Montenegro holds pride march despite opposition from church

Source: Associated Press

Montenegro holds pride march despite opposition from church

By PREDRAG MILIC
October 8, 2022

PODGORICA, Montenegro (AP) — Several hundred people on Saturday joined an LGBTQ pride march in Montenegro, held amid strong opposition from the influential Serbian Orthodox Church in the small conservative Balkan country.

Montenegro’s 10th pride event was dubbed “No more buts,” reflecting demands that more be done to stem hate speech and harassment of LGBTQ community despite huge steps that have been made in the past years.

“We gathered here for the 10th time to show we are human, (that we are) live beings made of flesh and blood, wishes and dreams, but rejected and ignored, discriminated and trampled upon because of love,” said activist Stasa Bastrica.

Montenegro is a highly conservative, male-dominated society and initial pride marches here were marred with violence. As the country seeks European Union membership, authorities have backed pride events in recent years and approved same-sex partnerships in 2020.

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Read more: https://apnews.com/article/religion-gay-rights-serbia-european-union-aaec5fcd2cf77b4e719077174bd80823


Participants take part in a LGBTQ pride march in Podgorica, Montenegro, Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022. Several hundred people joined an LGBTQ pride march in Montenegro, held amid strong opposition from the influential Serbian Orthodox Church in the small conservative Balkan country. (AP Photo/Risto Bozovic)


Participants take part in a LGBTQ pride march in Podgorica, Montenegro, Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022. Several hundred people joined an LGBTQ pride march in Montenegro, held amid strong opposition from the influential Serbian Orthodox Church in the small conservative Balkan country. The writing on placard reads: “No more ’buts.” (AP Photo/Risto Bozovic)