Čeprav je naš Pride zdaj že mimo, se boj za svobodo in pravice skupnosti LGBTQIA+ nikoli ne konča. Pomembno je, da si prizadevamo za večjo vidnost in varnost naših skupnosti skozi celo leto in da se pridružimo tudi tistim bitkam, ki jih bijejo drugod. Nihče ni svoboden, dokler nismo svobodne_i vsi: da dosežemo skupne cilje, bo potrebno stopiti skupaj in graditi nova ter negovati obstoječa zavezništva.
V ekipi Parade ponosa Maribor in programa Maribor skozi rožnata očala želimo tudi uradno izreči podporo paradi ponosa v Bosni in Hercegovini, ki se bo odvila to soboto, 14. avgusta, ob 12. uri v Sarajevu. Udeleženke in udeleženci bodo zakorakale_i za čudovito in živo skupnost, ki pa se sooča s pomanjkanjem vidnosti in marginalizacijo, ki preprečujeta naslavljanje njenih potreb. Življenje v pandemiji je stvari poslabšalo, LGBTQIA+ osebe pa oropalo glasu in varnih prostorov. Z letošnjim sloganom “Upor z margine” se bosanskohercegovska skupnost LGBTQIA+ zoperstavlja diskriminaciji ter napadom na svobodo izražanja, avtentičen obstoj in druge osnovne pravice, s tem pa zavrača realnost, ki iz javne zavesti briše njihove izkušnje.
Kot organizatorice_ji mariborske parade se zavedamo, kakšen izziv je organizacija takšnega dogodka, še posebej v času, ki ga zaznamuje globalna kriza. Z občudovanjem in polnimi srci spremljamo trud naših kolegic_ov v Bosni in Hercegovini, da v Sarajevu priredijo parado, ki je vključujoča, raznolika in varna. V tem zadnjem tednu pred parado nas je razveselila novica, da so organizatorice_ji sarajevske parade uspešno izpogojevale_i kritje stroškov za dodatno varnost s strani lokalnih oblasti. Za zmago jim čestitamo, kot tudi za vztrajnost in vnemo, ki sta jo prinesli. Upamo, da te bitke kmalu ne bo več potrebno biti, da bodo pristojne oblasti in institucije dokončno spoznale pomen Pride-a za naše skupnosti ter ga že v izhodišču temu primerno tudi podprle.
Ključna je tudi regionalna solidarnost. V času rednih sistemskih napadov na skupnosti LGBTQIA+ v naši neposredni bližini moramo gledati tudi onkraj meja lastnih držav. V čast nam je, da lahko podpremo LGBTQIA+ osebe, aktiviste_ke in zaveznike v Bosni in Hercegovini v prizadevanju za pravičnejšo prihodnost in se veselimo novih priložnosti za poglabljanje naših odnosov. Naša ekipa v soboto ne bo mogla korakati v Sarajevu, bomo pa tam v duhu.
V imenu ekipe Parade ponosa Maribor ter programa Maribor skozi rožnata očala želimo organizatoricam_jem veliko uspeha in jim ponovno iskreno čestitamo za dobro opravljeno delo, udeleženkam_cem pa miren, varen in vesel Pride v objemu skupnosti. Upamo, da bomo nekega dne lahko zakorakale_i z ramo ob rami.
Z ljubeznijo in ponosom,
ekipa Maribor Pride/Maribor skozi rožnata očala
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Even though our own Pride is over, the fight for freedom and rights for the LGBTQIA+ community never ends. It is crucial that we work towards greater visibility and safety for our communities year-round, which includes joining battles that are being fought elsewhere. No one is free until we all are: to reach our common goal, we must come together to build new alliances and nourish existing ones.
The Maribor Pride organizing team, along with the entire Maribor through Pink Glasses program, would like to officially express our support for the Bosnia and Herzegovina Pride Parade taking place this Saturday, August 14, at noon in Sarajevo. Its participants will march for a beautiful, vibrant community that is nevertheless marginalized and facing a lack of visibility that prevents its needs from being addressed. Life in a pandemic has made that worse as LGBTQIA+ individuals have been robbed of their voice and safe spaces. Under this year’s slogan, “Resistance from the Margins,” the LGBTQIA+ community in Bosnia and Herzegovina is standing up to discrimination and the attacks on its freedom of expression, authentic existence and other basic rights, rejecting a reality in which their experiences are erased from public consciousness.
As organizers of the Maribor parade, we are aware of the challenges that come with organizing an event like this, especially in a time marked by global crisis. We follow the efforts of our colleagues in Bosnia and Herzegovina to organize an inclusive, diverse and safe Pride in Sarajevo with admiration and our hearts full. In the week before the event, we were thrilled by the news that the organizers of the Sarajevo parade had successfully negotiated the full coverage of additional security costs by local authorities. We congratulate them on their victory—and the persistence and passion that made it possible. We hope that someday soon, this battle will no longer need fighting as authorities and institutions fully recognize the meaning of Pride for our communities and provide the necessary support from the start.
Also crucial is regional solidarity. In a time of regular systematic attacks on the LGBTQIA+ community in our very vicinity, it is more important than ever to look beyond our national borders. We are honored to be able to support LGBTQIA+ individuals, activists and allies in Bosnia and Herzegovina in their efforts for a fairer future, and we look forward to new opportunities to grow our relationship. Even though our team will not be able to march in Sarajevo on Saturday, we will be there in spirit.
In the name of the Maribor Pride team and the Maribor through Pink Glasses program, we wish the organizers a successful event and would once again like to congratulate them on a job well done; we also wish the participants a calm, safe and happy Pride in the embrace of their communities. We hope that we can march side-by-side one day.
With love and pride,
The Maribor Pride/Maribor through Pink Glasses team
