Gay Prejudice Shames Serbia, Harry Potter Actress Says
A rising tide of high profile international voices has spoken out in support of next month’s Belgrade Pride Parade (Saturday, October 6). Among the growing messages of support and encouragement to Serbia’s LGBT community as they prepare to take to the streets in a peaceful act of solidarity against prejudice and bullying in their country, some leading stars of stage and screen have gone on to scold Serbian authorities for the country’s black history of gay rights.
Recalling the Serbian government ban that was slapped on last year’s planned gathering of gay people, their friends and families, admired British actress Miriam Margolyes issued a damning statement on the country’s human rights record. “It is intolerable that anywhere in the world, prejudice against gay people should be upheld by a government,’ she said. “Shame on Serbia to permit such a thing.
Serbia is Hurting Itself with Anti-Gay Attacks
“I hope the Serbian people will realise that their government’s action places the country outside normal democratic behaviour. All Serbians are hurting themselves by allowing anti-gay attacks to take place.”
The actress, best known for roles in Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets / Deathly Hallows (Professor Sprout), Black Adder (Infanta, Queenie), Martin Scorsese’s The Age of Innocence, and Baz Luhrman’s Romeo & Juliet, called for a more democratic response by government and police when Serbia’s LGBT community plan to march next month.
“I urgently ask that the Belgrade Pride event continues with full police and government support,’ the BAFTA-winning British actress said via Wild Rooster. “I hope that the Serbian people will support and encourage those members of their community who are gay, so that the event can be a source of Pride for everyone, gay & straight, throughout Serbia.”
Cumming Calls For Love, Faith & Hope
Miriam Margolyes is not the only international acting star to go on the record in support of Belgrade Pride 2012.
Scottish actor Alan Cumming, who has appeared in The X Men 2 (Nightcrawler), Burlesque (Alexis), The Good Wife (Eli Gold), The L Word (Billie Blaikie), Sex & the City (Oscar) and Eyes Wide Shut, had his own message of support. “I am sending love, faith and hope to everyone for the Belgrade Parade on October 6th,’ he said.
“Every government should respect its citizens’ freedoms, and let love be celebrated in all forms. I salute everyone in Serbia who is keeping love, faith and hope alive!”
Love, Faith and Hope has been adopted as the slogan for this year’s Belgrade Pride and has resonated with supporters.
As well as revered actors and human rights activists, top-selling international singers and musicians have also been coming forward with messages of support for participants in the planned events for Belgrade Pride 2012.
Some have been moved to issue strongly worded statements to encourage greater adherence to basic human rights in Serbia.
More statements will follow shortly.
9 / 15 / 2012 12:09 am
“Miriam Margolyes”
Are you sure it isn’t Miriam Looks-like-a-Gargoyle? She looks like a monster in the photo you have here.
9 / 17 / 2012 12:02 pm
JJ, not relevant. Milovan, I believe in God and do not believe other peoples’ rights are ‘crap’. No need to speak for the vast majority either.
9 / 16 / 2012 4:54 am
My people believe in God and dont like this crap. The vast majority of Serbs would like Miriam to shut her mouth
9 / 16 / 2012 11:52 pm
Milovane why don’t you shut you mouth and go back to your cave. Don’t speak in the name of Serbs.
9 / 19 / 2012 1:45 pm
Well, are we from cave? Ok… but don’t you send to our way gays, fast food and shallow culture.
We, Serbs, have our own culture and moral views to the things, like any other nation.
We happen to be religious. Orthodox, remember?
We didn’t sell God for low pleasures. Keep your culture and all of the LGBT to your selves!
We are not trying to make any other nation or culture more like ours, don’t you try that with us! Your beliefs are yours… Are we now speaking of true human rights?!?!
I don’t like that you parade through my Belgrade with your (foreign) culture!
You are pushing us to commit… why? Is that human rights? Are you THE BORG?
Leave us to our culture…
We are very friendly nation, and none of the LGBT had problems until you smarts from the “west” started to force the parade!!! Remember this!!!
9 / 30 / 2012 9:23 pm
It’s Serbian gays that are organizing the gay parade in Belgrade.
9 / 30 / 2012 9:25 pm
Amazing how badly a lot of Serbs get their panties in a knot over 500 people marching around one block.
What dank, primitive sh*t-hole is this “culture”