Beaten up because she “looked” like a lesbian

Novi Sad, April 6, 2005 On April 3 2005, at 3.30AM, in the Novi Sad Dunav Park, three skinheads beat up twenty-seven-year-old M.B., because due to her short hair she “looked” like a lesbian to them. M.B. was walking home through the park, when three drunk young men, who looked like skinheads, came after her, pulling her to stop walking. After she stopped, the young men shouted: “So, you are a woman, you are one of 'them' – we should break your bones.” One of the attackers first hit M.B. in the head; the others knocked her down and kicked her. After they had left the place, M.B. left home. It is important to note that this is another one of the frequent instances of violence against LGBT population across Serbia. A pilot poll conducted during February 2005 in Belgrade, Nis and Novi Sad[1] shows the alarming data: - Over 90% of the people who participated in the poll is aware of cases of violence against lesbians and gay men - 71,8% of them suffered violence themselves, and more than a half of the people, who took part in the poll suffered violence more than once, because of their sexual orientation. Once again, we strongly protest and condemn this act of violence and we request from the competent institutions and authorities to react immediately and appropriately and prevent further spread of prejudice, discrimination and hate of LGBT people. Novi Sad Lesbian Organization – NLO Labris – Lesbian Human Rights Group The press release is signed by: Labris – Lesbian Human Rights Group Gayten – Center For Promotion of the Rights of Sexual Minorities Feminist 94 The Voice of Difference Women at Work Women in Black Youth Initiative Queeria LGBT Center For Advancement of Law Studies Center For Nonviolent Action Network of Committees of Human Rights in Serbia CHRIS Free Rainbow, Podgorica Group “React!” Association of Students with Disabilities Center for Production of Equality Lambda – Center for Promotion and Advancement of LBGT Human Rights and Queer Culture, Nis Center for Girls, Nis Women’s Space, Nis Taboo, Zrenjanin Zrenjanin Educational Center Big Small, Pancevo Women’s Alternative Workshop, Kikinda Esperanca, Novi Sad Women’s Studies and Research, Novi Sad Women’s Forum, Negotin Human Rights Committee, Negotin Zorana Sijacki – counselor for gender equity in the Province Department of Labor, Employment and Gender Equity, Novi Sad Rada Gujanicic – Women's Center, Uzice Organizations from the states of former Yugoslavia: Association Q, Bosnia and Herzegovina MASSO – Macedonian Association for Free Sexual Orientation Women’s Room, Croatia Step Forward, Croatia LORI, Croatia 1) The poll was conducted by Labris – Lesbian Human Rights Group, Center For Promotion of LGBT Human Rights and Queer Culture – Lambda and Novi Sad Lesbian Organization – NLO.