Arkadija was the first group to affirm lesbian and gay human rights and culture in Serbia, established on January 13, 1991, and registered in 1994 in Belgrade.
The first meeting was held at the Moscow Hotel, with Lepa Mladjenovic, Dejan Nebrigić, Boris Liler and other more famous activists.
Since it did not have premises or finances, the original work of the activists consisted of lobbying for the rights of lesbians and gays in predominantly independent media: B92, Republika, Vreme, Radio Pančevo, as well as in various magazines such as the Pacifik, founded by Dejan Nebrigić, and women's peace publications Women in Black Group.
[2] During the first two years, members of the group visited international conferences, sought support and prepared the Statute of Arkadija.
[citation needed] During this period, war broke out in Yugoslavia, and members of the group became involved in anti-war activism, which slowed development and further planning around gay rights.