About Us

About Labris

Labris is a lesbian feminist non-profit civil society organization established to promote lesbian human rights and visibility in society. Labris considers the right to a different sexual orientation to be one of the fundamental human rights and works to eliminate all forms of violence and discrimination against lesbians.

Labris uses the word “lesbian” as a broad term that includes all lesbians, bisexual and queer women, regardless of gender identity and sex characteristics.

Labris's Vision

Labris strives for an equal and inclusive society of diversity in which all people, regardless of their sexual orientation, identity, and other differences, can live with dignity, with full protection and affirmation of their human rights.

Labris's Mission

Labris considers the right to a different sexual orientation to be one of the fundamental human rights and works to eradicate all forms of violence and discrimination against lesbians and women whose sexual orientation differs from heterosexuality.

Labris's Values

  • Respect for diversity, the universality of human rights, and the development of solidarity regardless of nationality, race, religion, class, age, profession, as well as psychological, physical, and health status.
  • Solidarity with all marginalized groups, particularly gay men, bisexual men and women, transgender, intersex and queer (hereinafter LGBTIQ) people.
  • Advocacy for equal opportunities through positive discrimination.
  • Support, allyship and cooperation with women and women’s groups in accordance with cooperation policies.
  • Labris works to increase lesbian visibility within the women’s and LGBTIQ movements.
  • Non-violent communication and non-violent conflict resolution. Labris members support policies of apology and forgiveness, as well as assertiveness and responsibility in conflict resolution.
  • Transparency within and outside the organization.
  • Working according to feminist principles.
    • confidentiality when dealing with personal stories
    • challenging customs, religion and family
    • believing women
    • every woman’s experience is equally valuable
    • supporting women in taking small steps
    • not judging or interpreting experience
    • discrimination against women is not women’s personal problem, but a social phenomenon
    • naming discrimination is a political act
    • discrimination against women is a crime
    • a woman is not responsible for the discrimination she has experienced
    • women experiencing discrimination are not some other women
  • A feminist perspective on social origins. Labris members are aware that the women who work at and come to Labris have grown up in a society that grants power to one gender – the male role – and to heterosexual existence, etc., and that their experiences are connected to this.
  • An equal relationship with other women.
  • Labris members foster a policy of goodwill and a positive attitude in their relationships.
  • Labris supports its members in promoting and working in accordance with the principles of commitment and consistency, both within and outside Labris.
  • Labris is an autonomous organization.
  • Labris respects the autonomy of every woman and creates mechanisms to ensure that every woman has the opportunity for self-realization.
  • As an organization, Labris is open to new trends and changes that are in accordance with Labris’s values and policies, and supports and creates mechanisms for the continuous education and empowerment of its members in this regard.
  • Labris members respect professionalism in their work and a transparent division of responsibilities.
  • Labris members create mechanisms for recognizing and rewarding the merits, contributions, and work of each member. We celebrate our successes.
  • Labris is a safe space for lesbians. Labris members create a safe space for people within Labris’s premises and strive to create such spaces outside Labris as well.

Achievements

1995

The first issue of the lesbian newspaper “Labris” in Yugoslavia was published.

1997

Labris participated in organising the First Lesbian Week held in Slovenia

2000

Labris organised the Second Lesbian Week

2001
  • Labris launched the first lesbian website in Yugoslavia
  • The “Labris – Lesbian Information Centre” project was launched
  • Labris organised the first Pride Parade in Yugoslavia
  • Labris participated in organising a regional meeting of lesbians from the countries of the former Yugoslavia held in Croatia
2002

  • Labris participated in organising the “Equal Citizenship” seminar for lesbians from the countries of the former Yugoslavia, held in Slovenia

  • The “Education of Women’s Groups from Serbia on Lesbian Human Rights” project was launched

  • In cooperation with GL organisations Gayten and Queeria, Labris implemented the “Together Different” campaign

2003

  • A proposal for amendments to the Family Law was submitted

  • The “Education of Women’s NGOs, Human Rights NGOs and the Media on Lesbian Human Rights” project was launched

  • An online psychological counselling service for lesbians was launched

2004

  • Labris organised the “Long Live Diversity” media campaign

  • An amendment was submitted to the draft Anti-Discrimination Law and the Criminal Code of Serbia

2005
  • Labris organised the “Right to a Life Free from Violence” media campaign
  • Labris conducted research on violence against LGBTIQ people in Serbia
  • An amendment was submitted to the draft Gender Equality Law
2006
  • A series of seminars on lesbian human rights for lesbians and women of sexual orientations other than heterosexual was launched, with the first seminar held in Kikinda
  • A brochure on authentic experiences of lesbian coming out in Serbia was published
  • Labris participated in the development of the three-year National Action Plan for the Improvement of the Status of Women and the Advancement of Gender Equality
  • Labris initiated activities that led to a change in the questionnaire for voluntary blood donors, enabling lesbians to donate blood
2007
  • In cooperation with other LGBTIQ activists, the “Love for All” anti-discrimination campaign was launched
  • Cooperation began with representatives of democratically oriented political parties and representatives of the authorities
  • The second “L, Letter by Letter” seminar was held in Vrbas, as well as the third seminar in Belgrade
2008
  • Training began for people engaged in counselling and employed in institutions such as social welfare centres, schools, hospitals, etc.
  • Labris finally received a response from the Serbian Medical Society to a request submitted as early as 2005, in which the SMS confirmed the official position of the World Health Organization that same-sex orientation is not a disease
  • The first criminal proceedings were initiated against an organised attack by members of the clerical-fascist organisation Obraz against participants of the Queer Belgrade Festival
  • The fourth lesbian seminar was held at Lepenski Vir
2009
  • After more than four years of lobbying by the Coalition against Discrimination, of which Labris is a member, the Anti-Discrimination Law was finally adopted in April
  • Labris was the only organisation involved in organising the Pride March from its inception until its prohibition; the march was banned only 24 hours before it was scheduled to take place
  • Labris members presented the topic of LGBT rights in Serbia at seminars for employees of the offices of the Republic Ombudsperson and the Provincial Ombudsperson
  • The fifth lesbian seminar was held in Kovačica
2010
  • The sixth lesbian seminar was held on Zlatibor
  • In cooperation with the Regional Centre for Minorities, four “Discrimination: Know It and Fight It!” trainings were held for more than 60 activists in Belgrade, Niš, Leskovac and Dimitrovgrad
  • The fifth seminar, “Same-Sex Orientation in the Work of Health Centres”, was held in Hajdukovо. This was Labris’s first project funded by the state, specifically the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy
  • The “Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in Legal Practice” seminar was held in Kovačica. The seminar was intended for lawyers from NGOs as well as state institutions
  • Together with legal experts, a Draft Law on Registered Same-Sex Partnerships was developed and presented, with all LGBT organisations and human rights organisations agreeing on its content. Labris subsequently launched the “Love Is the Law” campaign on registered same-sex partnerships
  • The 15th anniversary of Labris was celebrated
    A series of workshops was held for employees of the Women’s Prison in Požarevac
2011
  • Four performances of the Forum Theatre “The Power of Dialogue” were held. The project was funded by the Ministry of Culture, and the performances were intended for secondary school students and their teachers
  • The fourth Lesbian Week was held (a seminar for lesbian activists from the region)
  • Pride Day was marked by lowering a rainbow flag from the window of the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights, Public Administration and Local Self-Government, and the promotional video “I Am What I Am” was produced
  • In cooperation with the New Belgrade Youth Office, Labris officially entered secondary schools for the first time through the “I Want to Tell You” project
2012
  • Labris organised six street actions:– On 17 May, IDAHO was marked in Belgrade through conversations with citizens, living libraries, book sharing and releasing balloons;– On 27 June, Labris organised a mini Pride in Belgrade’s main street together with ŽUC, Belgrade Pride and Queeria Centre;– On 10 July, Labris was present at EXIT;– On 28 September, the new LGBTIQ coalition website was promoted by distributing rainbow-coloured umbrellas to passers-by;– On 30 October, Labris expressed support for the Macedonian LGBT community by presenting a symbolic gift to the Ambassador of Macedonia to Serbia;– On 10 December, Labris marked International Human Rights Day with the “Turn Off the Darkness” action, together with Atina, ŽUC, the Regional Centre for Minorities, Prostor Association, the Centre for Youth Integration and the Association of Students with Disabilities.
  • A seminar for lawyers was held in Babe – “Representing LGBT People in Court Proceedings”
  • Labris’s sports group attended the LGBT Olympic Games (winning gold in cross-country running)
  • Labris participated in the development of the “Strategy for Prevention and Protection against Discrimination for the Period 2013–2018”
2013

Labris conducted an analysis of selected secondary school textbooks and developed recommendations for changing discriminatory content related to sexual orientation and gender identity

2014

Labris initiated monitoring of the implementation of the Strategy for Combating Discrimination and the related Action Plan, involving community members, PFLAG Serbia (established by Labris), LGBT organisations, as well as members of the LGBT-friendly network

2015
  • The fifth Lesbian Week, entitled “Lesbian YUbav Has No Borders”, was held in Belgrade
  • In cooperation with the Ministry of Interior and the Police Directorate, Labris conducted five two-day trainings on “Same-Sex Orientation and Gender Identity in the Work of Police Officers”. The training was attended by 120 police officers from 27 police departments across Serbia
2016

As part of the “Networked for Improving the Position of LGBT People in Serbia” project, Labris established a Network for the Prevention of Violence and All Forms of Discrimination against LGBT People in seven cities (Belgrade, Pančevo, Subotica, Novi Sad, Kragujevac, Novi Pazar and Niš). The network’s members were representatives of local institutions and civil society organisations

2017

In order to sensitise employees of the City Administration of Belgrade to working with LGBT people, Labris held five trainings for its employees covering LGBTIQ terminology, LGBT rights, personal data protection, coming out, transgender existence and the social mechanisms of homophobia

2018

The Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development and the Institute for Textbooks withdrew six secondary school textbooks from sale because of discriminatory content, following five years of advocacy by our organisation

2019

Labris initiated three strategic proceedings aimed at enforcing the protection of human rights in the Republic of Serbia, concerning violations of Article 8 (the right to respect for private and family life) and Article 14 (prohibition of discrimination)

2020

The “Diversity and Equality in the Workplace” campaign was launched to raise awareness among employers about discrimination against LGBTI people in employment and at work, and the need to respect diversity policies. As part of the same initiative, we conducted trainings for employees of the National Employment Service

2021
  • As a member of the Special Working Group established by the Ministry of Human and Minority Rights, Labris participated in drafting the proposal for the Law on Same-Sex Partnerships
  • The Rainbow Families support group was established, bringing together same-sex couples with and without children
2022
  • As part of Belgrade Pride’s EuroPride Pride Week, Labris, in cooperation with Dugina Iskra, organised the first art festival for women who love women
  • Labris launched the Network of Employers Supporting Diversity and Inclusion at Work, “Proud at Work”. Cooperation was established with the following companies: IKEA, Mercator, Foundever, Ubisoft, NCR and BMTS Technology. Training was also provided for their employees
2023
  • Labris conducted the first research on violence in lesbian intimate partnerships, accompanied by the manual Violence Is Not Love
  • The second art festival for women who love women was organised in cooperation with Dugina Iskra to mark International Lesbian Day
  • An empowerment support group was launched for LBTQ* women with experience of violence in lesbian intimate partnerships

Documents

Statut
Politike rada
Organogram (2017)
Starteški plan (2024-2026)