In an interview with the PR Centre on the occasion of the August 7th, Transgender International Rights and Education Day, Ms Colakovic said that transgender people were “heroes in the country”.
“Despite there is evidently strong homophobia and transphobia in Montenegro, they are returning to Montenegro after the surgery. Being here, in small towns with a high degree of homophobia and transphobia, means that a great power lies in them”, Ms Colakovic said, the news agency Mina carried.
According to her, everyone must be aware of the fact that the struggle of transgender people, in such an environment, does not stop for a long time after the gender reassignment surgery.
“The differences are accepted in a bad way here, particularly due to lack of understanding and lack of true information. This difference often means being physically attacked and insulted on the street, and the transgender identity represents a special dilemma not only for the citizens of Montenegro, but also for professionals in various fields”, Ms Colakovic explained.
She pointed to the importance of systemic support, which includes trained professionals in the field of education that are only one link of the chain.
“They are supported mostly by NGOs, particularly the organisations such as “Juventas” which provides a psycho-social support. Transgender people can come to the Drop in centre of “Juventas” and get some kind of support there by the professionals working in that NGO. They can also support from peers – people being similar or the same to them in terms to the issues that transgender people face,” Ms Colakovic explained.
Commenting on the services provided by the Drop in centre, she explained that various professionals – a psychologist and a doctor, as well as trained field workers having vast experience with the LGBT community, including transgender people – are engaged in the Centre.
“It is important to emphasise that the organisation Queer Montenegro has a trans support group organised in the premises of the Drop in Centre. Namely, transgender persons gather in a certain period of time there and sharing their everyday dilemmas, doubts, and obstacles,” Ms Colakovic said.
Asked who is the first person transgender people turn to for support, she said that, according to her experience gained in the Drop in Centre, friends are the first to know about their difference.
“Only later, if they want to adjust their sex to their gender feeling, the family necessarily has to be aware of that fact,” she added.
Ms Colakovic said that gender reassignment surgery cost €5,000-10,000, depending on the severity of the surgical procedure.
She explained that the process of gender reassignment includes various procedures, stating that they imply including psychologists and psychiatrists who should assess whether the person is ready for the surgery, as well as various medical professions.
“This process is relatively long. The most important thing is to respect needs of the person who wants to go through the whole procedure. For the simple reason that they know the best how they feel, and therefore that feeling must be primary when it comes to medical decisions, and decisions of psychologists and psychiatrist,” Colakovic explained, adding that various professions, such as social worker, psychiatrist, endocrinologist, are later a part of the team that makes the surgery easier, more personalised and responsive to the person who wants to go through the whole process.
