EuroPride, promoted by the association that brings together the Prides of Europe (EPOA),
It is the largest demonstration of the rights of the LGBTQ+ community in Europe, a
celebration that has taken place uninterruptedly since 1992 – except in
2020 due to the pandemic – in multiple cities across Europe.
In 2019, EPOA held its annual assembly in Bilbao, where it was decided in a
The majority voted to hold EuroPride 2022 in Belgrade, Serbia. This decision
This meant that EuroPride would take place for the first time in the Balkans, where
The rights of the LGBTI community are constantly being questioned by the
more radical sectors of society.
Recently, the President of the Republic of Serbia threatened to ban
the celebration of the EuroPride march in the city of Belgrade, scheduled for
From September 12th to 18th, a decision made arbitrarily and without
any justification that has been condemned by the international community and
especially by the European Union. A situation that is repeated after the ban on
Belgrade Pride was canceled last year due to threats from LGBTphobic groups.
of the country, supported by the majority Orthodox Church in the country.
Also, just a few days ago, the leader of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Nikanor, has
He singled out the LGBTI community, applauding the persecution carried out by Vladimir Putin.
against our group and advocating for people to be sentenced to prison
LGBTI.
Faced with this serious violation of human rights, state organizations
belonging to EPOA – Bilbao Bizkaia PRIDE, MADO Madrid Orgullo, Pride
Barcelona and Ibiza Pride – we make the following statements:
- We express our unconditional support for Belgrade Pride. We consider this decision a serious violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. This violation is aggravated because it is committed by the very state institutions that should be guaranteeing those rights.
- The threat of a EuroPride ban demonstrates, once again, the persecution and vulnerability faced by the LGBTI community in the Balkans, as well as the violence they suffer for defending their identities. This persecution is facilitated by the complicity of the Orthodox Church itself, which openly supports the persecution of LGBTI people.
- We will promote actions to condemn and monitor the situation of LGBTI people in Serbia by local and state institutions.
- We urge European institutions to get directly involved to ensure that Serbia guarantees the safe holding of EuroPride for participants.
- Finally, each of the signatory organizations will send a delegation as a show of support for Belgrade Pride, carrying out observation work for possible attacks on the LGBTI people participating.
