Belgrade - More than two thirds of Serbs consider homosexuality
an illness and every second believes the government should work on its
prevention, an opinion poll showed Friday.

"The situation is worse than we thought. Our society is closed,
traditionalistic and conservative in the worst sense of the word," said
Djordje Vukadinovic from CeSid think tank which conducted the poll.

"Not only 70 per cent of those questioned thinks that homosexuality
is an illness, but every second thinks that the state should work on
its prevention," said representative of Gay Straight Alliance Boris
Milicevic.

The poll conducted in February on 967 people across Serbia showed
homosexuality is acceptable only when it is not displayed in public.

"As soon as ties with them need to get closer, it becomes
unacceptable. Serbs do not want them for colleagues or bosses, they
don't want them in families nor to teach their children," said
Milicevic.

Only 8 per cent of those questioned said gay pride parades were a
legitimate way of fighting for rights while 77 per cent oppose them.

The first and only Gay Pride parade organized in Belgrade in 2001
ended in riots and with some seriously injured participants. To this
day, traditionally patriarchal Serbia remains homophobic and an
unfriendly environment for gay and lesbian people.(dpa)