Twas Belgrade’s Gay Pride Parade today. Nothing more extravagant then a parade which was barricaded with 7000 Serbian riot police. However, it’s important to note without sarcasm, that this was the first gay pride parade in four years.
As someone whom grew up in Vancouver, the thought of a gay pride parade only lit off feelings relating to alcohol consumption and dancing. In Vancouver, streets would be filled with rainbow flags, floats of gay-pride performers and clubs full of people whom have disregarded the anti-LGBT frame of mind.
In comparison, the energy during the Belgrade parade was calm yet eerie. These streets were usually bubbling with the voices of those mumbling to themselves as they dodge in between casual walkers, youngsters munching on fresh pastries from the local corner bakery and old ladies searching for their escaped house cats. But those sounds were muted with silence. This silence would occasionally be broken with the sound of a barking stray dog – the only unemotionally involved mammal during the parade. As I walked down the sun-lit city center, I felt I had been dropped into a post-apocalyptic environment – awaiting for the next attack. However I need not to worry, as any attack would be a true struggle, as riot-police had wedged themselves into every nook and crevasse- in between garbage bins, alley ways, and back-way apartment exits.
I waited for the parade to venture towards me, hoping to be able to catch a glimpse of all its glory. But alas, they were the size of ants to my eyes – a parade which should be shared and celebrated with the whole community was kept at an overly safe distance away from any eyes.
As I was turning home with disappointment, a mature female pedestrian proclaimed her findings, as she yelled “faggot lover” to my father. Her eyes were twitching in rage as they started to gather tear drops which shortly after poured down her face. Her twitching swollen eyes listened with great attention as my father gave a humbling speech, “do you see her? this is my daughter, I am not gay, but I do love them. Listen, these are your people, they’re our brothers and sisters. And what you’re feeling now, is not because of them. Whatever you’re going through, it will get better, don’t worry, things will get better.”
thelonelyserb 