Gay Guide Bosnia and Herzegovina

The age of consent is 14 years - for hetero- and homosexual acts, which have been legal since 1996. In addition, a law on gender equality was passed at the beginning of 2003. A new anti-discrimination law was passed in 2010, but it is relatively unclear what is meant by the term "sexual expression". Since July 2016, sexual orientation and identity are explicitly mentioned in the law and are now subject of legal protection. In September 2008 the "Queer Sarajevo Festival" took place - at least eight people were injured in riots at the end of the first day. Iggy Pop then cancelled his concert in Sarajevo. Before the event, posters with the inscription "Death to gays" appeared all over the city and had to be removed by the police. Since the Bosnian War of 1992-1995, the formerly multicultural Sarajevo is now home to a predominantly muslim population. Two well-known Imams had publicly condemned the "Queer Sarajevo Festival", but had not called for violent attacks. Bosnia and Herzegovina is the only Balkan state apart from Macedonia in which no Pride event has yet taken place. However, the Merlinka Film Festival for LGBT films is held annually in Sarajevo - in 2014 there was also a homophobic incident here, whereupon the festival was placed under police protection. According to a 2017 survey, only 13% of respondents support gay marriage.