The fifth 'Pride of Serbia' in support of the LGBTI population and their rights was held in Belgrade on Sunday under the motto: The battle is still ongoing – join in.

Participants walked the streets of the Serbian capital, accompanied by some state officials including Minister of State Administration and Local Self-Government Branko Ruzic and Commissioner for Equality Protection Brankica Jankovic.

The gathering started in the Pioneer’s Park silently and without much fuss. However, the park was strongly secured by the police. No major incidents were reported except from a small group of people who shouted provocatively to some 100 of the event participants.

The parade passed the central parts of the city, from the Pioneer’s Park, through the Nikola Pasic Square, Terazije Square, Knez Mihajlova Street to the Student’s Park.

The organisers previously announced the parade would not look like a parade of joy or fun like they do in western Europe, but as a protest that points out their demands.

Serbia’s authorities presented this month a draft civil code, which disables same-sex marriages, with a provision stipulating the regulation of property issues among the same-sex common-law marriages.

Like every year before, the June LGBT parade has put in focus a minority group. This time those were the persons with autism.

Belgrade hosts two LGBTIQ parades every year. Besides the June parade, there is also Pride Parade taking place every September since 2010. The June event organisers said that a parade is held worldwide in this month, marking the anniversary of the Stonewall riots.