Love rules at Sarajevo Pride

Earlier this month, Bosnia and Herzegovina celebrated Pride in Sarajevo. Civil Rights Defenders supports LGBTI+ activism in the Western Balkans through logistical assistance, advocacy, and security support for activists and grassroots organisations.

People waving rainbow flags and walking behind a banner at a Pride parade in Sarajevo.

The parade on Saturday 14 June was Bosnia and Herzegovina’s sixth Pride. This year’s slogan was ‘Ljubav je zakon’ or ‘Love rules’, which sent a double message: that the law must protect love, but also that love is too strong to ever be outlawed.

“Our rights are not up for debate,” the parade’s organisers explained. “They are not a matter of political timing, nor a privilege that authorities can grant or take away when it suits them. Our love is real. Our struggle is legitimate.”

LGBTI+ community has five demands

The parade’s organisers had five key demands: legal recognition of same-sex unions, adoption of a gender identity law, the prohibition of hate speech and hate crimes, protection of LGBTI+ individuals in education, and guaranteed access to inclusive healthcare.

These demands reflect the ongoing fight against the systemic discrimination of queer Bosnians. “We will no longer remain silent. We are here to be heard,” said Jelena Kravljača of the BiH Pride March Organising Committee. Those who marched in the parade agreed with her, loudly chanting “Meet our demands!”

Photo: Sofija Milinkovic

‘Dignity is not optional’

Dinka Huremović, mother of a trans person, held a speech at the parade. “Every child deserves to grow up with respect,” she said. “Today, I stand before you with hope for my child and all children in Bosnia and Herzegovina. As a parent, I have learnt a lot about the importance of listening to children.”

Dinka emphasised the urgent need for a gender identity law. Despite years of advocacy efforts, Bosnians are still forced to undergo a rigorous gender-affirmation process to change their legal gender. “This is about human dignity. Trans and gender-diverse people deserve legal recognition without invasive procedures. Dignity is not optional,” Dinka concluded.

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