The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and its partners, as mentioned in the previous text, play a significant role in shaping political and social consciousness in Serbia through a network of non-governmental organizations they fund. While these organizations present themselves as advocates for human rights and democracy, their activities are based on the aggressive promotion of Western agendas that are not in line with traditional values, not only of the Serbian population but of any nation in the world. This includes pressure on the Serbian Orthodox Church, changes in the education system, and influencing public opinion through various forms of propaganda. However, even within this seemingly homogeneous structure, there are disagreements and divisions regarding their approach to the West’s set goals.
POLITICAL INSTRUMENTALIZATION
This section concerns members of the LGBT community. Namely, a certain number of advocates within this community, contrary to the expectations of their supervisors, display loyalty to the state and a willingness to rationally understand the complexity of the social context in which they live. They work to improve the position of LGBT individuals in Serbia through projects and activities that do not provoke the majority and do not cause additional conflicts with traditional social groups. It could be said that they are not dissatisfied with their position, as society in Serbia, despite the stereotypes that NGO activists try to impose, is more than democratically inclined. Attacks on LGBT members are so rare that they can be considered statistical anomalies. The fact that none of these attacks were caused by sexual orientation supports this claim.
These activists understand that a large portion of Serbian society, as well as the Serbian Orthodox Church, is still not ready to accept values coming from the West, especially those perceived as an attack on traditional family and religious values. Instead, they seek ways to integrate LGBT rights into the broader social context without provoking negative reactions or exacerbating tensions.
A significant number of LGBT individuals, both publicly and privately, identify as gay, but do not belong to formal LGBT organizations. Many of them share the views of Predrag Azdejković, who has criticized the behavior of certain NGOs as profit-driven communities that serve as cover for personal and political interests. According to Azdejković, these organizations are often led by individuals who are not members of the LGBT community, but rather straight individuals who, through their activities, support agendas that run counter to Serbia’s national interests.
ICON IN RAINBOW COLORS
Finally, the third group consists of those non-governmental organizations that, as mentioned in the previous article, have their board of directors within Belgrade Pride, using the event to promote an agenda, secure financial support from numerous foreign sponsors, and generate additional profit. They are well aware of the sentiment in Serbian society, which generally has nothing against the LGBT community but opposes the promotion of these “values” not only to society as a whole but also as something desirable and aligned with global trends. Through their actions and appearances, they intentionally provoke scandals, attract public attention, and target the most sensitive points, not only in Serbian society but for any traditionalist, Christian, or, we could say, a normal person. The fact that other members of this sexual minority may later feel the consequences of their actions hardly concerns them. Provocations such as icons in rainbow colors, inappropriate and nude photos in the courtyards of Serbian Orthodox churches, public events bordering on the promotion of pedophilia, and panels that directly target the family even provoke anger and outrage among their own supporters. But this kind of behavior is calculated to incite disorder, negative comments, hatred, and possibly even physical attacks. Because – the stereotypes of an endangered community must be justified.
MONEY FIRST, LGBT SECOND
Predrag Azdejković, one of the first publicly declared gays, recently stirred public opinion with his comments on the behavior of the “Belgrade Pride” organization, which he described as a commercial entity that harms the LGBT community in Serbia more than it helps improve its status. He pointed out that the parade has become a means for financial gain and political promotion, rather than a genuine fight for the rights and freedoms of LGBT individuals.
Each year, the program of the gay parade becomes more aggressive. In addition to numerous performances, lectures, and exhibitions with homosexual themes, this year’s agenda included a lecture titled “Queer Saints and Queer Glory,” to be delivered by Nick Jovčić-Sas. However, after numerous negative public reactions, not only from straight people but also from within the LGBT community, the lecture was canceled.
Azdejković, who was the first to react to the controversial lecture on social media, gave a statement to our portal:
“After our public reaction, the ‘Queer Saints and Queer Glory’ lecture was canceled, which shows that the organizers of Pride Week are somewhat in touch with reality. Of course, the fact that they even considered such an idea shows a certain lack of professionalism and naivety, because you must think in advance about what certain statements and actions will provoke in the broader public. If your goal is to create chaos, then you’re on the right track, but if you’re advocating for the improvement of the position of a minority community, then you shouldn’t be creating additional problems for that community.”
DRAG METHOD AGAINST THE RIGHT
In addition to attempts to provoke religious believers, the organizers had other surprises in store. One was arranged by Jan Johansson, the deputy mayor of Stockholm. This politician, known for his controversial performances in Sweden, promotes drag as a method of fighting against the far-right. Johansson organized so-called drag readings in public libraries, where men dressed as women read stories to children. These events, which have become part of public life in Sweden, encourage children to accept ideas of “diversity” as something normal.
These events and performances, far from being normal, can even be classified as bordering on pedophilia.
In addition to this mentally unstable guest from Stockholm, another noticeable presence was the NGO simply named “Young People.” As part of the so-called “Pride Week,” they organized workshops where anyone aged 15 to 30 interested in journalism could apply, where subtle indoctrination of how to report on the LGBT community took place under the title “Frame the Story.”
According to a participant from one of the previous workshops, young people there are offered “deals they cannot refuse,” with the only condition being to accept the obvious mental disorder as something normal, love it, and promote it.
DEALER OR GAY – YOU DECIDE
Further, alongside the scandalous host from Nova S, Pera Jovović, who had the opportunity to share his “love story,” members of the association “Let it Be Known” also revealed their “truth.” According to information from Alo, Novosti, and Vaseljenska, this organization serves as a front for drug dealing. Before their performance titled “Silence,” two LGBT activists, after a larger quantity of drugs was found in their apartment, allegedly being sold, accused the police of brutality and abuse of power during the investigation, claiming it was solely because they were gay.
In an orchestrated move, various NGOs promoting the same “values,” pro-Western media, and public figures came to their defense. The prosecutor rejected their claims, and the police officers were cleared of all charges.
This case demonstrates the willingness of some to engage in any kind of disgrace, not only using the association as a cover for their activities but also falling into debt after losing sponsors. They promptly called upon the entire pro-Western scene to protect them from brutality that, in truth, never occurred.
