Queer Beograd fills a huge gap in the Serbian social and human rights scene producing large scale and inclusive events where many ideas and activities meet under the umbrella of ‘queer’.

By queer we mean a politicised notion of sexuality and gender which recognises the need to actively engage with all oppressive structures to achieve liberation. Smashing the borders of gender, sexuality, nations and race. Queer politics is one of inclusively; we accept all who identify for the need for building a society based in the recognition of freedom of xpression.

In 2004 another attempt of organizing Gay Pride in Belgrade was cancelled due to the threat of violence. we refused to spend time on worries about violence and instead opted for building cooperation between people on an international and local level, having fun, and promoting radical queer politics. In clandestine manner we organized the first Queer Beograd festival in May 2005.

Our first festival was very ‘underground’ because of the fear of violence. It was held in a partly abandoned factory on the edge of Beograd. There were 30 of us, wondering if we were safe and doing self-defence lessons every morning.

No one is more amazed than us by the success of the festival and our activities. Now we have a yearly festival that attracts around 300 people and is well known through out the south east region, inspiring a number of other festivals and activities.

We have developed an event that provides an unprecedented space for political and social issues to be discussed, people to gather, and where new connections formed. The festival showcases the best of local radical cultural and political activity while bringing fresh ideas and energy to the area through collaborations with groundbreaking international political activists, performers and artists. This year in 2009 members of Queer Beograd collective played a key role in organising Beograd pride.

Website: Queer Beograd

Belgrade Pride: Website

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