Serbia’s Ana Brnabić has made LGBTQ+ political history again, becoming the first openly gay person to serve as head of state in a Balkan country.
Brnabić became Acting President of Serbia on 28 September, following the resignation of Aleksandar Vučić.
Vučić stepped down ahead of Serbia’s snap parliamentary election on 25 October, where he is seeking to return to government as prime minister.
Under Serbian law, Brnabić assumed presidential duties because she was Speaker of the National Assembly.
Her tenure will be temporary, with Serbia required to hold a presidential election within three months.
Another Historic First For Brnabić
Brnabić is no stranger to breaking political barriers.
In 2017, she became Serbia’s first woman and first openly lesbian prime minister, making her one of the world’s most prominent openly LGBTQ+ political leaders at the time.
She served as prime minister until 2024, when she became Speaker of the National Assembly.
Now, her temporary elevation to the presidency gives the Balkans its first openly gay head of state.
That milestone is significant for LGBTQ+ visibility in a region where queer communities continue to face legal and social inequalities.
But Brnabić’s political record on LGBTQ+ rights has also drawn sustained criticism.
Visibility Has Not Meant Marriage Equality
When she first became prime minister, Brnabić said she did not want to be defined primarily by her sexuality and was not planning to prioritise LGBTQ+ legal reform.
She became the first Serbian prime minister to attend Belgrade Pride in 2017, telling marchers that the government was there for all citizens and would protect their rights.
However, LGBTQ+ advocates have repeatedly argued that her presence at the top of government did not translate into major legal gains.
Serbia still does not recognise same-sex marriage, civil unions or registered partnerships.
Same-sex couples also do not have equal access to joint adoption.
That gap has made Brnabić a complicated figure for parts of Serbia’s LGBTQ+ community: historic as a visible lesbian politician, but associated with governments that have not delivered many of the reforms campaigners continue to demand.
Serbia’s LGBTQ+ Rights Picture Remains Mixed
Serbia has laws prohibiting discrimination on grounds including sexual orientation and gender identity.
Belgrade Pride has also become a regular part of the city’s calendar after years of violence, bans and heavy security surrounding earlier marches.
But significant legal inequalities remain.
Same-sex couples have no formal relationship recognition, and LGBTQ+ organisations continue to campaign for a law recognising same-sex partnerships and stronger protections for trans people.
At Belgrade Pride in September 2026, campaigners again highlighted the lack of legal recognition for same-sex couples.
That context makes Brnabić’s latest milestone both notable and complicated.
An openly lesbian woman is temporarily occupying Serbia’s highest state office, while couples like hers still cannot access the same legal recognition as heterosexual couples.
A Temporary Presidency
Brnabić is not expected to remain president for long.
Following Vučić’s resignation, Serbian law requires a new presidential election to take place within 90 days.
Until then, she will carry out the duties of head of state.
The development means Brnabić has now occupied three of Serbia’s most senior political offices: prime minister, parliamentary speaker and acting president.
For LGBTQ+ representation in the Balkans, that is undeniably historic.
For Serbia’s queer communities, however, the broader question remains whether visibility at the highest levels of government will eventually be matched by equality in law.
