President Ivo Josipovic on Thursday issued a video message of support to all organisers and participants in the second Gay Pride parade scheduled for June 9 in the southern coastal city of Split, confident that this year residents of Split would prove that they had embraced European values.
"Although a year has already passed since the first Pride parade in Split, memories are still fresh of the intolerable violence and hate speech which I have publicly condemned several times, just as I condemn today all forms of intimidation and attempts to ban this year's gathering," the President said.
Josipovic said that the fight for human rights and against all forms of discrimination was one of his most important tasks as President of the Republic. He said that all citizens should have the right to freely express their sexual orientation and gender identity, without risking being humiliated, insulted, exposed to violence or excluded from social and public life.
"I am strongly opposed to discrimination against same-sex families, which is the focus of this year's parade," Josipovic said, adding that he expected the issue of registered partnership to be regulated by Croatian laws soon.
Josipovic said that he was sure that most Croatian citizens understand that "the fight for the improvement of the status of same-sex families in no way threatens the rights of heterosexual couples and their family life."
"Respect for the rights of the minorities and the right to be different belongs to the civilisational achievements of the European family which the Republic of Croatia will join soon," the President said in conclusion, wishing all the organisers and participants "a peaceful, dignified and proud parade" in Split.
