(Belgrade, Serbia)  Serbian authorities have banned a gay pride march and an anti-gay protest planned in the nation's capital this weekend to avoid violence. When two similar events occurred side by side in Serbia's capital last year, about 100 people were injured, cars were burned and shops were looted in clashes between police and the anti-gay, far-right extremists. So the gay pride march and the anti-gay protest planned in Belgrade on Sunday have been banned "to avoid bloodshed," Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said Friday. Anti-gay prejudice is widespread in Serbia, a predominantly conservative Balkan country. The head of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Irinej, has called gay pride marches a "parade of shame" that are "foreign to our history, tradition and culture." But Serbia has been urged by the West to protect the human rights of gays and other minorities, if it wants to one day join the European Union. On Friday, Serbia's President Boris Tadic backed the ban of Sunday's events, saying it was imposed to "prevent violence and the possible loss of lives." Gay pride organizers said the ban represents a defeat for the state and shows that authorities have not cracked down on the far-right extremists since the clashes a year ago. "It is totally unbelievable that police have not clamped down against the extremists," said Goran Miletic of the organizing committee. "We have spent four months preparing the gay pride march, and the authorities have done nothing." But the ultranationalist Obraz, or Honor, group said that the ban presented a "victory for the Serb patriots." Police said anti-gay extremists had planned to set buildings on fire in the suburbs of Belgrade on Sunday and to clash with police in the center of the capital. Foreign diplomats had planned to attend the gay pride march in a show of support for human rights in Serbia. Minister Dacic said the ban would prevent a possible repeat of the burning of U.S. and other Western embassies in the capital that occurred in 2008 during protests against Kosovo's declaration of independence.

For this  final post, let's return to the first. It was September 2007. We were Visiblevote then. The staff was me, Jay [1], Pauline Park [2], and John Polly of NewNowNext [3]. My first post was a disaster. Our writing program kept jamming, the photo didn't format correctly, and the writing was drivel. Screamed at the computer that entire morning. The insanity was so over the top that poor Billie [4] looked at me, slowly got up, and found a more comfortable spot to dream of snacks and tennis balls. In that September, Democrats and Republicans were gearing up for the 2008 primary season. The lines were drawn in the sand. Anything we wrote that was remotely negative about then Sen. Hillary Clinton was quickly dismissed as "Hillary hate." Words that weren't supportive of the guy with the funny name, and big ears, were called press releases from Camp Clinton. [5] Despite those partisan charges, our coverage of the 2008 election season matches anything done. Anything. Jay, John, and Pauline  made me a better writer and thinker. I thank them for that. While the thanks are being dispensed, I must talk about Ali Davis [6]. If you need to listen to a crazy man [7] bring Ali along. She wears the best shoes. Sooooooo many Beck fans asked me about her  sneakers. Ali: I better get an invite to the commitment ceremony between you and Melinda. She loved you! Also want to give thanks to John Culhane, Lisa Neff, John Corvino, and Emma Ruby-Sachs. I've learned much from your words. Have to give Jay a big hug. She's unparalleled as an editor. Always willing to listen. Here is what you need to know: any decent post of mine is because of her. All the lousy ones? My sole responsibility. This site's success is due to her efforts. Before this turns into the last episode of the Mary Tyler Moore Show [8] (don't mock Polly!), kudos to those who gave us your time. I can be found here [9]. Drop by and cuss me out. Best of luck. Keep keeping on. Peace. [1] http://www.JenniferVanasco.com [2] http://www.paulinepark.com/ [3] http://www.newnownext.com/ [4] http://whattheworlddoesnotneed.blogspot.com/2008/10/billie.html?zx=90880988f9d4a64c [5] http://www.365gay.com/wp-content/uploads/News-foggy-road-top.jpg [6] http://www.365gay.com http://davisexmachina.wordpress.com/ [7] http://www.365gay.com/topics/news_politics/fear-and-learning-at-the-glenn-beck-rally/ [8] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKwZ_aejLw8 [9] http://whattheworlddoesnotneed.blogspot.com/