ZAGREB, September 20, 2020 - Organisers of this year's Pride parade in Zagreb on Saturday called on the parliament to act rather than showing timid support, seeking equality and changes to the constitutional definition of marriage to include all types of family.
"We want full equality, we want to finally live in Croatia in freedom and dignity. We have been calling for years on all people to join us in our fight against all forms of discrimination, humiliation, abuse and disregard for our rights and freedoms," representatives of the event's organiser, Zagreb Pride, said during the 19th Pride march.
This year, for the first time, the march started in the city's St. Mark's Square, where the government, parliament and Constitutional Court are located.
Addressing those who rallied for the walk, the organisers said that equality for LGBTIQ persons had to start with the constitution so that it could be reflected in all aspects of life.
"Through constitutional justice, we will achieve political, cultural, economic and social justice for the LGBTIQ community," they said.
They called for launching a procedure to amend the constitution in order to make all families equal in their rights and obligations.
They believe that the time has come for "an unjust and deeply humiliating regulation on the definition of marriage" to be changed so as to include same-sex couples.
After several hundred people gathered in St. Mark's Square for the parade, they went for a walk through downtown Zagreb.
The marchers wore rainbow-coloured protective masks as well as multicoloured flags, umbrellas and other items, trying to comply with rules of physical distancing.
The Pride parade was supported by the We Can! platform, and Workers Front MP Katarina Peovic.
"Freedom is not about banning equal rights for same-sex couples, freedom is not about banning abortion," said Peovic.
Sandra Bencic of We Can! said the platform supported the equality of families and the right of every family to call itself a family.
Deputy Prime Minister Boris Milosevic, who is in charge of social affairs and human rights and who attended the gathering of the Pride marchers in St. Mark's Square, said that he had come to "support tolerance and show respect for diversity in society."
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