LGBTQ+ activists in Serbia have renewed calls for legal recognition of same-sex couples, warning that thousands of people remain without basic legal protections despite years of campaigning.
The demands were made during Belgrade Pride, which took place on 5 September and marked 25 years since Serbia's first Pride march. Participants used the event to highlight the continuing absence of legislation recognising same-sex unions, as well as the lack of a legal framework for gender recognition.
Marchers gathered under the slogan "There is a room for all of us", echoing the message used during Serbia's first Pride event in 2001. The procession moved through the Serbian capital largely without incident, although there were minor confrontations with counter-protesters along the route.
Among those addressing the crowd was Matija Stefanović of the LGBTQ+ organisation Da se Zna ("Let it be known"), who said the march was also for people who still feel unable to live openly. "Today we are walking for all those who are not allowed to walk freely," Stefanović said. "We also walk for those of us who have been told that something is wrong with us."
Activists used the event to press the Serbian government to adopt legislation recognising same-sex partnerships and to introduce a law on gender identity. They also called for stronger action against hate speech, better protection for LGBTQ+ people and greater inclusion of LGBTQ+ communities in local government policies.
Despite repeated proposals from opposition politicians and campaign groups, Serbia still offers no legal recognition for same-sex couples. Same-sex marriage is prohibited under the country's constitution and campaigners argue that the absence of a partnership law leaves couples without rights relating to inheritance, property, healthcare decisions and other aspects of family life.
Earlier this year, Serbia's National Assembly rejected for a third time a proposal to debate legislation on same-sex unions. LGBTQ+ organisations described the decision as evidence of a continued lack of political willingness to address equality issues.
The latest calls come despite growing visibility for Serbia's LGBTQ+ community. Pride events in Belgrade have expanded significantly since the violence that disrupted the country's first Pride march in 2001, and recent years have seen larger turnouts and increased public support. However, activists say legal progress has failed to keep pace with social change.
International human rights organisations have also raised concerns about the situation. Outright International notes that Serbia does not legally recognise same-sex relationships and says LGBTQ+ people continue to face discrimination, hate speech and violence despite existing anti-discrimination protections.
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