Care2
July 28, 2013
This week saw Montenegro’s LGBT community hold its first official Pride event despite a crowd of several hundred protesters chanting “Kill the Gays” and threatening violence.
It is estimated that around 200 demonstrators hurled various implements including bottles, stones and even torches as police in the coastal town of Budva attempted to protect the 40 or so rainbow-clad marchers.
Prior to the parade, it has been reported that some newspapers went so far as to publish obituaries of key gay rights figures, and during the parade many anti-gay protesters, some of whom were wearing ski masks, chanted “Kill the Gays.” This was answered, Reuters reports, by gay rights marchers chanting “Kiss the Gays.”
At one point the attending police, clad in anti-riot gear, were forced to push back protesters so the march could continue. Several arrests were made.
Police were able to hold the anti-gay protesters back long enough for some gay rights demonstrators to make a few quick speeches but, reports say, the marchers were later forced to flee the area by boat as police held back the anti-gay crowd.
You can watch a short video of events below. The sound is low, but the images speak volumes as to the level of antagonism shown by the anti-gay protesters: