For the seventh year running, Zagreb hosted the social, political and entertainment event that is Zagreb Pride. The theme of the Pride, held under the slogan «You have the courage», highlights the strength derived from the individual and the community. The focal point of Pride activities, the Pride March, begins with a rally in Marshal Tito Square, moves along Masaryk, Teslina and Praška Streets to Ban Jelačić Square and continues via Ilica and Preobraženska Streets all the way to Cvjetni Square, where a concert is to take place.
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We - lesbians, gays, bisexual, transgender, transexual, intersexual and queer persons—struggle for our identity and love daily. Not just because we know that we are entitled to them, that our identity and our love are of equal worth with others', but because we also know that our love and the expression of our identity are trampled upon, belittled, mocked, attacked and beaten.
Every assault on an LGBTIQ person, by word or action, insult or physical force, is not just an assault on an individual for their identity, but an assault on our family and friends.
Every assault on an LGBTIQ person is an assault on a civilized and European, democratic and free, Croatian society.
Today and now we want to build a society of solidarity, support and togetherness in which no one will any longer have to hide their love and limit their identity to four walls, or be afraid to report the violence they are exposed to--a society in which we would jointly oppose violence, hate, homophobia, transphobia and biphobia.
We wish to send out a message to all LGBTIQ persons and their families, and everyone around us, that we are not, not should we be, alone. That the togetherness we are building includes our friends and our families. That even though we are still not strong enough, we are most certainly going to become strong. Because this can be so. Because with joint action and involvement, mutual solidarity, and mutual encouragement we can turn our mutual power and strength into non-violent resistance to homophobia, transphobia and biphobia, i.e. their aggressive manifestations growing in numbers in the daily life of Croatia.
The safety of each individual and LGBTIQ person, and our physical, emotional and moral integrity are a precondition for a free society based on the full respect of human rights, the equality and indiscrimination of all people and their dignity.
We at Zagreb Pride 2008 invite all LGBTIQ persons, their families, and all individuals who do not accept any form of hate, discrimination and belittling to jointly oppose all individuals, groups or institutions who produce violence and act inhumanely.
Last year during Pride, the rights to life and existence were seriously violated. Throughout the entire year, several persons have been assaulted, beaten up or molested in the streets of Zagreb and other Croatian cities merely because they have the courage to say who they are and show who they love.
This year, under our flag of Pride, we wish to speak out about all those individuals, gays, lesbians, bisexual, transgender, transexual, intersexual and queer persons, their friends, their mothers and fathers, and families and their children, because the strength of togetherness is a way to fight against all forms of discrimination.
We at Zagreb Pride 2008 invite all LGBTIQ persons, their families, and all individuals who do not accept any form of hate, discrimination and belittling to jointly oppose all individuals, groups or institutions who produce violence and act inhumanely. We find strength and courage in ourselves, in our families, children and friends.
This is why we want to send out a message to all: join us at Pride you have the courage!
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Zagreb Pride 2008 - Imaš hrabrosti - You Have The Courage (video spot)by zagrebpride3,740 views
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