Partner of Gay Serbian Prime Minister Gives Birth

The Serbian Prime Minister’s partner gave birth Wednesday, her office said — a historic event since the conservative country does not legally acknowledge same-sex marriages nor partnerships.

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Prime Minister Ana Brnabic’s partner, a doctor, reportedly gave birth to a baby boy named Igor. A statement said the birth mother Milica Djurdjic, and child were "doing fine." She became pregnant through artificial insemination.

"Ana Brnabic is one of the first prime ministers whose partner has given birth while in office ... and the first in the world in a same-sex couple," her office told AFP news agency.

In June 2017, Brnabic became both Serbia's first female and first gay prime minister .

Her rise to power was a surprise from the Balkan nation where homophobia is common and the constitution explicitly defines marriage as being between a man and a woman. A campaign to adopt a law on same-sex partnerships has not yet been successful, though activists hope to win the premier's support.

Same-sex couples are even banned from adopting children, even though individuals who are single can adopt regardless of their sexual orientation. Though the country has legislation to protect against gender identity and anti-gay discrimination, rights activists have said that implementation is poor.

Critics have said Brnabic has not done enough for LGBT rights. She refused to take a stance over legalizing same-sex marriage in the country at a Gay Pride parade in Belgrade in 2017.

"I can't give you my personal opinion right now because I'm here as the prime minister representing the Serbian government," she said.