption of local action plans for the LGBTI+ community; education for youth about sexual orientation and gender identity; an apology to all citizens of Serbia who were persecuted before 1994 due to their sexual orientation and gender identity; as well as free and easily accessible pre-exposure and post-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP and PEP).
We demand that the authorities and all state institutions fulfill Belgrade Pride's demands without delay.
For the latest information, follow the official website of Belgrade Pride www.prajd.rs/en/home, as well as official communication channels on X (Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, under the username @belgradepride.
Contact Information
Kralja Milana 20, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia;
Monday - Saturday, 10 - 20
+381 011 4029833
[email protected]
Largest Belgrade Pride ever successfully held, next one scheduled for September 7, 2024
The Belgrade Pride March is scheduled for September 9th, and the gathering for participants will begin at 4:00 PM in Manjež Park. That's when the entrance points will also be open. The March itself starts at 5:00 PM and will be led by a drumming band and a truck with music. Besides the police officers, licensed security personnel, organizers, and volunteers will be on duty at the entrance points. They will ensure that everyone safely joins the March and concerts and receives their wristbands. The entrance points are located on Kralja Milana Street, near the Hotel Moskva, at the intersection of Resavska and Birčaninova, the intersection of Resavska and Mišarska, and at the entrance to Kralja Milana from Slavija Square. 
The walk route is as follows: it starts from Manjež Park, goes through Nemanjina street, Kneza Miloša street, Kralja Milana street, Nikola Pašić Square to the National Assembly, then back through Kneza Miloša street and Nemanjina to Manjež Park. The Pride is open to all citizens; there is no pre-registered list of participants. If you encounter any issues when entering the walk, please call one of the following numbers: +38169699802, +381638938759, + 381621775356.
IMPORTANT: Entry points open at 4:00 PM and close at 5:30 PM.
After the march and upon returning to the Park, at 6:30 PM, two entry points for the concert will be open, one at the intersection of Resavska and Masarikova streets, and the other at the intersection of Nemanjina and Kralja Milutina streets. The checkpoints will remain open until the end of the concert.
At Belgrade Pride, any slogans or banners containing messages that do not align with the values and policies of Belgrade Pride are not allowed. This includes hate speech based on nationality, religion, or ethnicity, discrimination, insults, homophobia, transphobia, misogyny, and calls for violence. Protest and political messages that are in line with the values and principles of Belgrade Pride are welcome. Avoid conflicts with security personnel, do not respond to any provocations, and avoid contact with counter-demonstrators. When leaving the Pride March or Pride Concert, pack any items indicating your participation (flags, bags) into your bags or backpacks, or leave them in the Pride Park. Remove or change all makeup, glitter, clothing, and other elements before leaving the park. 
When leaving, move in larger groups, walk on central and well-lit streets to the nearest taxi or public transportation stop. If you feel your safety is threatened, call 192 immediately or approach the nearest police officer if you spot them nearby. The organizational team, when applying for the Pride March, requested a temporary traffic closure from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM along the route of the March, not continuously, but while the March passes through those streets. However, the police, after safety assessments, may decide to close other streets and extend the closure time for those streets, which we cannot influence.
Largest Belgrade Pride ever successfully held, next one scheduled for September 7, 2024
Belgrade Pride 2023 is taking place under the slogan "We're Not Even Close" (Nismo ni blizu), emphasizing that the LGBTI+ community in Serbia is faced with increasing violence and discrimination. Pride Week is set to be from September 4th to 10th, and the Pride Parade will be held on September 9th at 4:00 PM.
The start of this year's Pride campaign was marked by graffiti on the Pride Info Center, where Belgrade Pride activists aimed to draw attention to the verbal and physical attacks they face. Considering that the Pride Info Center has been vandalized 18 times without any perpetrators being held accountable, this time Belgrade Pride decided to preempt the hooligans. Simultaneously, it's an opportunity for the Pride 2023 slogan "We're not even close" to reach a wider audience.
Belgrade hosted EuroPride 2022, which took place despite several police bans and a negative campaign led by government officials and right-wing organizations. By prohibiting EuroPride, the country made an unconstitutional decision to prevent peaceful citizen gatherings and protest marches, which contradicts the Serbian Constitution. Unconstitutional bans have been known since 2009, and the Constitutional Court has ruled four times that the officials had no right to ban Pride. The Constitutional Court's reaction to last year's ban is still awaited. On the other hand, the rise of extremist, right-wing, and nationalist movements goes unnoticed by the public, resulting in an increase in hate speech and discrimination.
Therefore, the slogan "We're Not Even Close" reflects the LGBTI+ movement's struggle for equality, dignity, and love.
We're not even close, because violence against LGBTI+ citizens in Serbia is still widespread.
We're not even close, because violence against LGBTI+ citizens in Serbia is still widespread.
We're not even close, because same-sex unions are still not legally recognized and regulated.
We're not even close, because our healthcare and laws still systematically discriminate against transgender individuals.
We're not even close, because we're not free to hold our partner's hand in public.
We're not even close, because the government still takes away our constitutionally guaranteed right to peaceful gathering.
We're not even close, because none of Belgrade Pride's demands have been met.
Belgrade Pride's demands have remained unchanged since 2017, and they are:
- Adoption of the Law on same-sex unions.
- Adoption of the Law on gender identity and the rights of intersex persons and an improvement in services available to trans people.
- Fast and adequate reaction from state authorities, as well as public condemnation by government representatives, of hate speech and hate-motivated crimes against the LGBTQIA+ community.
- Adoption of local action plans for the LGBTQIA+ community.
- An apology to all Serbian citizens who have been prosecuted or in any way discriminated against prior to 1994 due to their sexual orientation or gender identity.
- Education for youth about sexual orientation and gender identity
. - Free and easily accessible pre-exposure and post-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP and PEP).
This year's Pride Week, scheduled from September 4th to 10th, will encompass a series of cultural, artistic, and educational events, including a theater festival, exhibitions, panel discussions, debates, parties, and community talks. The Pride Parade, set for Saturday, September 9th at 4:00 PM, will begin and end at “Manjež Park“ in Belgrade, where this year's concert program is planned after the Parade.
This year, through activities during Pride Week, special attention is directed towards the issues and problems faced by transgender, intersex, and gender variant individuals, who, without the adopted Law on Gender Identity and Rights of Intersex People, are still subjected to lengthy and arduous processes, hormonal therapy, and forced sterilization, just to obtain personal documents that correspond to their gender, while intersex babies are still operated on due to the legal requirement to assign them a sex.
The complete Pride Week program, as well as all updates regarding the parade, concerts, and other parts of the program, can be followed on the official Belgrade Pride website, www.prajd.rs, as well as through official communication channels on X (Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, under the username @belgradepride.
Contact Information
Kralja Milana 20, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia;
Monday - Saturday, 10 - 20
+381 011 4029833
[email protected]
Largest Belgrade Pride ever successfully held, next one scheduled for September 7, 2024
After a months-long process that consisted of the evaluation of last year's EuroPride, individual meetings with a large number of organisations dealing with the LGBTI+ community, and the development of procedures, organization and policies of Belgrade Pride, on Friday, June 30, the first plenary meeting was held with organisations from Belgrade, Novi Sad and Šabac, which deal with various aspects of improving the rights of the LGBTI+ community.
At the meeting, the results of the evaluation of EuroPride 2022 was presented, and amendments to the document related to procedures, organizations and policies were discussed. After the formal part of the meeting, a symbolic signing of the document was held, by which local LGBTI+ organizations joined the Belgrade Pride Committee.
Belgrade Pride now consists of five bodies: Belgrade Pride Committee, Organisational Board, Operational Board, Pride Info Center and the Complaints committee, as well as the Commissioner for gender equality, inclusion and diversity.
This type of organization of Belgrade Pride will improve the inclusion of the queer community in Belgrade Pride, and will include the opinions and expertise of all key actors, and the horizontal structure will enable the highest level of transparency and trust at all levels of the organispation.
Contact Information
Kralja Milana 20, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia;
Monday - Saturday, 10 - 20
+381 011 4029833
[email protected]
Largest Belgrade Pride ever successfully held, next one scheduled for September 7, 2024
Before you is an anonymous form where, with an explanation of your choice included, you can nominate the Queen of this year's Pride!
After the nominations of the community are in, and based on the previous work and effort of the nominees, the previous Queens – Aleks Elektra, Dita Von Bill, Ostroga Mi, Aleksis Plastik and Lana Vee – will decide who the heir to the crown will be, together with Pride godmother Sajsi MC.
The form will be open until June 20th, and we'll be watching the performances of the queens at the grand Drag Show on September 8th, as a part of Pride Week.
Link to the form
Link to the form.
See you at Pride! 🌈
Contact Information
Kralja Milana 20, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia;
Monday - Saturday, 10 - 20
+381 011 4029833
[email protected]
Largest Belgrade Pride ever successfully held, next one scheduled for September 7, 2024
Pinkwashing is a term that describes the commercialization of the LGBTI+ community for profit. The term emphasizes how corporations and companies use the visibility and acceptance of the LGBTI+ rights movement in order to target and market products to queer consumers.
While the increase in the representation of LGBTQ+ individuals in mainstream media and access to LGBTQ+ products may seem like progress, pink capitalism poses important questions about authenticity, exploitation and sincere support for the community. Those that criticize the phenomenon claim that it can worsen stereotypes, strengthen consumerism and place profits in front of meaningful social change.
Pinkwashing comes to light during Pride Month, when companies adorn their products with rainbow colors and slogans designed to attract LGBTI+ consumers. While some companies truly do support LGBTI+ causes and use their platforms to advocate for equal rights, some engage in pinkwashing – they support the community on the surface, while taking no concrete actions that would solve the problems the community faces.
Critics of pinkwashing claim that it can take attention and resources away from local organizations and community initiatives which actually support the well-being of LGBTI+ individuals. They emphasize the importance of ensuring that corporate participation goes above mere marketing and towards actively contributing to positive social changes.
Some examples of pinkwashing include products and store windows in rainbow colors during Pride Month, sponsoring Pride-related happenings, LGBTI+ representation in commercials, etc.
It is important to mention that not all corporate participation in LBGTI+ initiatives is inherently negative or exploitative. Some companies do earnestly support the community by advocating for LGBTI+ rights, implementing inclusivity policies and donating to organizations that promote equality. The key is in differentiating between true support and pinkwashing.
- Isidora Đurić
Contact Information
Kralja Milana 20, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia;
Monday - Saturday, 10 - 20
+381 011 4029833
[email protected]
Largest Belgrade Pride ever successfully held, next one scheduled for September 7, 2024
Unknown perpetrators threw red paint on the window of the Pride Info Center and the Belgrade Pride logo. The incident happened in the night between May 26 and 27, and it is the 18th attack on the premises of the Pride Info Center in Belgrade.
We demand from the police and other competent authorities to immediately prosecute the perpetrators of this attack. We also demand that they send the services to clean the paint and cover the walls and thus show the public that vandalism and attacks will not be tolerated. We remind you that the police solved only two cases of attacks on the Pride Info Center, out of a total of eighteen, and only in those cases were the perpetrators sanctioned. Recent tragic events tell us about the growth of hatred, violence and intolerance in Serbia, and that hatred and violence largely aimed at the LGBTI+ community, since last year's ban on EuroPride and physical attacks on participants and activists.
We see this attack as an attempt at intimidation and a threat, but we are not intimidated, we are not afraid and we are not hiding under masks like our attackers. We resolutely continue to openly promote the values of non-violence, democracy and equality for all citizens and continue to fight for all those who suffer violence, who are afraid and who live in smaller, conservative environments.
Contact Information
Kralja Milana 20, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia;
Monday - Saturday, 10 - 20
+381 011 4029833
[email protected]
To mark International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, the flag of EuroPride 2022 has been raised on the building of the French Embassy in Belgrade.
“France, which holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, with the symbolic gesture of raising the EuroPride flag and organizing a reception for the LGBTQI + community in Serbia, has emphasized the commitment of France and the European Union to equal rights for all, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity,” said the Ambassador of France to Serbia Pierre Cochard, during the reception on the occasion of the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia.
The reception, organized by the French Embassy in Serbia together with the Council of Europe and the LGBTI + community, draws public attention to the EuroPride 2022 event, which will be held in Belgrade during 12-18th of September.
Belgrade will be the first city in this part of Europe and the first city outside the European Economic Area to have the opportunity to organize this event.
“EuroPride will be a turning point for the LGBTI+ community in their fight for equality, not only in Serbia, but also in the region. On that day, all eyes in Europe will be on Belgrade and Serbia, which will be an opportunity to put additional pressure on the government to do more when it comes to the protection of human rights”, stated coordinators of EuroPride.
They also reminded that the LGBTI+ community has not changed its requirements since 2017, but that none of them has been fulfilled for five years, including the Law on Same-Sex Unions, which should have been adopted last year.
Also, they have added that members of the LGBTI+ community face discrimination and violence daily, therefore, the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT) should invite all actors in society to show solidarity with the LGBTI+ community and support them in a fight for equality.
“IDAHOBIT is a day to focus on victims. Homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, as well as any other form of hate, destroy not only the lives of individuals, but society as a whole”, stated coordinators of EuroPride.
They also say that the position of community is improving every year, but that there are alarming data showing that every second inhabitant of Serbia believes that homosexuality is a disease, while as many as 80% do not wish to have an LGBTI+ person in the family circle.
“This is a day when each of us can fight for equality. Better laws and policies are necessary, but in order for them to be adopted and implemented in practice, political will and a sincere commitment to the fight for equality are necessary. These two elements always come together. EuroPride 2022, hosted by Belgrade in September, is a real opportunity for Serbia to make a significant step forward and legally regulate same-sex unions,” said Nadia Ćuk, Deputy Head of the Council of Europe Office in Belgrade.
She added that the campaign “Block hatred, share love”, which was presented by the European Union and the Council of Europe on May 5 in Belgrade, has recently started. Ambassadors of the European Union and the Group of Francophone Ambassadors, young European ambassadors, as well as representatives of institutions that support EuroPride, are also participating in the implementation of this campaign.
The reception at the French Embassy was also attended by the Minister of Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue of the Republic of Serbia Gordana Čomić, who said that today is a day when we all promise to fight against hate, and state where we belong and what values we fight for as a society.
“Day of fighting against hate of minorities who are a little different from us, is just a reminder that every other day we should not choose intolerance and belittling, but choose human rights for all instead,” said Čomić.
The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia has been marked since 2004 in order to draw public attention to the enormous stigma, discrimination and violence that LGBTI+ people continue to face.
Sunday
September 12
20:00
National Theatre in Belgrade (Francuska 3) – Raša Plaović stage
Theater play “An ongoing song” (Part of the repertoire of the Heartefact Pride Theatre Festival) – Tickets
Monday
September 13
12:00
KC Grad (Braće Krsmanović 4)
Afternoon Matinée with the crew of “An Ongoing Song”
17:00
KC Grad (Braće Krsmanović 4)
Pride Delicacy Monday
18:00
Muzej Kinoteke (Kosovska 11)
Documentary film “In bed with Madonna” (USA, 1991) – Directed by Alek Keshishian. Discussion with David Firanj (author of the book “Madonna’s queer”)
18:00
Kafe bar 16, Cetinjska 15A
Media picture from this side of the rainbow
18:30
KC Grad (Braće Krsmanović 4)
Opening of exhibition: “Beautiful night encounters and other stories” – Jetmir Idrizi
20:00
Theatre Vuk (Bulevar kralja Aleksandra 77a)
Theatre play “Fear of butterflies” (Part of the repertoire of the Heartefact Pride Theatre Festival) – Tickets
20:30
Muzej Kinoteke (Kosovska 11)
Documentary film “Strike a pose” (The Netherlands, 2016) – directed by Ester Gould, Reijer Zwaan
Tuesday
September 14
16:00
Prajd Info Center (Kralja Milana 20)
About TIGV activism with the community
18:00
Muzej Kinoteke (Kosovska 11)
Short film “Sergeant” (Serbia, 2011) – directed by Nikola Ljuca
18:00 (after the short film “Sergeant”)
Muzej Kinoteke (Kosovska 11)
Film “Through the rainforests of South America” (Serbia, 1992) – directed by Ales Kurt, Marko Marinković, Slobodan Skerlić
18:00
KC Grad (Braće Krsmanović 4)
Community talks: Hate crime as a criminal act
20:00
National Theatre in Belgrade (Francuska 3) – Raša Plaović stage
Theater play “Watch out for the void” (Part of the repertoire of the Heartefact Pride Theatre Festival) – Tickets
20:30
Muzej Kinoteke (Kosovska 11)
Film “Ciao, inspector” (SFRY, 1985) – directed by Zoran Čalić
Wednesday
September 15
10:00-13:00
Media Center (Terazije 3) – Grand hall, 2nd floor
Twelve years of hardship or freedom? Implemmentation of the Law on the Prohibition of Discrimination
17:00
Prajd info center (Kralja Milana 20)
Presentation of research: What does the coming out process of LGB persons in Serbia look like? (PIN . Psychological Innovation Network)
18:00
Muzej Kinoteke (Kosovska 11)
Film “Gods and monsters” (USA, 1998) – directed by Bill Condon
18:00
KC Grad (Braće Krsmanović 4)
Community talks: How should we celebrate Pride?
20:00
Belgrade Drama Theatre (Mileševska 64A)
Theatre play “Rain drops over hot stones” (Part of the repertoire of the Heartefact Pride Theatre Festival) – Tickets
20:30
Muzej Kinoteke (Kosovska 11)
Film “Veridba” (SAD, 1996) – režija Mike Nichols
22:00
Belgrade Youth Centre (Makedonska 22)
Film “Silent Voice” (France, Belgium, 2020)
Thursday
September 16
10:00-15:00
Mama Shelter, Atelier 2 (Kneza Mihaila 54)
International Human Rights Conference: Effective Inclusion of LGBTIQ Persons
15:00
Live stream, Facebook and YouTube channels of the National Youth Council of Serbia
Youth Dialogue with the Minister for Human and Minority Rights and Social Dialogue (KOMS)
15:30
KC Grad (Braće Krsmanović 4)
Queer Bodies: Poetry Reading with Agon Rexhepi
18:00
Muzej Kinoteke (Kosovska 11)
Film “Bound” (USA, 1996) – directed by Lana Wachowski, Lily Wachowski
18:00
KC Grad (Braće Krsmanović 4)
Community talks: Being a queer pupil in smaller communities
20:00
Endžio HAB (Dobračina 4)
Performance “The Cadela Força Project – first chapter: The bride and the Good Night Cinderella”
20:30
Muzej Kinoteke (Kosovska 11)
Film “Heavenly Creatures” (New Zealand, Germany, 1994) – directed by Peter Jackson
21:00
KC Grad (Braće Krsmanović 4)
Queer Soirée
Friday
September 17
10:00-14:30
Impact Hub Beograd (Makedonska 21)
Pride Forum
14:30 – 17:00
Impact Hub Beograd (Makedonska 21)
National film premiere “Welcome to Chechnya” followed by the testimony and discussion with one of the victims from Chechnya
16:00
Pride Info Center (Kralja Milana 20)
How does the government react to our problems and do LGBTI+ organisations really address our problems and messages?
17:30
Pride Info Center (Kralja Milana 20)
Reading room: The pink flame of our literature – meetings of Serbian and Slovenian writers
18:00
Muzej Kinoteke (Kosovska 11)
Film “Different from the Others” (Germany, 1919) – directed by Richard Oswald
18:00
KC Grad (Braće Krsmanović 4)
Community talks: Queer migrants on the edge of the margin
19:00
Dim (Cetinjska 15)
Performance “Lucky Pierre: A guide to repetition” – Dardan Zhegrova
20:30
Muzej Kinoteke (Kosovska 11)
Film “Different from You and Me” (Germany, 1957) – directed by Veit Harlan
21:00
Ljubimac (Cetinjska 15)
LBTQ Women Party
21:30
Dragstor (Bulevar Despota Stefana 115)
Drag Party
Saturday
September 18
16:00-23:00
PRIDE DAY (Park Manjež)
18:00
Muzej Kinoteke (Kosovska 11)
Film “Show me love” (Sweden, Denmark, 1998) – directed by Lukas Moodysson
20:30
Muzej Kinoteke (Kosovska 11)
Film “Eastern Boys” (France, 2013) – directed by Robin Campillo
On 17 May 1990, the World Health Organization removed homosexuality from its list of diseases and mental disorders. This historical fact inspired Saša Gavrić and Jasmina Čaušević to collect all reference works in one place and give an overview of the development of the contemporary LGBT history in the last thirty years in the Western Balkans. How has the contemporary gay and trans history developed in the Western Balkan countries? What influenced the demedicalisation and decriminalisation of homosexuality? How did LGBTI activism develop in the region in this period? How did legal protection develop, and which areas did it include? How have the processes of democratisation and Europeanisation affected the lives of LGBTI people? These are just some of the questions the answers to which the authors have been pursuing during their work on this book.