ZAGREB, 6 June, 2021 - An estimated 500 participants gathered for this year's Pride Ride that took place in downtown Zagreb on Saturday afternoon, and the ride was organised by an informal initiative of many individuals and organizations called "Proud Zagreb" - informal group LGBTIQ+".

This is the second annual edition of the pride ride, and the first pride ride was organised last year instead of a pride parade due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The organisers of this year's event, aimed at raising awareness of the rights of LGBT members, said that the first pride ride had been held last year due to the strict anti-epidemic measures and consequences of the 22 March 2020 earthquake.

They said that they were sad to see that no progress had been made in providing better living conditions for residents of Zagreb, including members of the LGBT community.

Danijel Martinović, an activist of the Rainbow Families association, said that the aim of this year's pride ride was to increase the visibility of LGBT persons in the public sphere.

He also underscored that LGBTIQ+ members would not be intimidated by cowardly acts such as the burning of LGBTIQ+ flags and effigies and physical assaults on LGBTIQ+ members.

"We should show that we are here," Martinović said adding that some progress was made in enabling same sex couples to foster children but there was always room for further improvement.

He added that they also expressed concern at the government's decision to appeal the court's ruling that enabled same-sex couples to foster children.

One of bicycle riders in this year's ride was a politician and MP Sandra Benčić of the We Can party. Also the newly-elected deputy mayor Danijela Dolenec of the same party came to support the riders.

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