I write this reflection in the month of June, which is also Pride Month.
As I look back on our culinary travels as a lesbian couple, I am comforted by the support, affirmation, or the “non-issue” our relationship has been.
Perhaps it’s because the subject of food is so essential to our existence taking precedence over everything.
Or maybe, it’s what I personally believe: that when you sit across the table and share a meal, you truly see each other. You see the person as a human being enjoying the same food as you are.
And, in that moment, when you look into their eyes across the table, you see yourself. Not an ideology, religious belief, or cultural expectation.
Just a fellow human being savoring the same delicious flavors. But that’s a story for another time.
Pride
As it is Pride Month, a time to remember, celebrate, and reaffirm our commitment to LGBTQIA+ communities worldwide, I reflect on my experience attending Pride in Belgrade, Serbia.
Pride Week in Belgrade takes place in September. As it was not June, we were quite surprised to stumble upon a booth outside the city’s gay information center.
We were walking down one of the main streets in the city center when a lovely lady with a big smile stopped us offering stickers and information from her colorful booth.
We chatted briefly and learned that pride takes place in September, and the parade would be held that Saturday.
We had plans for the day but decided to attend the live performances and celebrations at the end of the parade. Why not, we thought, it would be our first Pride parade in the Balkans.
Just as the sun was setting, we made our way into the heart of the city center. The parade was ending in front of the House of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia.
As we walked through the quiet downtown streets, we noticed armed policemen all around. They were shielded, standing guard in riot gear, with their guns menacingly pointed forward.
Hesitantly, we looked around, wondering if we had missed some important news. The streets were quiet, but the tension in the air was palpable.
We looked at each other and thought, "It’s probably something unrelated to Pride. No big deal.”
But as we walked towards the festivities, the presence of heavily armored policemen and vehicles only increased.
Nervously, we wondered whether we should continue or turn around and head back to our Airbnb.
As we got closer, we could hear music blasting in the background.
Approaching the park, we saw members of the LGBTQIA+ community, along with their allies and supporters, walking past the barriers set up by the policemen surrounding the area.
We tried to join in and get past the barriers, but we were initially denied entry. It was only when we spotted the lady we had met earlier in the week at the Pride Center that we were allowed in.
Speaking in Serbian, she said something along the lines of, "they're okay" or "they are with us," and the police let us through.
At the main stage, the energy was electric. Music blared, people danced, and everyone was having an incredible time
Love filled the air. A stark contrast to the earlier feeling of unease due to the excessive show of force.
In talking to people, I learned about the ongoing discrimination that still exists and persists in Serbia. Apparently, in previous years, radical hooligans attacked people and disrupted the parade.
So, the armed police were there to offer protection and maintain peace and order. The display of force felt excessive, but who were we to question, having not attended previous events.
While the parade we attended in 2021 was peaceful, the situation faced by the LGBTQIA+ community in Serbia remains fragile.
Even though Serbia decriminalized homosexuality in 1994, same-sex marriage and adoption are still not recognized.
The slogan for the year we attended Pride was “Love is Law,” reflecting an ongoing effort to fight for equality and recognition for all.
As we heard repeatedly, the hope is for marriage equality and for Serbia and all of the Balkans to be an inclusive place for all.
Even though we are legally married, we know that our rights remain fragile.
That’s why, in this month of June, we celebrate the diversity, resilience, and love within the community.
My hope is for equality for all, no matter where someone might live in the world.
A great question to ask ourselves, in June and throughout the year, is: What steps can I take to support the fight for equality around the world?