Ana Brnabić Becomes First Openly Gay President Of Serbia

Ana Brnabić has become the first out gay President of Serbia, not to mention any Balkan country, the openly lesbian politician taking office on 28 September following the resignation of Aleksandar Vučić.

While the country must now elect a new president within 90 days, Brnabić will serve as Serbia’s acting head of state in the interim, with presidential duties falling to her as the Speaker of the National Assembly.

A Milestone For LGBTQ+ Rights?

Despite being only a temporary appointment, Brnabić’s ascension to acting president is being regarded by many as a major leap forward for LGBTQ+ rights and visibility in the country. Notably, same-sex marriage remains illegal in Serbia, and same-sex couples are not permitted to adopt. 

Others are more critical of Brnabić’s capacity to push the needle forward on LGBTQ+ rights. While Brnabić is openly gay, having even attended a Pride parade in Belgrade in 2017, her track record of enacting pro-LGBTQ+ policy is less clear. 

Famously, when Brnabić became the first woman and openly gay person elected as Prime Minister of Serbia in 2017 (the third-highest state office in the country, behind Speaker of the National Assembly, and the President), she stated she did not want her sexuality to be a defining characteristic of her appointment, nor would she seek to prioritise LGBTQ+ legal reform.

Her attendance at Belgrade Pride revealed a similar disinterest in pedastooling LGBTQ+ issues, the then-Prime Minister reaffirming that her government “is here for all citizens and will secure the respect of rights for all citizens.” 

As LGBTQ+ organisations continue to campaign for a law recognising same-sex partnerships and stronger protections for trans people, many argue Brnabić’s prior associations with government have not historically translated to meaningful protections for queer people, and refuse to expect more from her as head of state.