LGBTIQ+: Support is increasing, but social attitudes are also deteriorating

“This year we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the LGBTIQ+ movement. So, with the motto ‘Looking back, moving forward’, let’s reflect on all our current successes and ask ourselves what our vision for the future is. There are still many unregulated areas,” she explains Simone Musek from the Pride Parade Association. At the festival of the same name, visitors will be able to attend various exhibitions, workshops, discussions, seminars, theatre performances and open-air concerts organized by AKA Neomi. They will learn about the functioning, life and cultural and artistic creation of the LGBTIQ+ community, socialize and reflect on the issues that community members face on a daily basis. This year, the City Hall will also fly a rainbow flag until the end of the festival.

The central event of the festival is the parade, which will start at 10 am on June 15th at the Parliament Square, the so-called parade ground. Initiatives of LGBTIQ+ institutions, the City of Ljubljana and other NGOs will be presented. The day will end with a parade. At 5 pm, protesters will gather at AKC Metelkova mesto, and at 6 pm they will go to the Parliament Square, where speeches will be held. This is a traditional protest of the LGBTIQ+ community, demanding visibility, equality, respect and with the purpose of celebration. From 7 pm, political and cultural programs will be staged on the Junegi Festival stage.

Enhanced security measures

“The LGBTIQ+ community has gained more and more support and participation throughout the festival, not just at the parade. Despite this, the social climate is getting worse year by year, with tensions rising,” Murshcheva said, citing last year’s parade, which was marked by organized violence, as evidence. “Negative reactions have been associated with Pride since it began in 2001, most often in the form of threats on the internet. Last year, participants were subjected to direct violence, eggs were thrown at them, and LGBTIQ+ symbols were stolen and vandalized,” she added.

“I’ve been to the Pride parade for three years in a row and last year’s riots surprised me because it was the first time it was so large. As young people from right-wing parties are increasingly in the media spotlight, I’m worried that they will be more organized and outnumbered this year,” said a member of the LGBTIQ+ community. Jera Kochevalshe wondered if she would even attend the festival because of the attack.

Mushcheva warned that problems will be least during the parade, as they mainly attack people who attend the event and go home or linger near the official grounds. There have been threats and incitements online from organized groups to unite for attacks. Therefore, in addition to the protection of the parade, in cooperation with the police, safe points will be set up with two qualified personnel to support victims. The first will be held at the parade ground from 10 am to 4 pm, the second will be held at Kongresni trg from 7 pm to 11 pm, and the last will be held at Metelkova during the evening event. In addition, the police mobile unit will be stationed on the ground, and anonymous online reports will also be possible in the event of an attack.