Serbia becomes first Balkan country to have out gay president… for now
Ana Brnabić (Getty Images)
Ana Brnabić has become the first out gay President of a Balkan country, after taking office on 28 September.
The politician became the first woman and first out lesbian to become Prime Minister of Serbia when she was appointed in 2017.
However, she became acting President of Serbia after Aleksandar Vučić resigned, on 28 September, 2026.
The country will go through elections in the coming months, meaning Brnabić likely won’t hold the position for long.
Ana Brnabić as an out gay politician
Brnabić is a member of the Serbian Progressive Party. While she is open about her sexuality, she previously said she didn’t want to be known as Serbia’s gay prime minister.
She said she didn’t want to “push LGBT legal reforms” at that point when she had other areas of policy to prioritise.
The politician has also been criticised by LGBTQ+ activists who claim, as one half of a same-sex couple who also have a son together, Brnabić has failed to advocate for LGBTQ+ equality in Serbia.
She did become the first Serbian prime minister to attend a Pride event though, in September 2017, when she took part in a parade in Belgrade.
Brnabić said at the time: “The government is here for all citizens and will secure the respect of rights for all citizens.”
Same-sex marriage is banned in Serbia, though civil unions are not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution.
Furthermore, same-sex couples are not legally allowed to adopt, though there are no regulations on same-sex parents in general.
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