"This is a violation of minority rights, but at this moment the state is pressured by numerous problems," Vucic said during a press conference.
The president explained that the LGBTQ festival, which is held in different European cities every year and includes a Pride Parade, cannot go ahead due to threats from right-wing extremists and fears of violence.
"It's not a question of whether they [the extremists] are stronger, but you just can't do it all at the same moment, and that's it," Vucic said. "I am not happy about it but we can't manage."
Earlier this month, thousands of people took to the streets of Belgrade demanding the EuroPride event be canceled. Demonstrators held signs with the messages: "We don't want a gay parade and occupation by the West!" and "Keep your hands off our children," among others.
Comment: They have a point: Disturbing video of drag queen performing with little girl horrifies viewers
Serbia, which is seeking EU membership, has promised to protect LGBTQ rights as part of its integration into the bloc.
The "problems" faced by Serbia that Vucic mentioned included the Kosovo crisis and the possibility of winter energy shortages due to the reduction of Russian gas supplies to Europe, which in turn resulted from Western sanctions on Moscow over its military operation in Ukraine.
The president noted; "We don't have any progress" in talks with the breakaway province of Kosovo on its decision to ban Serbian license plates and IDs from September 1.
The organizers of the EuroPride have insisted that the event in the Serbian capital will take place despite the announcement from Vucic.
"EuroPride in Belgrade will not be canceled and will bring together thousands of LGBTI+ people from across Europe," Kristine Garina, president of the European Pride Organizers Association, said in a statement.
Garina also called on the Serbian authorities to "stand firm against these bullies and protect the event."
During the same press conference, Vucic revealed that Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, who identifies as lesbian and lives with a female partner, was going to keep leading the government after its new formation is announced last week.
Brnabic, who has been prime minister since 2017, has previously been accused by LGBTQ groups of not doing enough to help sexual minorities in the country.
Reader Comments
Not all LGBTQ people are on board with the takeover of society by the way, some of them know the government/media is playing them for fools, encouraging them to overstep boundaries to make people hate them so they can be scapegoated for the destruction of society, just like BLM rioters.
This is a podcast between two of the most popular gay political podcasters in the world, the topics are wide ranging but they spend a fair amount of time explaining how the lgbtq crowd have been overtaken this insane sociopolitical agenda and all the reasonable lgbtq are being abused by the crazy ones.
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Here is another, all the reasonable LGBTQ people have been cancelled so the crazy ones can screech freely. Ariel is great, she has a cute one where she has some conservative guys show her their guns, because all the "cancelled" gays from the left are now wondering if it's time to try to find friends on the right.
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Sure, we are all aware that LGBT++++++++ is problematic,
but that there are more problematic problems seems to be
giving away that the LGBT+++++++++ problem is not as
problematic as for example having nothing to eat, or no
heating in the house comes Field Marshall Winter.
Now, who would have known?
On the side - the fake Transgender people are ruining the
lives of the real ones, that surprise, surprise, live a silent
life with two people inside. Sad ones at that, as they observe
how societies are pitched against them.
Such irony. Reminiscent of Freddy Mercury, who sang not to commit suicide - only to ream himself to death. All hypocrites,
the whole fake LGBT crowd.
You need to get out more and please avoid the ๐ณ๐ณ as only ๐ฟ ๐ฟ are allowed to mess around with thier NUTS
While in Canada, the faktard is spending 100 million to lgbt bullshit community. [Link]
And here is something so sick that I have no words for this....[Link]