First Openly Gay Minister Appointed in Serbia

Serbia has become the first country in the Balkans to have an openly gay minister. The appointment of 40-year-old Ana Brnabic as Minister of Public Administration and Local Government was controversial in a country where homophobia is widespread and Pride marches were banned for four consecutive years after a violent attack on activists in 2010.

Brnabic said that she hopes that her sexuality does not dominate her work. During a parliamentary recess, Brnabic told reporters that “Hopefully this will blow over in three or four days and then I won’t be known as ‘the gay minister.’”

Read more about Brnabic at Radio Free Europe.