My interest in Eastern Europe has only grown since I was a child. Living in Germany makes it much easier to access in depth news material on Eastern Europe with perspectives of the people who live there. Routinely, in the U.S. the only news sources that report on Eastern Europe focus on the broad concept that these are countries attempting to integrate more democracy into their governments, or border tensions. Rarely does one ever hear of the actual human struggles.
This is all leading into...
Serbia's ban on PRIDE, which was intended to be held from September 30th until October 6th. Due to violence that resulted from anti-PRIDE protesters in 2010, PRIDE was cancelled/banned in 2011 and again this year. The government did not feel obligated to provide protection to those who would gather for the PRIDE events, so they banned them in all of Serbia. Additionally, a Swedish art exhibit entitled Ecce Homo has been surrounded by Riot Police and the Prime Minister of Serbia expressed his disdain for allowing citizens to enter the exhibit, which depicts LGBT-QQ lifestyles in coordination with Jesus Christ.
Although the discrimination against LGBT-QQ individuals in Serbia is disheartening, the LGBT-QQ community has taken great steps to address their rights, and have documented the history of PRIDE. Supporters in Albania are also lending their voice. Check it out: PRIDE-Belgrade
No comments:
Post a Comment