We remind that two Academic Pride Marches, which had earlier been scheduled, were prohibited due to the high security risk.
The “Hiperion” and LGBT Forum Progress stressed that the Police Administration had been informed about the event in advance and given almost three months in order for the peaceful rally to be well prepared and to eliminate the causes similar to those of earlier prohibitions.
“Preparation for the Niksic Pride is being conducted in conditions of increased hate speech and open calls on violence and opposition from both marginal political structures and groups of citizens who have provided active resistance to conducting previous Pride Marches. Therefore, about hundred complaints have been submitted to the police and several criminal complaints have been referred directly to the competent prosecutors”, the NGOs emphasised.
Call for participation in Niksic Pride was sent to all NGOs dealing with human rights protection, as well as local politicians and the diplomatic corps.
They sent a message to all NGOs in Montenegro, political parties, trade union organisations, scholar community and intellectuals, students and young people that they were welcome to Niksic Pride.
It was confirmed that the German MEP, Theresa Reintke, would participate and hold a speech in the Pride Parade.
“Pride organizers have tried to have an intense dialogue both with the authorities and with those who openly, and most often due to ignorance, oppose social acceptance of LGBT people. In the process, we have been alone. We regret not having positive response from the university authorities and academic authorities. We regret that the Government’s LGBT policy has been completely stagnant and that processes of dialogue and preparation of key activities of the LGBT community are being conducted without appointment and participation of national coordinator for LGBT policy,” the “Hiperion” and LGBT Forum Progress pointed out.
They mentioned that some of the supposedly left-wing parties and Communists of the Soviet type had expressed opposition to the visual identity of the Pride Parade, stressing that thus they actually showed their real political identity.
“At the protests, which, as observers, were attended by LGBT representatives, they clearly said that same-sex love in a libertarian Niksic would not be tolerated. Thus, they have been abusing the anti-fascist symbols and achievements, hiding their hatred against LGBT people behind worries about the symbols. Despite the willingness of the LGBT community to contribute to reducing tension and eliminating at least one of the Montenegrin divisions, it was not possible to reach a compromise in such circumstances. We are sorry some opposition members of the local parliament also made a strike against the concept of human rights and lives of LGBT people,” the NGOs communicated.
Communication with the police and the management of the Security Centre in Niksic has been continuous and extremely good. A partnership meeting of the NGO LGBT Forum Progress and the Belgrade-based NGO Labris was held this weekend in Niksic.
“In front of the building where the meeting was held, a large group of young men gathered. Due to the presence of the police, no incidents occurred. It is interesting that there was not even a single derogatory comment or cry, let alone attempted physical assault. This may be an indicator that Niksic pride would be held in a more pleasant atmosphere than it is expected,” the NGOs concluded.
