LGBT Activists Defy Belgrade EuroPride Ban, Police Clash With Homophobic Protesters
Thousands of LGBTQI activists and allies took to the streets of Belgrade for the EuroPride 2022 March on September 17, 2022, in the face of a police ban that was withdrawn at the eleventh hour and threats from right-wing Christian protesters. EuroPride 2022, hosted by Belgrade Pride, was hailed by European Pride Organisers Association (EPOA) as the “most important in the event’s 30 year history”. More than 7,000 police personnel were deployed to ensure the Parade passed off peacefully, after calls from homophobes to disrupt the event. Police formed a protective corridor around the Pride participants as football hooligans, anti-gay right-wing and religious protesters threw projectiles and clashed, reported Balkan Insights. According to EPOA, several LGBTQI activists were attacked as they left the closing concert.