Published: Wednesday July 18 2012
Region: Serbia
The campaign to eliminate all forms of discrimination in Serbia has been boosted by a court victory for gay and lesbian rights in Belgrade. Supporters of the Gay Straight Alliance in Serbia have won a significant court judgement in the First Basic Court in Belgrade against politician Nebojsa Bakarec, a member of the Democratic Party of Serbia and the leadership in Belgrade town hall, over a shocking article published on 16th of September 2011 on the website www.vidovdan.org, in which he said people who make up the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community are largely abnormal or ill and need psychiatric help.
Although the verdict is subject to confirmation after appeal, the case signals an important breakthrough in the wider campaign for Serbia to combat discrimination. It has illustrated that existing anti-discrimination laws are workable and strengthens efforts to bring Serbia into line with European standards, particularly as the country has ambitions to join the European Union.
Just as important for campaigners is that it also raises public awareness over the vulnerability of the LGBT community in a country where social conservatism and extreme politics often combine to target minority groups in society, even though legal protections are in place.
Gay rights campaigners were furious at the article by Bakarec who called for actions by psychiatrists and psychologists to treat LGBT people and who condemned public demonstrations, such as Gay Parade, as evidence of aggressive politics rather than part of a wider struggle for human rights. For good measure he also took aim at fellow politicians at home and abroad accusing the “western gay lobby” and domestic politicians over their support for gay and lesbian rights.