The Serbian Commissioner for the Protection of Equality determined that the editor of the International Family News Serbian page violated the Serbian Law on the Prohibition of Discrimination in his article Draft law on same-sex partnership underway in Serbia–How ideological colonizers are boiling the frog in Serbia. The complaint was submitted to the Commissioner by the organization “Da se zna!” (Let It Be Known!), known for tracking the publications of pro-family and Christian authors and waiting for the opportunity to label and report anyone who stands for the freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and protection of the natural family.
In his article, Mr. Jugoslav Kiprijanović did not discriminate against any person who considers himself a member of the so-called LGBT population. By calling same-sex partnerships “unnatural, immoral and accursed”, he expressed a belief based on the teachings of the Orthodox faith to which he belongs; thus, exercising his right to freedom of speech and freedom of religion. Perhaps the zealots from “Da se zna!” and similar organizations believe that freedom of religion and speech means exercising those “freedoms” exclusively within one’s own four walls? A free man cannot agree to that. In addition, Article 18, paragraph 1 of the Serbian Law on Prohibition of Discrimination states that “discrimination exists if the principle of free expression of religion or belief is violated, i.e. if a person or group of persons is denied the right to acquire, maintain, express and change religion or belief, as well as the right to express or act, privately or publicly, in accordance with their convictions.” The Commissioner for the Protection of Equality therefore clearly violated the Law by revoking the right guaranteed to Mr. Kiprijanović. Further, in Article 21, paragraph 2–“Discrimination based on sexual orientation”–the Law states that “Everyone shall have the right to declare their sexual orientation, and discriminatory treatment due to such declaration shall be prohibited.” At no point in his article did Mr. Kiprijanović forbid anyone to declare his or her sexual orientation (nor can he do so), or discriminate against anyone because of that act.
Mr. Kiprijanović is a man who does not agree to the restriction of his rights just because this suits a small group of mercenaries who have declared themselves protectors of LGBT persons. He cannot agree to that as a husband, father, and Christian. He did not discriminate against members of the LGBT population with his writing, but he did criticize the concept of legal regulation of same-sex partnerships in Serbia. He did not call for any violence against homosexuals, nor did he call on others to discriminate against them in any way. After all, freedom of speech is a fundamental human right that enables organizations advocating for the interests of the LGBT community to freely and publicly declare whatever they want.
Calling the pressures of the LGBT lobby “a totalitarian ideology of homosexualism”, Mr. Kiprijanović called the activism of the organizations that represent them by its real name. This indeed is an ideology, and it is totalitarian because it does not tolerate any other opinion. It calls for the persecution of every free-thinking person and for the control of thoughts and behavior even in private life, as well as push for the indoctrination of the masses. The way this ideology is propagated clearly tells us that, in its essence, it is totalitarian.
Mr. Kiprijanović spoke bravely when the majority was silent. And that is why he is the hero of the day. What we need to ask ourselves is this: what’s next? When all free-thinking people are silenced under the threat of fines and imprisonment, will they amend the above law once again and forbid even our priests to freely preach our Christian faith, as they initially intended to do? Will the Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church be forbidden to glorify the natural family lest he hurt the feelings of people of different sexual orientation? Will parents be deprived of their guaranteed right to decide on the education and upbringing of their children?
This is no time to be silent. Rather, it is time to say out loud that we will never renounce our beliefs, and that we will never hand over the future of our children and our society to the totalitarian assailants of LGBT ideology.
It is time to stand by Jugoslav Kiprijanović and all brave, free-thinking people.
Serbian editorial of International Family News