Members of the LGBTIQ+ community in Bosnia marched in the country's first Pride parade over the weekend, with an estimated several thousand showing up in the capital city of Sarajevo to take part.
According to Reuters, there were 1,000 police officers present, including anti-sniper units, following a number of threats posted online by conservative religious groups. However, the parade was pulled off without a hitch.
“We want to build a nonviolent society, a society of togetherness, where no one would have to hide their love and live inside four walls,” one of the event organisers, Lejla Huremovic, told Radio Free Europe.
She added: “We are aware that this walk is not going to change the world, but we also know that this Pride is giving a hope that the change is possible.
US Ambassador to Bosnia, Eric Nelson, who is gay, joined in the celebrations.
“I am marching today with my colleagues from the EU and Switzerland - all countries that stand for equal rights for everyone, and that’s what Bosnians and Herzegovinians want in their future," he said in a statement.
"So let’s think about how to create that."
However, Nelson faced criticism from anti-LGBTIQ+ protesters, who held a 'traditional family values' march the day before the pride parade.
“I want to send him the message that this is my country while he is just a guest here,” protester Mujo Aganovic told the conservative crowd.
“All those who want to promote in public what they describe as their sexual orientation, especially when it is opposed by three million people, we view them as provocateurs.”
