In 2001, gay and lesbian organizations in Serbia believed that it was time to organize the first public celebration of Pride Day. In cooperation between Gayten - LGBT and Labris, Serbia's first pride parade was to have taken place on 30 June. However, as participants assembled, they were savagely attacked and driven away by soccer hooligans and nationalists thugs. A number of participants in the parade were injured.

Here is the personal account of those events, as remembered by one of the organizers, Milan Đurić.

On Saturday, June 30th, I woke up with a feeling of excitement - I knew that a historical day was beginning, not only in my life but also for LGBT population in Yugoslavia and for all humanism-oriented people. …

…Of course I was aware of the threats and the possibility of incidents, still I was reassuring myself by the facts that our event was regularly registered at the police and that police accepted to safeguard it, and also that there were informed about the threats which we've been receiving.

The most visible of the threats was a poster that was plastered all over Belgrade several days ago. It read: "Prevent the spreading of Christian immorality and perverse orgy." No sponsoring organization's name was printed on the poster. So much about the courage and morality of those who came up with these and put them up. Pro-Christian organization "Obraz" (rough translation: chastity) … announced a counter demonstration to our celebration…

At 3:00 PM sharp I met with a friend on the Square of the Republic in Belgrade expecting to see rainbow flags, colorful balloons, and my friends, as well as many LGBT people and our straight friends and supporters. Instead of that, the flags of the Radical Party and the national flag were waving in the Square of the Republic, and a group of over 1.000. (mostly men) was shouting nationalistic, fascistic slogans "Faggots are Serbia's shame!" "God's garden has everything and we came to weed it out!" "Faggots should be slaughtered!"

…The police were positioned at several points, obviously in small numbers for such a huge number of attackers. Until the policemen were attacked themselves, they almost did not react. How was it possible to allow such a large number of attackers to gather at the location designated for our celebration, what were they waiting to react to, what was their assessment of the situation...

…At that point, it became clear to me that our celebration of pride, love, diversity, and tolerance was being transformed into a manic melee of fascists, hooligans, extreme rightists, and nationalists.

…it was of the highest importance for me to find Lepa Mlađenović, one of our most prominent activists for LGBT and women's rights, I was in fear for her life, and I was desperately trying to find her. Just then the stampede occurred: a group of 1000 attackers started running towards the Army Center building. As they were chasing several young men, the police finally stood in front of the unleashed mass and started shooting in the air. I saw a large number of journalists also running at the forefront of the surging furious mass. The attackers were throwing bottles, eggs, stones, and clubs at the police and citizens that were running away in front of them. I witnessed a policeman being hit by a rock on his head. Complete chaos took over. I returned to the Square of the Republic where I met two friends from Labris, as well as Natasa Kandić from the Humanitarian Law Center. We managed to reach some friends by cell phone and several of us gathered in front of "Inex" cafe. I heard that Lepa Mlađenović is well and safe. Then unleashed attackers began returning to the Square. At all times a majority of the bypassers and citizens were rooting for the aggressors and shouting slogans such as: "Well-done -- that's what they deserve" "Kill the faggot" etc.

…I decide to head towards SKC (4:20 PM). I was aware and I heard attackers saying that they would come and destroy SKC. Bomb threats were also heard. On my way to SKC, I am listening to "regular citizens" who are on the attackers' side. Then I am running into Jasmina and Slavica and several other friends and we are walking together towards SKC. Some people are spitting at us, verbally abusing us, pushing us - this time "ordinary citizens", since the majority of attackers stayed at the Square. As we walk, we see the young men calling each other and running towards the Square shouting "Let's go break them into pieces." When we came in front of the SKC, we saw it completely shut down. Protection shields were placed on the windows and doors and the security bars were in place. As the representative of the organizers, I requested to be let in, also because it was my duty to appear there. They let me in and a little bit later my friends too. Inside, apart from SKC staff, there was almost no one else. I am checking by phone friends and colleagues from Labris. I hear that they are safe and that they won't be coming. SKC staff is asking me what would happen with the program. The journalists are arriving and constantly asking for interviews as well as for answers about whether there will be a program. I am trying to reach by phone the program participants. Some are willing to break through the mass and come; some not. I look through the window and based on the information I am receiving I notice that SKC is under siege by attackers gathered at different locations around the building - still, this time the special police is safeguarding the building. Shots are heard sometime after 5:00 PM. Tanja Pavlović-Križanić (a lawyer with the Humanitarian Law Center) comes with a baby to SKC asking me when we would start with the panel!!!. I was completely fascinated with her support as well as with the support of many other friends and activists. At the end, in order to protect the lives of all, around 5:25 PM I am finally deciding to cancel the rest of the program. Around 6:45 PM together with friends I head towards Women's Center. We received information that 40 citizens and 8 police officers were badly injured.

The events on 30 June raised considerable media hype, so that even the top rank politicians felt they should say something.

Serbia is not yet ready to tolerate difference at the highest level, Zoran Đinđić told, after a gay pride march came under attack in Belgrade. "I think it is too early to stand this test of tolerance in a country that has been in isolation for so long, and which has had a repressive patriarchal culture," said the Serbian prime minister. "Of course, I am personally in favour of tolerance in every way, and of the opinion that everyone has the right to be different and to express that different quality, as long as that does not jeopardize others," said Đinđić. (B92 News)

Several dozen people were arrested that day. They were charged for "disturbing the public order" and attacking the police forces. Most of them were convicted to minor sentences or acquitted.

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