Željko Donić: Our list promotes a society based on equality

Belgrade, 09.03.2014.

On behalf of the list for the parliamentary elections “It’s been enough – Saša Radulović“ („Dosta je bilo – Saša Radulović“), a candidate for a MP from the list Željko Donić gave answers on the questionnaire on the human rights of LGBT people sent by Gay Straight Alliance (GSA; Alliance).

Zeljko-Donic-Dosta-je-bilo-1In short, Željko Donić says that the candidates on their list believe in free civil society, which does not differentiate its citizens based on their personal characterstics, which include sexual orientation; and he underlines that their leader defended the Pride in 2010. When it comes to improving the position of the LGBT community, they will advocate implementation and respecting the existing legislation, in addition to passsing some new legislation, providing equality for all citizens, both equality regarding the economy, and equality regarding rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution. They support a legal regulation of issues which are important for same-sex partnerships, and they call LGBT community to vote for them because, as Donić says, they are brave and honest in defending all human rights.

Answering the question about what has been done by their political group towards improvment of the position of the LGBT community in Serbia since the last parliamentary elections, Željko Donić said:
“All candidates on our list “It’s been enough – Saša Radulović“ believe in a free, civil society, which does not see its citizens as different according to their personal characteristics, which include sexual orientation. The first candidate on our list Mr. Saša Radulović has publicly given his opinion after the Pride parade held in Belgrade on October 10th, 2010. Regarding the statements that the Pride organizers were equally responsible for the violence in Belgrade, Saša Radulović wrote: “Streets and windows and cars have a price, but freedom does not. If people cannot use their freedoms which are guaranteed by the Constitution because they are afraid of somebody, if the state cannot enable for them the possibilty that they use their freedoms which are guaranteed by the Constitution without fear, than we are not a free society. And it has cost us a lot. A lot of cars and windows have been demolished. Belgrade seemed like a war zone. However, not holding the Pride would have cost us even more. It would have cost us the right to call ourselves a free society and free people. Because, only in a free society, people who have different opinions can manifest their differences freely next to each other. Without fear. And with this, we defend the right of all people, not just the right of those who are of a different sexual orientation, their right to be different. To be different without fear. “

Answering the question about their priorities and solutions which they will advocate in the following period, Donić underlines that the main challenges in this field will most definitely be implementing and respecting the existing legislation, and passing some new legislation regarding the protection of LGBT rigths. He believes that the parties which are in power do not have a political will to provide people with equality in using their freedoms which are guarantted by the Constitution, and that the previous governments had shown that they, in thier programmes, see providing basic human rights as something pushed for by the EU, rather than a humanistic acquest and a fulfilled goal. The list “It’s been enough – Saša Radulović“ believes that there is no compromising with violence, and that the main goal of the state should be that with legislation, and particularly with the implementation of anti-discriminatory laws, it provides equality to all its citizens, both regarding the economy, and regarding the providing that rights and freedoms which are guaranteed by the Constitution.

Željko Donić has supported legal regulation of issues which are important for same-sex partnerships, because their list promotes a society based on a complete equality of all its citizens, and with regard to that, it is crucial that all relations be regulated, including property and all social relations, which will enable people of all groups a dignified life, a family and family relations without discriminations in any field.

Answering the question why LGBT people should vote for their list in forthcoming parliamentary elections, Donić says that they are brave and honest in defending all human rights. “People who have assembled in the group “It’s been enough – Saša Radulović“ represent a new force on the political scene in Serbia. We fight for a better society and we promote a complete equality, and it can be said that the aims of the list “It’s been enough – Saša Radulović“ are the aims of all honest peope in Serbia. With regard to that, we believe that it is important that LGBT population has representatives who will openly advocate solving of real life problems: property rights, fight against discrimination in the job market, starting a family, etc. The list comprises people who are politically uncorrupted and with high moral integrity. We advocate the abolishment of media dark, for decent, free and civil society, in which every person, without regard of his or her personal characteristics, would be able to fulfill his economic and social rights and freedoms. Our programme relies on the experiences of well organized societies, such as Canadian and Australian, whose most important components are personal freedoms and the responsability of the state“, concluded Donić.

Info Center GSA
Photo: „Dosta je bilo“

Gay Straight Alliance (GSA; Alliance) has started another campaign in this election cycle for the upcoming Serbian parliamentary elections – the new campaign is called “Your vote, your tomorrow“. The campaign’s goal is to make political parties and groups participating in the elections take a public stance on questions regarding human rights, including the rights of LGBT people, as well as to include these issues in their pre-election programmes and platforms, offering concrete solutions for reducing violence, discrimination and homophobia. Another aim of the campaign is to invite LGBT people, as well as their parents, relatives, friends and other citizens to vote for those political options which, among other things, advocate for improving the status of LGBT people, for equality and respect of human and minority rights.
Through various activities, GSA aims to offer LGBT people and all other citizens, a clear insight into the attitudes of all relevant political parties and coalitions, regarding LGBT human rights. GSA’s campaign “Your vote, your tomorrow“ will mostly take part on the Internet and through social networks, and all interested citizens will be able to follow the campaign on GSA’s website in the column Elections 2014 (www.en.gsa.org.rs/elections-2014), and on the social networks Facebook (www.facebook.com/GSAlijansa) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/GSAlijansa).

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