Public support actions for LGBT persons living outside of Belgrade organized for the first time
Belgrade, May 17, 2017 – International day against homophobia and transphobia (IDAHOT), was marked today for the first time in seven cities in Serbia with joint actions by organization Labris, government institutions and local civil society organizations.
Novi Sad, Niš, Subotica, Pančevo, Novi Pazar and Kragujevac joined the capital in marking this date this year for the first time, by organizing public activities with the aim of drawing public attention to the situation of the LGBT community.
These seven Local networks for the prevention of discrimination and support for LGBT persons encourage equal participation of LGBT associations and representatives of state institutions (police, prosecutors, city administration, social workers and other) that monitor and respond to cases of discrimination against this minority.
„We mark International day against homophobia by organizing public actions outside of Belgrade for the first time ever. This shows the strength and the influence of local networks in these cities, and helps preventing prejudices and improves position of LGBT persons“, says Jelena Vasiljević, Advocacy Coordinator in organization Labris which implements the project „Network change for Serbia’s LGBT community” in seven previously mentioned cities.
On the occasion of the International day against homophobia and transphobia Labris organized public support gathering for LGBT persons at the Republic Square, and public readings of life confessions of members of the LGBT community were organized in Belgrade City Hall. Video campaign was launched in Subotica. Activists from Niš started forming the tolerance park by planting the first seedlings at the Fortress. Street action was held in Kragujevac, press conference in Pančevo, and the work of Local network in Novi Pazar was publicly presented for the first time.
The project „Network change for Serbia’s LGBT community“ is implemented by Labris and the financial support from United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Besides Labris, numerous local civil society organizations took part in organizing public actions in these seven cities: Gayten LGBT, Haver Serbia, Više od pomoći, As centar (Beograd), Urban in (Novi Pazar), Izađi, Novosadski humanitarni centar, Crvena linija (Novi Sad), ŽMIG, Nova + (Pančevo), Grupa za decu i mlade Indigo, Kolektiv Niš (Niš), Alternativni krug, Romsko srpsko prijateljstvo Stablo, Romski informativni centar (Kragujevac) i Stav+ (Subotica). It is noteworthy that Labris is organizing actions for marking the IDAHOT with more than 80 partners, out of which 66 are institutions and 22 civil society organizations.
