- Title: MONTENEGRO-GAY PRIDE Pride parade ends peacefully in Montenegro
- Date: 2nd November 2014
- Summary: PODGORICA, MONTENEGRO (NOVEMBER 2, 2014) (REUTERS) GAY ACTIVISTS PREPARING TO MARCH CARRYING BANNERS, READING (Montenegrin): "NOT OVER OUR BACK" AND "WE HAVE JUST STARTED" TWO GAY ACTIVISTS SMILING BANNER, READING (Montenegrin): "WE HAVE JUST STARTED" POP SINGER, MARINA PERAZIC, AT THE EVENT VARIOUS OF GAY PRIDE ACTIVISTS WALKING AND CARRYING BANNER, READING (Montenegrin): "TRADITIONALLY PROUD"
- Embargoed: 17th November 2014 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Montenegro
- Country: Montenegro
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVACRSIVRW7FVZJYDTM59IIZT09L
- Story Text: A Pride march in the Montenegro capital of Podgorica finished on Sunday (November 1), without any incident.
In what was Podgorica's second Pride parade and the country's third, almost 2,000 police officers were deployed to secure the streets in the city centre, making a security zone for the march
Some 100 people walked through the city centre, carrying banners and a big rainbow flag.
Local media reported that there were minor incidents and arrests in the wider "security zone" away from the walking route.
"Well we also have an activist, who has been verbally intimidated daily, on a street, but sometimes physically abused. I think that more should be done on educating people," said Stevan Milivojevic, from the LGBT Forum "Progres".
One of the event's organisers, Danijel Kalezic, said: "For us, members of the LGBT population, this means freedom. In this town, we have some freedom; we walk, not hiding what we are."
Montenegrin Minister for Human and Minority Rights Suad Numanovic said that he was glad the parade went smoothly and that the government would work to create equal opportunities for all citizens.
But some residents of Podgorica were against the march.
"My opinion is negative, I am very against such parades," said Podgorica resident, Nikola Vuckovic.
For another Podgorica resident, Rajko Stojanovic, said it was a shame for the city.
"This is not a Pride parade, this is a parade of shame for Montenegro, this is not a Montenegro that people fought for," he said.
"Everyone has a right of choice, whether it's sexual or political, but too much exposure is not good," said Mileva Scepanovic.
Unlike last year, when some protesters clashed with police, this time the atmosphere was completely different.
Among the participants were the mayor of Podgorica, as well as the German and Italian ambassadors to Montenegro, and representatives of LGBT organisations from neighbouring counties.
The participants in the parade walked from the city centre towards the old government building, and back.
The slogan of this year's Pride was "Traditionally proud".
The march ended with a Marina Perazic concert.
The ex-Yugoslav pop star travelled to Montenegro to support the event.
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