News / Society

Good mood and carnival atmosphere have marked Saturday's Pride Parade in Belgrade. The participants rallied in front of the Serbian government's building and danced with flamboyant balloons and flags before starting their walk through Belgrade's central streets.

Playwright Biljana Srbljanovic said opening the Pride Parade that the parade is part of Belgrade's tradition and something it can be proud of, and called on all parade participants to express solidarity with refugees.

In the welcome speech, she noted that much has been done since the first attempts of holding a parade in 2001, adding that now is the right time for everyone to remember the people who have fought for the rights of the LGBT community.

PHOTO: TANJUG.RS

Parade organizer Boban Stojanovic said that the Pride is part of the policy of peace in the region and the country, adding that activists from Macedonia, Montenegro, Croatian, Bosnia and Slovenia are today in Belgrade as well.

PHOTO: TANJUG.RS

The parade passed through the central streets and squares and was joined by Ministers Jadranka Joksimovic and Ivan Tasovac, Belgrade Mayor Sinisa Mali, Head of the EU Delegation Michael Davenport, U.S. Ambassador Michael Kirby, Commissioner for Protection of Equality Brankica Jankovic and President of the Parliamentary Committee for Human Rights Meho Omerovic.

PHOTO: TANJUG.RS