Dear friends,
Elena* and her friends were sitting in a coffee shop in the Serbian capital of Belgrade. Out of nowhere two men ran in and started to violently beat the women while shouting homophobic slurs. One of the men even threw a chair at them.
When the police arrived, the attackers were gone. 40 people witnessed the attack, but NO ONE agreed to testify to help the girls, so the police closed the case.
Luckily, a brave group called YUCOM (the Lawyer's Committee for Human Rights) is willing to help. They can provide expert, pro bono legal services for LGBT hate crime victims – the only service of its kind in Serbia.
But Elena is hardly alone. Homophobia is rampant in Serbia and countless cases like hers are coming to YUCOM. They just don't have the resources to keep up. But if enough All Out members chip in, YUCOM will be able to provide legal assistance for at least 30 people like Elena.
Despite some advances legally, homophobia in Serbia runs deep. An estimated 48% of Serbians believe that being gay is an illness. And 71% of LGBT Serbians report being harassed or abused.
Younger LGBT victims often can't turn to their families for help, either. 48% of Serbians said they would try to "cure" their child if they found out that they weren't straight.
LGBT victims are often left alone, afraid, and helpless. They can't access the right support and have no means to fight for justice in court.
Our partners at YUCOM are ready to change that – with our support. They can help victims of hate crimes with pro bono legal representation. But with the recent rise in hate crimes, they just can't pull together enough resources.
Thanks for going All Out,
Matt, Sarah, Mathias, Ana, Leandro, Yuri, and the rest of the All Out team.
*Name changed
