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# Thousands march in Belgrade against planned Gay Pride parade
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/thousands-march-in-belgrade-against-planned-gay-pride-parade/
- Published: 2022-09-12T13:00:48.000Z
- Updated: 2022-09-12T11:38:50.000Z
- Description: Thousands of religious and right-wing activists marched through Serbia’s capital on Sunday calling for authorities to ban a Gay Pride march planned for this Saturday.
- Author: Graham Robson
- Tags: News, EuroPride, Gay Pride, LGBT, LGBTQ, Serbia

Thousands of religious and right-wing activists marched through **Serbia**‘s capital on Sunday calling for authorities to ban a **Gay Pride march** planned for this Saturday.

The protesters – who carried a massive Serbian flag – included groups who also shouted slogans backing Serbia’s long-term ally Russia, as well as nationalistic and far-right causes.

A column of bikers who support the policies of Russian President **Vladimir Putin** and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, revved their engines in support of the crowds who marched to Belgrade’s **St Sava** cathedral for prayers.

In a sermon, the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Patriarch **Porfirije**, said the **EuroPride** event threatened traditional family values.

“They want to desecrate the sanctity of marriage and the family and impose an unnatural union as a substitute for marriage,” he told the crowd.

LGBTQ+ and human rights groups have repeatedly said they will march Saturday even if authorities call it off.

Gay sex is legal in Serbia, but same-sex marriages are not allowed and activists say LGBTQ+ people face hostility and discrimination.

Serbian governments have banned Pride parades in the past, and some events in the early 2000s were marred by violence.