Under the slogan “Love is the Law”, the sixth Pride Parade was held in Sarajevo, an event that brings together activists, human rights advocates and members of the LGBTQ community. The gathering began at 4 p.m. on the green area between the Historical and National Museums, and from 6 to 7 p.m. a protest walk was held through the city’s main streets.
Organizers emphasize that love and equal rights are at the heart of their fight for a more inclusive and just society. Participants carried numerous banners, including messages such as “Free Palestine”, indicating broader solidarity with marginalized groups. Jelena Kravljača from the organization “Pride Parade” emphasizes that Sarajevo is more open today than it was five or six years ago, but that institutional pressures are still present.
“We are very excited and it is important to us that we continue to take to the streets every year. Fascism is growing, and we see some major democracies turning to the right. That is why we call on the entire society, anti-fascists, to unite with us and send a voice of resistance to the policies we reject,” said Lejla Huremović, a member of the organizing committee.
This year, the organizers have highlighted five key demands: legal recognition of same-sex unions, adoption of a law on gender identity, protection of LGBTIQ+ people from domestic violence, introduction of hate crimes into criminal laws, and amendments to the law on public gatherings in the Sarajevo Canton in line with European standards.
Jelena Kravljača emphasizes that these demands have been made for five years, but that they have remained largely unfulfilled.
“The institutions have put too much pressure on us. Although the demands are clearly formulated, only small and weak steps have been taken towards their realization,” she said.
“We will gather until our rights are fulfilled. There is currently no political will to have our demands met, which is why we are here for the sixth year in a row and we will be here until we fight for equal rights. We are equal citizens, we contribute equally to society, but we do not have the same rights,” says activist Ivana Arapović.
This year’s Pride Parade showed that despite pressures and challenges, the solidarity and determination of the community remain unwavering. The walk started from the National Museum, continued along the main road to the Skenderija Bridge, crossed Miljacka Street along Terezija Street, and returned to Vilsonovo šetalište over the Vrbanja Bridge. After the parade, speeches and a cultural and artistic program were held at the starting point, which further strengthened the message of the event, BHRT writes.
