The head of Serbia's powerful Orthodox Church on Tuesday supported a ban on a pan-European LGBTQ event due to take place in Belgrade next week, saying that the topic has been “artificially imposed” and threatens traditional values in the Balkan country.
The special video statement by Patriarch Porfirije comes amid a heated debate in Serbia and mounting international criticism over the authorities' announcement that the Sept. 12-18 EuroPride events are canceled because of threats of violence from right-wing extremists.
