Gay rights in Serbia

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Gay rights in Serbia

Contents 1 Law against gays 2 Military Law 3 Protection based on sexual orientation in law 4 Recognition of same-sex couples 5 Gay life in the country 6 Development of activism 7 LGBT NGO's in Serbia

[edit] Law against gays

There are no sodomy laws, homosexual sex was legalised in Vojvodina since 1981 (When Vojvodina had some degree of law-making power from 1980). Homosexual sex was not legalised in Serbia and Kosovo until 1994. The age of consent for sex between two persons of the same sex is equal to that for sex between two persons of the opposite sex in Serbia since 1 January 2006 and from June 1999, Serbian laws do not apply in Kosovo.

[edit] Military Law

Homosexuality is banned from military service, but few try to prove that. The whole process for proving it is very difficult and embarrassing, with numerous psychological sessions every couple of years. The Serbian army goes by a "Don't ask, don't tell" policy (Similar to the United States).

[edit] Protection based on sexual orientation in law

An anti-discrimination law was enacted in the Kosovo region in 2001 in acts "On Essential Labour Law in Kosovo" (October 2001), and "On the Kosovo Civil Service" (December 2001).

[edit] Recognition of same-sex couples

There always has been no legal recognition of same-sex couples. In the new constitution of Serbia, which was adopted in November 2006, there is a constitutional ban on any sort of formal recognition for same-sex couples (e.g. civil unions, same-sex marriages, etc).

[edit] Gay life in the country

Gays and lesbians continue to face discrimination and harassment in Serbia. The gay scene is small; "Alliance Club", "Club X", "Old City" (also know as "Lotos") and "Floyd" in Belgrade, and one club in Novi Sad "Mesto". Additionally, few gay and gay-friendly cafes are located in the downtown area of Belgrade and Novi Sad. There are also public LGBT parties, organised few times a month, mostly in Belgrade and Novi Sad. The vast majority of Serbian residents display anti-gay attitudes.

[edit] Development of activism

Development of gay lifestyle is contributed by LGBT sites such as Gay-Serbia and Queeria which are important online points for meeting other gay and gaytolerant people, as well as for organising gay activism.

[edit] LGBT NGO's in Serbia

• Gayten LGBT
• Gej Strejt Alijansa / Gay Straight Alliance
• Koalicija protiv diskriminacije / Coalition Against Discrimination
• Queeria
• Lambda, LGBT Human Rights and Queer Culture Centre (with offices in Niš and Kragujevac)
• Deve
• Labris, lesbian human righst group