Belgrade, Serbia

Safety, racism and homophobia in Belgrade

Published: March 10, 2006

Question: Hi, i am planning to do work experience here but i have heard a few concerns about safety here. So i would like to know a bit about the ethnic diversity and if there is a much racism or homophobia.

Answer: You can read in one of my previous posts about general safety in Belgrade.

Ethnic diversity is great – the figures from the 2002 census show that there is more than 20 nationalities settled in Belgrade. However, Serbs make for the great majority of them – more than 80 percent.
As for the racism is concerned, it is generaly not an issue in Belgrade. The biggest and probably the only racial prejudice are pointed towards the Gypsies (Roma population) settled in Belgrade and throughout the Serbia. Still it is one prejudice too much.

Homophobia, on the other hand, is very much present, and it showed its ugly face probably the best during the Gay pride in 2001, when large grops of hooligans attacked and broken up the first ever event of such kind in Belgrade.
Although this event showed the attitudes of more extremist elements, such as diehard football fans and church representatives, homophobia is not a rare occurance is your everyday discussion with everyday people. It is virtually impossible to see a gay couple on the streets openly showing that they are gay.

Still, it seems like something is going on in this field too, because now it is at least a social subject, unlike before 2000 when it was rarely even mentioned in the media and everyday debates. Belgrade is probably more open towards gay people than other smaller towns in Serbia, but far from gay friendly.

Couple of sites with more information for gay visitors:
http://www.gay-serbia.com
http://www.queeria.org.yu
http://www.belgrade-gay.com

Hope that helps a bit!

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