LGBTI campaigners in Serbia cancelled IDAHO and Pride Week to volunteer for flood relief work
23 MAY 2014 | BY TRIS REID-SMITH

Thousands have been left homeless by the floods in the Balkans, which have spread death and destruction.
LGBTI rights campaigners have ditched Pride Week to come to the rescue of the flooding victims in Serbia and Bosnia-Hercegovina.
Europe’s Balkans region has been faced with its worst natural disaster in 120 years with floods killing people and animals and destroying homes, crops and businesses.
Now Gayten-LGBT, one of the region’s leading lesbian, gay, bi, trans and intersex organizations, has revealed how its members are trying to help.
On 16 May, they decided to cancel all their actions planned for Pride Week and for International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) the next day.
Milan Djuric of Gayten-LGBT said: ‘Everybody here is trying to help out in the best way they can.
‘We have been volunteering in help centers, collecting food, clothes, hygiene and cosmetic products, helping out with the evacuees, providing psychological help, etc.
‘The spirit of the people and the ways they have been employing to help flood victims are remarkable – where government failed to protect its citizens before and after the flood, people themselves took actions of solidarity and mutual aid.
‘Together with our fellow partners here, we are taking action. We need any kind of help!’
Duric said ‘the best way is to send help in food, clothes, etc, directly to help centers anywhere in Serbia’ rather than to send money.
‘Gayten-LGBT calls out to their friends and allies in the world to support the people affected by the floods,’ he added.
‘Our heartfelt solidarity goes out to all the people who have lost their homes and people they love in this catastrophe. We hope that the floods ease down soon, the rivers recede and that the needed help reaches the people as soon as possible.’
Djuric made the appeal in a private letter to global LGBTI activists but asked Gay Star News to share his message to gain more international support.
But despite their efforts, church leaders in Bosnia are still using the floods to spread hate against LGBTIs.
They have claimed the floods were sent by God to punish them for Austrian drag artist Conchita’s victory in the Eurovision Song Contest.
Original article
HERE