8 October 2015
“The Pride rally of LGBTIQ people “Montenegro Pride”2015 is cancelled” – says the late night communique from the organizational committee of this year’s gathering of the LGBTIQ community in the country.
“We do not want to influence, nor interfere in the current political and party dynamics. We want to reclaim the streets for all those who are forced to hide their sexual orientation and gender identity” – further explains the committee in the statement made earlier today.
“We consider that the right of equal opportunities for happy and free life is a political issue, however, at this politically complicated time, our message will not be conveyed to all our constituencies, primarily the citizens of our country in every place of it” – finishes the committee.
This is the first cancellation of the main pride rally in the capital of Podgorica after the two successful and highly visible pride rallies held in the city in 2013 and 2014, the very first and marred with violence “Seaside Pride” march held in Budva in July 2013, as well as after the quite recent ban of Academic Walk of Pride, planned in the small town of Nikšić.
Threats and physical violence against the LGBTI are still prevailing in Montenegro. Over 20 attacks against the LGBTIQ Social Centre – a social gathering place opened by LGBT Forum Progress, have been committed in 2014. Stevan Milivojević – the head of LGBT Forum Progress has been target of 19 physical attacks since he assumed the position in September 2013. This May in a restaurant in central Podgorica, three young men harassed and threatened him, his friend, and the Member of the European Parliament, Terry Reintke, while the 3rdInternational Ministerial IDAHO Forum was taking place in the city.