Zagreb: Pride parade on the streets of the city center

Before 3 pm, citizens began to gather in front of the HNK in a cheerful atmosphere, with drums, music, whistles and applause. The gathering was dominated by the symbolic colors of the rainbow, and the colors of the rainbow were also highlighted in clothing – participants wore them on their wallets, as decorations around their necks, but some also wore rainbow flags.

The colorful and noisy procession then moves along Frankopanska Street to the Central Square and then along Jurišićeva Street to Ribnjak Park, where the final rally will take place. Tram traffic on this route has been closed.

In the joyful parade, various props, flags, and slogans such as “Fighting queerphobia with philosophy” and “Transprava is human rights” can be seen everywhere…

When they arrived, participants delivered a message: tolerance and equality are important, regardless of sexual orientation or other characteristics.

Many citizens and tourists watched the parade, and the city government representative, the Mayor of Zagreb, also participated in the parade. Tomislav Tomasevicvice-mayor Colette WoundsCity Council President Yosko KlisovichThey were joined by European Parliament candidate Mozemo Proud Bosnianlist of SDP and EP Sinisa Glavashevic…

– Over the years, and especially this year, we have been telling those who want us to leave – they will not be able to do it and it will not pass. Therefore, our main slogan this year is Stand Up and Stay, Stand Up and Stay, which is not surprising because 22 years ago we stood up to stay in this country, and we will pay close attention to who are the candidates for the EU Parliament, what their promises are and what they will fulfill, he said Franco Dotta From the organizing committee.

Tomasevic said he has been attending Zagreb Pride since 2002 and that the situation in the country has changed, with the first Pride being full of events, but today, he noted, he does not foresee any incidents.

Klisovich said he came to show his support because he believes people in this country are not free to express different sexual orientations.

Glavašević noted that he came here because he wanted to live in a society where there was space for everyone, and said he had seen progress over the past 22 years but believed new ways of supporting the LGBT community should be found.

The announcement released on the eve of the 23rd Zagreb Pride Parade states that during the parade lesbian, gay, non-binary, transgender and bisexual people, intersex people and the entire queer community will stand up against attacks on their freedom, rights, lives, families and bodies.

They said they would defend their rights and freedoms, just as they did during the first Pride parade in 2002. They reminded that discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation is prohibited in Croatia and violators are subject to penalties.

This year marks the tenth anniversary of lifelong partnership as a permanently protected value in the Republic of Croatia.

The central national pride parade of Croatia and Zagreb’s LGBTIQ+ community was organized for the second year in a row by the City of Zagreb and the Zagreb Pride Association.

The rainbow banners and flags include the Croatian flag and the flag of the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.