On the occasion of 17 May, International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia, Commissioner for the Protection of Equality Brankica Jankovic reminds that every type of discrimination, including the one on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity, is forbidden by the law and must not be tolerated.

Commissioner stresses that homophobia and transphobia are still present in our society and significantly influence the life quality of members of LGBT population and transgender persons. Protection of personal safety and efficient combat against violence, protection against discrimination at the work place and respecting of dignity in public space stand as the greatest challenges on the path of achieving of right to equality of LGBT persons and as an obstacle for their equal inclusion in social streams. When speaking of transgender persons, the issuing of personal documents and legal recognition of gender identity appear as a particular issue, stresses Commissioner Jankovic.

Although there is a visible improvement in achieving of rights of LGBT persons, Commissioner appeals to media to restrain from transmitting discriminatory attitudes and hate speech towards this social group and to report without sensationalism, respecting the ethical standards and Code of Journalists of Serbia.