As Perth starts to get ready for it’s annual Pride Parade a filmmaker in Serbia has provided an insight into what it’s like to march for Pride in a country that is significantly less accepting of diversity.
Filmmakers from Vice News captured Belgrade’s first Pride Parade in 4 years.
At the end of September the LGBTIQ communities in Serbia were joined by many friends from neighbouring Yugoslavia for their first Pride Parade since 2010.
The last parade had ended in a violent battle with anti-gay protestors, 140 people were injured – mostly police officers.
The night before the parade thousands of protestors marched on the parliament demanding that the pride parade be cancelled. The
When the parade did go ahead the streets were empty, there was no one to cheer the marchers on. There were more police present that marchers. It’s estimated that there were up to 1,500 people in the march. There were significantly more police in attendance, ready with water canons and armoured vehicles in case of a clashes with far right protestors.
Watch this powerful film from VICE NEWS below.
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