This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-29399404
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Serbia Gay Pride march returns after four years | Serbia Gay Pride march returns after four years |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Serbia's first Gay Pride march for four years is set to begin in the capital Belgrade. | Serbia's first Gay Pride march for four years is set to begin in the capital Belgrade. |
The event has been cancelled on safety grounds every year since marchers were attacked in 2010. | The event has been cancelled on safety grounds every year since marchers were attacked in 2010. |
A massive police presence in central Belgrade included the deployment of tanks and special forces. | |
Serbia is negotiating to join the European Union, and a BBC correspondent says it is keen to show increasing tolerance in the country. | |
Keeping Brussels happy is undoubtedly the motivation for allowing the Gay Pride march to go ahead, the BBC's Guy De Launey reports from Belgrade. | Keeping Brussels happy is undoubtedly the motivation for allowing the Gay Pride march to go ahead, the BBC's Guy De Launey reports from Belgrade. |
Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said he would not attend the event due to prior engagements - but would not go even if he were free. | Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said he would not attend the event due to prior engagements - but would not go even if he were free. |
Our correspondent says that reflects widespread feelings in Serbia. | Our correspondent says that reflects widespread feelings in Serbia. |
The patriarch of the influential Orthodox Church has condemned the event. | The patriarch of the influential Orthodox Church has condemned the event. |
Two-thirds of respondents to a survey four years ago said they viewed homosexuality as a disease. | Two-thirds of respondents to a survey four years ago said they viewed homosexuality as a disease. |
On Saturday evening, anti-gay rights campaigners demonstrated in the capital in anticipation of the Gay Pride march on Sunday. | |
But the influence of the far right has declined in recent years, our correspondent says, and several government ministers have spoken in favour of the march. | |
The minister for European integration Jadranka Joksimovic has said she would join the march. | The minister for European integration Jadranka Joksimovic has said she would join the march. |
Earlier in September a German LGBT rights speaker was treated in hospital after being beaten in Belgrade. | Earlier in September a German LGBT rights speaker was treated in hospital after being beaten in Belgrade. |
In response to the attack, Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic said: "We will not allow this kind of thing to remain unpunished." | In response to the attack, Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic said: "We will not allow this kind of thing to remain unpunished." |
The march in 2010 was the only gay pride parade to go ahead in the Serbian capital since 2001. | The march in 2010 was the only gay pride parade to go ahead in the Serbian capital since 2001. |