Montenegro's Gays Set New Date for Parade

Montenegrin LGBT activists hope to walk the streets of the capital, Podgorica, for the third Gay Pride March, set for December 13.

The organizer of the parade, Queer Montenegro, an NGO, on Wednesday said it had decided to change the route from the one used during the previous two years.

It is essential that the parade pass through the streets of Podgorica, the NGO said, not just the centre of the capital.

"We believe the conditions for a peaceful third Montenegro Pride are now set, and that we will be able to walk the streets of Podgorica with our fellow citizens, our friends, family members and supporters of our basic human rights, peacefully and freely," the NGO said.

Gay pride was originally planned for October 18 but was put on hold due to weeks of protests rallies against the government of Milo Djukanovic, which turned violent on October 24.

One of the organisers, Danijel Kalezic, from Queer Montenegro, told BIRN at the time that the LGBT community did not want to "interfere with the current political and party dynamics".

Kalezic said that the LGBT community was "unable to adequately present its problems" because of the public focus on political issues.

"We want to take the streets for those who are forced to hide their sexual orientation and gender identity," he said.

Last year's Pride parade in Podgorica passed off peacefully as some 200 gays and lesbians and their supporters were protected by hundreds of riot police.

Highlighting good cooperation with the police and state authorities, Kalezic said he did not expect problems this year, either.

"Things have moved on for sure, and people probably realised that we do not pose a threat to society," he said.

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