Between the State and the EU. LGBT and queer in South Eastern Europe

[November 2009] For the LGBT and queer population of South Eastern Europe, 2009 has been marked by several violent episodes (including attacks to Pride parades in Slovenia and Serbia and to the Queer Sarajevo festival), without intervention by the local authorities and the national states. On the other hand, supra-national pressure and aspirations to EU integration have led to the discussion and/or approval of progressive laws. Against this backdrop of contrasting trends, LGBT and queer individuals of the Balkans are confronted with the choice between visibility and invisibility, hostile domestic contexts and European hopes, formal progress and all too real fear. This dossier by OBC collects chronicles, interviews, and analyses devoted to this year's developments in the queer world, the relationship with domestic and international institutions, and the role of transnational cooperation

Interviews

Lobbying lavender

15/09/2009 -  Irene Dioli

What is behind the adoption and discussion of anti-discrimination laws in SEE? LGBT rights, EU conditionality, and international cooperation in an interview with Lilit Poghosyan, ILGA-Europe's Programmes Officer for the Balkan region

A ghost still wanders Europe

22/09/2009 -  Irene Dioli

Sexual minorities may not be the most fashionable topic in international cooperation, but there is quite a lot more that Europe can do - and in a better way. Human rights, the NGO sector, and neo-colonialist ghosts in a conversation with Svetlana Ðurković

Articles

State of Impotence

24/09/2009 -  Danijela Nenadić Belgrade

It was a lot more than a missed opportunity. The cancellation of the gay pride parade in Belgrade exposed the weakness of the state in the face of extremist groups and their threats of beatings and violence. A commentary by our correspondent

Kristalnacht in Sarajevo

30/09/2008 -  Cecilia Ferrara

It was a witch hunt, or more exactly, a hunt of the "other". The first queer festival in Sarajevo ended before it had even begun. Fifteen persons were injured or were subject to threats by hooligan gangs and Wahhabi groups. In addition, Iggy Pop cancelled his upcoming concert in Sarajevo

DOSSIERS

Balkan cities


1 July 2009

The Long-lasting '89


1 January 2009

After the bombs. 1999-2009


1 March 2009

Under siege

09/10/2009 -  Danijela Nenadić Belgrade

Street violence, cancellation of the gay pride, attacks on foreigners. But it was only with the death of a French football fan beaten by Serbian hooligans that Belgrade felt under siege and tried to react. Brice Taton, the young French football fan who was brutally beaten by Serb hooligans before the match between Partisan and Toulouse, died of injuries on September 30th

Brussels' pet

13/08/2009 -  Risto Karajkov Skopje

Berisha's proposal to legalise same-sex marriages caught everyone by surprise. Yet, the main motivation for the Albanian prime minister and other politicians in the region to engage with radical reforms in the field of civil rights may just be...getting Brussels to notice