Podgorica, (MINA) – Montenegro Pride, under the slogan “Resistance Builds Freedom”, will take place on October 4 at Podgorica’s Independence Square, the Queer Montenegro has announced.

According to the press release, Montenegro is facing a profound and deep political and social crisis, reflected in both economic and institutional problems.

They remarked that the universal values ​​on which the sense of togetherness and social cohesion should lie – empathy, solidarity, understanding and mutual acceptance, are rapidly eroding.

The Queer Montenegro stated that under such living conditions injustices towards marginalized social groups become most pronounced.

“Although Montenegrin laws clearly define discrimination, hate speech and hate crime against LGBTIQ persons as criminal offenses, their practical application remains concerningly inconsistent and ineffective”, according to Queer Montenegro.

They added that the judicial system rarely acts in line with the law, with most cases mostly reduced to misdemeanors, while the punishments are minimal and disproportionate to the crimes committed, and the motive of hatred is frequently ignored. 

According to the Queer Montenegro, the challenges faced by LGBTIQ community are only the most visible symptom of a wider social crisis, one that undermines the rule of law and hinders coexistence and mutual respect.