Asked to comment on the safety issues of forthcoming Belgrade Gay Pride Parade, which is scheduled for September 20th, and the anti-gay graffiti throughout the city these days, Mayor of Belgrade, mr Dragan Djilas gave the following bizzare statement:

“I say what I believe—maybe I was raised patriarchal—but sexual orientation is a personal thing, and I do not know why anyone would have to come out with it in public, regardless of whether they are homosexual or heterosexual. I did not imperil anyone, I am not prohibiting anything, I just said that such an event will cause a reaction from those that destroy the city every several dozen days and I am expressing concern for the participators,” [Mayor of Belgrade] Đilas said.

Now let me ask you this, mr Djilas: what the fuck are we supposed to do when we go outside, then? Not showing your sexual orientation in public means: no holding hands, no kissing, no caressing, no dating, no flirting, no clubbing. It may also even mean not wearing tight shirts and short skirts. This statement is actually on such a deep existential level that I’m kind of puzzled by it. Is it even possible not to show your sexual orientation in public at all?

Of course, Djilas is politician and, as all politicians, he is well aware that everything he says can increase or lower his popularity, and as a marketing mogul, Djilas also knows the pulse of the Serbian public all too well. His statement is actually well calculated because it is the opinion of the majority of Serbs – that sexual orientation should not be shown in public. The problem is that by sexual orientation they mean every orientation that is not heterosexual, but since it’s not politically correct to say so, this kind of discourse is a safe haven.

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