2023 Pride Triumph: Belgrade’s Unyielding LGBTQ+ March Defies the Odds with ‘We’re Not Even Close’ Rally

2023 Championing LGBTQ+ Rights in Belgrade

BELGRADE, Serbia — This year’s Pride protest march took place on September 9, 2023, under the slogan “We’re not even close”. Hundreds of Pride activists gathered in the Serbian capital on Saturday amid a heavy police presence and anti-gay messages sent by the country’s conservative leadership and far-right groups.

International Support for Pride Values

Before the Pride event, the embassies and representative offices of 25 countries and the European Union delegation in Serbia issued a joint statement of support for the values of Pride and urging protection of the rights of LGBTQ+ persons.

Heavy Police Presence Amid Anti-Gay Protests

A heavy police presence of officers in riot gear blocked off central Belgrade. In a rally against the march, about 50 anti-gay protesters and Orthodox priests held religious icons in front of a downtown church as the Pride event participants passed by.

Last year, the LGBTQ+ event was marred by skirmishes between the police and anti-Pride groups who believe the event goes against traditional Serbian Christian Orthodox values and should be banned.

A Defiant Message from Pride Activists

The participants of the march on Saturday held banners reading “We Are Not Even Close” — referring to the current status of the gay population is Serbia — as well as “Marriage” and “Queer Liberation not Rainbow Capitalism.”

Pride Park: A Hub of Unity and Celebration

The gathering of participants started at 4:00 PM in Manjež Park (Pride Park). Pride Park hosted a variety of activities for participants, including food and beverage stands, branded materials, flags and banners, makeup, glitter, and many other elements.

Attendees arrived at Pride park on time (no later than 5:00 PM) and entered exclusively through the designated entry points, where they were greeted by members of the organizational teams, licensed security personnel, and our volunteers.

The Pride March Route and Concert Extravaganza

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The Pride march began at 5:00 PM and followed the following route: Nemanjina Street (entrance to Manjež Park at the intersection of Nemanjina and Resavska) – Kneza Miloša Street – Kralja Milana Street – Nikola Pašić Square – National Assembly – Kneza Miloša Street – Nemanjina Street – Manjež Park.

After the march, the Pride concert began in Pride Park (Manjež Park) and lasted from 7:00 PM to 12:00 AM. All the facilities set up in the Park before the march became available during the concert as well. It’s possible to attend the concert without participating in the march.

Strict Security Measures Ensure a Safe Event

The capital was full of police cordons, which also patrolled everywhere in cars. The presence of the cordon in Nemanjina and around the entire route in which the Pride participants moved was especially noticeable. No one could enter the Park Manježa circle until 4 pm, when the gathering officially began and when the checkpoints opened.

The entry points were located at locations in Kralja Milana Street, near the Moskva Hotel, at the intersections of Resavska and Birčaninova and Resavska and Mišarska and at the entrance to Kralja Milana from Slavija Square.

“In addition to the police, licensed security guards, organizers and volunteers will be present at the checkpoints, who will make sure that everyone safely accesses the walk and concerts and receives the wristband necessary for the walk,” according to the announcement of Belgrade Pride.

A Star-Studded Pride Concert

After the walk, a concert was planned starting at 7 p.m., where Filip Baloš, Baby Motorola, Filarri, tam, Dzipsi and Lazar Ćirković performed.

There were drag performances (Bad Reputation, The Haus of Plastics, Hydra HGG), as well as DJ sets & Vogue (Lea Davogić, Dance association “GROOVE”, Tzitzi & greczei).

Promoting Inclusivity and Positive Messaging

The organizers emphasized that during the walk, any slogans or banners containing inscriptions that were not in accordance with the values and policies of Belgrade Pride, which included messages of hatred on a national, religious or ethnic basis, discrimination, insults, homophobia, transphobia, misogyny, were not allowed.

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