To mark the International day against homophobia, transphobia and biphobia (IDAHOT/B), on Tuesday, May 17th, a rainbow flag together with a trans rights flag were dropped from the Ombudsman’s building in Belgrade. In this symbolic way, people of different sexual orientations and gender identities were shown support and attention was drawn to the problems these people have to live with on day to day basis.
Besides Gordana Stevanović, Ombudsman’s deputy, members of the Gender equality council were also present, and representatives of Gayten-LGBT, Milan Đurić and Jovanka Todorović respectively.
This opportunity was also used to discuss and emphasize the necessity to legally advance the status of trans, intersex and queer people in Serbia and therefore the adoption of Gender identity law, as well as equalizing the rights of same sex unions, and other. The Republic of Serbia is legally bound to implement such legislation according to its National Strategy for Prevention and Protection against Discrimination and its subsequent Action Plan, where all these measures are stated, and also other legal documents, such as EU Treaty of accession.
Gayten-LGBT and Labris activists organized an event to mark this year’s IDAHoBiT on Labris premises with music and refreshments and in Studentski park. The events were well attended – it is estimated that around 30 people came to the event set in Labris – LGBTIQ activists, people, representatives of state institutions such as Commissioner for the protection of equality, UN officials, etc, and around 20 in the park. Both events were guarded by police forces and there were no incidents during, before or after the event.
In Serbia, LGBTQIA people are still not sufficiently and adequately protected, although recently huge steps have been undertaken to protect and improve their position, such as the making of the strategic documents containing actual measures dedicated to the improvement of LGBTQIA people’s lives. Before-mentioned organisations take part in these processes.
The International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia (also IDAHO, IDAHOT, or IDAHOBiT) is observed on May 17 and aims to coordinate international events that raise awareness of LGBTQIA rights violations and stimulate interest in LGBTQIA rights work worldwide. IDAHO’s date was chosen to commemorate the decision to remove homosexuality from the International Classification of Diseases of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1990.