The Rainbow Flag Is Flying in Serbia for First Gay PM
SERBIA SET FOR FIRST FEMALE AND GAY PRIME MINISTER IN HISTORIC STEP FOR LGBT RIGHTS IN THE BALKANS
BY DAMIEN SHARKOV ON 6/16/17 AT 9:16 AM
In a pick that could signal a major step forward for LGBT rights in the Balkans, Serbia is on course for its first gay prime minister, who will also be the first woman to lead the conservative country with EU ambitions.
Ana Brnabic, who has enjoyed a relatively low profile figure in Serbian politics until now, is President Aleksandar Vucic’s choice to succeed him as prime minister, a surprising decision to some given Serbia’s poor record on LGBT rights: Until 2014, public demonstrations in support of gay rights were usually suspended due to law enforcement considering them a security risk.
Vucic did not refer to Brnabic’s gender or sexuality during his nomination speech but said she would "work on Serbia's betterment."
Brnabic, who studied in the U.S. and the U.K., graduating from the University of Hull in 2001, only entered politics last year: She headed the ministry for public administration and local self-government, the first openly gay person to hold a cabinet role.
Brnabic’s nomination is the liberal upside of a wider story on Vucic’s growing hold on power. Given the dominance of the president’s party and allies in government, her approval by parliament is likely to render the vote a formality. The role will mostly be symbolic but her appointment sends out a “positive message” to the world, civil rights activists say.
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http://www.newsweek.com/serbia-set-first-female-and-gay-prime-minister-626573
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The 100th monkey event. 
