Challenges and perspectives of “rainbow families” in Serbia

Abstract

This paper analyzes two types of “rainbow families”, those in which same- sex people raise children, as well as those in which children (most often) or other members belong to the LGBT + category. The duality of the approach of this paper is based on the fact that ambient homophobia affects not only one LGBT + person and not only one type of rainbow families but is a source of a whole range of challenges typical for all such families. The activist orientation that functions both regionally and in Serbia uses the term “rainbow family” to refer to the family situation of broadly understood target families where any member belongs to the LGBT + group. The subject of this paper is the specifics of the challenges and perspectives of both types of “rainbow families” whose social situation is most often characterized by victimization by violence, discrimination, rejection, stigmatization, marginalization and coping with a range of daily denials and violations of human rights. Special attention is paid to the situation of LGBT + children as the weakest and potentially the most exposed to the challenges. The paper aims to identify strategies and successful empowerment experiences and ways of (self) protecting “rainbow families” in addition to addressing existing challenges. As a methodology, the paper contains the most recent violence case studies, data and expertise, as well as relevant domestic, regional and international analysis and activities related to the functioning of rainbow families.

Keywords

• two types of “rainbow families”
• victimization
• legal context
• perspectives and strategies for action
• family solidarity