ABOUT THE BIH PRIDE MARCH

The Bosnian-Herzegovinian (BiH) Pride March is a protest against inequality and violations of the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex and queer people. The Pride March is our way of fighting against widespread violence. It is our way of demanding equal access to public spaces that we are entitled to as citizens.

The Pride March is among the most important and influential acts of activism that accelerate positive change and advance the quality of life of the LGBTIQ population, as evidenced by previous pride marches held in the region and other parts of the world.

The initiative to organize the BiH Pride March came from a group of activists from all over the country (Prijedor, Banja Luka, Sarajevo, Jajce, Tuzla). The Organizing Committee currently consists of 20 people who joined the Committee voluntarily and have pledged to uphold the basic principles and values of the Pride March. Members of the Organizing Committee act independently, as volunteers, and do not represent any business entities, local or international organizations, or political parties.

The BiH Pride March is rooted in the principles and values of antifacism, equality, solidarity, freedom, social justice, self-determination, secularity, inclusivity, antimilitarism, the rule of law, openess to dialogue and non-violent communication.

The BiH Pride March has been established to tackle the lack of mobilizing platforms in BiH that empowers human rights defenders and fosters an independent and participatory approach to the organization of events. The BiH Pride March Organizing Committee (OC) is an informal body of volunteers, not representing organizations but involved in their personal capacity. Each year, an open call for applications is issued, inviting all interested BiH citizens to apply and become a part of the organizing team. Membership is on a voluntary basis and all decisions are taken in consensus.

Dozens of people passed through the organizing committee in just four years, many of which became activists for the first time through our team. We are proud that some of them continued their activist path during this year as well. The organizing committee is composed of all generations, genders and gender identities, as well as various activist and professional backgrounds. Each of the members contributes to the creation and organization of the BiH Pride March. We are especially proud that many LGBTIQ people have decided to be part of the committee and through this form of activism to get involved in the fight for the rights of LGBTIQ people for the first time.

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Invisibility, isolation, lack of recognition, exclusion, and violence, in both the private and the public spheres, are the biggest problems for the LGBTIQ population in BiH. Most LGBTIQ people decide against revealing their sexual orientation, gender identity or sex characteristics to their families for fear of violence and rejection, which forces them to conceal a part of their life and the people they love. As LGBTIQ people, we are prevented from living openly and expressing our identities in public spaces—be it streets, workplaces, schools, institutions or cafes.

 We are denied a safe space for conversing, meeting, socialising and living. We face fear and exclusion. We are forced to hide in order to avoid discrimination, insult, firing, and rejection from our family members, colleagues and other people. We are exposed to verbal, psychological and physical violence every time we show our identity. Our bodily integrity is in danger, and so is our right to life.

The widespread homo/bi/transpobia, patriarchy, sexism, gender inequality and lack of interest on the part of institutions to actively combat violence and inequality are the main reasons for the invisibility of LGBTIQ people.

The Pride March is an important opportunity to change these unacceptable conditions, reduce the fear of violence and exclusion, inform the general public about the inequality, discrimination and violence that LGBTIQ people are exposed to, send a message of diversity, and demand equality and freedom.

BiH Pride March 2023 will be held on June 24th in Sarajevo!

More information on the march, time and route will be shared in a timely manner.

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