Belgrade Pride Revives the Slogan of the 'Bloody Pride' 25 Years Later

"There Is Room for All of Us" is the slogan of this year's Belgrade Pride, a message that organizers say carries the memory of Serbia's first Pride 25 years ago. That 2001 gathering became known as the "Bloody Pride" after hundreds of hooligans damaged the city center and beat the small number of participants.

Pride Week began on Monday, with the traditional march serving as its central event. Organizers call the march a day of protest and resistance against the absence of laws governing LGBT people's lives, as well as discrimination and violence they say remain widespread and often go unpunished.

Participants are gathering from 4 p.m. at Manjež Park. Police and event stewards are controlling four entrances near the Moskva Hotel, at the intersections of Resavska with Birčaninova and Mišarska streets, and near Slavija Square. The march starts at 5 p.m., led by a drumming band and music trucks. It will travel through Nemanjina Street, Kneza Miloša Street, Kralja Milana Street and Nikola Pašić Square to the National Assembly, before returning to Manjež Park.

Concerts by Ivana Peters, Tam, Zejne, Harem Girls and other performers will follow. Television journalist and N1 author Danica Vučenić is this year's Pride patron. Organizers praised her journalism and advocacy for democratic values in Serbia.

The repeated slogan is also meant as a reminder that the struggle for equality continues. Organizers said public attitudes toward the LGBT community are more favorable than before, but discrimination, hate speech and homophobia remain present. They describe Pride as an act of visibility and courage, and as a message of solidarity to people who cannot live freely and authentically.

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There Is Room for All of Us