There’s nothing for LGBTQ people to celebrate about Ana Brnabić

When Ana Brnabić became the acting President of Serbia after Vučić’s resignation, she made the headlines by becoming an openly gay head of state. She was already an openly gay head of government as the Prime Minister of Serbia from 2017 to 2024.

She is also a high-ranking member of an alt-right, pro-China, pro-Russia authoritarian party. It’s like hoping that Alice Weidel will advance LGBTQ rights. Similar situation: Brnabić also lives with her partner, who gave birth to their son, and they openly attend public gatherings as a couple. Try pulling that off as a common citizen here – “rules for thee, but not for me”.

“It’s not the right time for it” is an excuse for everything in Serbia.

“Speaking at the 2017 [Pride] parade, Ms Brnabić said that LGBT rights would be addressed only after important problems such as inflation, pensions, and the standard of living had been resolved,” BBC reported.

This is a perfect example of how stupid identity politics really is. Brnabić’s sexual identity doesn’t make her follow politics that LGBTQ rights advocates do. Identity doesn’t define anyone – non-white people can be racist, and gays can be authoritarian, etc. Her electorate doesn’t care, either.

The conventional wisdom would suggest that the Serbian weirdly conservative, right-wing electorate, especially the one that votes for the ruling Progressives, would be rather miffed with that. Well, they aren’t. “Our Anči”, the ruling (ironically named) Progressive Party supporters call her, while she mingles among them on the campaign trail. She is one of them, accepted and not judged. It’s not staged or faked out of fear or sycophancy. She still gets flak from the right-wing opposition for her sexual identity, but her constituency doesn’t care.

The thing about Serbian society’s level of acceptance of LGBTQ people is actually rather high – as long as you keep it to yourself and don’t appear to be “flaunting it in someone’s face”. Gay pride events are frowned upon and attract hecklers, with police securing the venue. Such was the case with the recent Pride Caravan touring Serbia.

• Vranje and Pirot – planned for July 18, 2026 (the gathering in Pirot was banned)

• Zaječar – held amidst a heavy police presence and tensions (August 2026)

• Kraljevo – held at the Square of Serbian Warriors, involving attacks with stones and eggs, and police intervention (August 11, 2026)

• Šabac – held on August 25, 2026, at the City Square, amidst a heavy police presence and opposition from the Eparchy of Šabac

• Loznica – held on August 25, 2026, at Vuk Karadžić Square, but was interrupted due to attacks by extremist groups

But coming out as an individual generally doesn’t lead to ostracism. Most middle-aged straight people, both male and female, tend to adopt a “live and let live” approach – as long as the LGBTQ person in question is not a member of their family, which is still considered losing face.

Danas reported in the article Research: More than 86 percent of LGBT people in Serbia suffered pressure, violence comes from the circle of those closest to them: “Researcher Dina Bajrektarević from the “MANA” Collective stated that conversion practices most often occur within the framework of family, school, or friends who want to help people from the LGBT community “change them and redirect their sexual orientation. “That violence is not recognized as such because it is in the gray zone; it comes from the circle of the closest people. However, pressuring someone to talk to a priest or a psychiatrist in order to redirect them is a continuous action to prevent someone’s identity. This is most often reflected in religious rituals such as exorcism, but in addition, such people can suffer emotional and physical violence due to the pressure to change,” said Bajrektarević at a press conference in Belgrade.“

The elderly are either amused by the wealth of information about the “varieties” of sexuality that is now available in the Serbian media and public discourse or avoid the subject altogether. The most intolerant are the most religious and the most reactionary part of Serbian society – the youth and folks under 40.

Thanks for nothing, Ana. SNS didn’t fool anyone.

[CAPTION: “Stop Pride”, “Stop the illness!”, “I don’t want a dad and a dad!” graffiti (Source: Klix.ba)]