Serbian sentiments about gays have polarized sharply in the last two years with increasing negative and positive attitudes, according to a recent poll.
According to Lazar Pavlovic, acting president of the Gay Straight Alliance, the "marked polarisation" is due to a new anti-discrimination law passed in parliament in 2009 and last year's failed attempts to organise a gay pride parade.
According to Lazar Pavlovic, acting president of the Gay Straight Alliance, the "marked polarisation" is due to a new anti-discrimination law passed in parliament in 2009 and last year's failed attempts to organise a gay pride parade.
"There are less and less people who don't have an opinion on gays. Negative opinions are rising but positive opinions also," he told AFP.
A Belgrade gay pride parade was called off last September after police and government officials said they could not ensure participants' security because of ultra-nationalist groups' threats.
Though the Serbian parliament pushed through a bill banning discrimination against homosexuals amid strong opposition from nationalists and religious leaders, gays are still blocked from marrying, adopting children and other legal rights enjoyed by heterosexuals.
Anti-gay sentiment still run deep in Serbian society and openly gay people are confronted with discrimination on a regular basis.
Source: AFP
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