Staunchly conservative Montenegro makes history with first same-sex civil partnership

The first-ever same-sex civil partnership has been registered in Montenegro, a year after the country narrowly legalised same-sex unions.

In July 2020, Montenegro became the first non-EU Balkan country to pass a law on same-sex civil partnerships . However, the decision was extremely close, with the law receiving 42 votes in the 81-seat parliament.

The 'Law on Life Partnership' gives same-sex couples almost all of the same rights as heterosexual married couples, barring the ability to adopt or foster children.

Since the law was passed, LGBT + people in Montenegro have been left in limbo, waiting for amendments to multiple other laws and legal procedures.

Now, finally, the first legal same-sex partnership has been registered.

According to Balkan Insight , the union was between two women, who both live abroad but are of Montenegrin origin. They tied the knot in the town of Budva.

Milijana Vukotic Jelusic, a municipal official in the town, told the newspaper Vijesti: "We are glad that our municipality was able to be the first to apply the Law on Life Partnership and we wish happiness and a lot of love to the partners in their life together."

Montenegro's minister of public administration, digital society and media, Tamara Srzentic, added: "Although the law was adopted a year ago, much more needs to be done to meet all the preconditions for its full implementation.

"The LGBT+ community will always have an ally in me for all activities that contribute to improving the quality of their life."

Half of Montenegro's citizens think gay people are a danger to society

While same-sex civil unions are a step in the right direction, Montenegro remains extremely religious and conservative, and the country's constitution has banned same-sex marriage since 2007.

Although the Montenegrin Parliament passed a law banning discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in 2010, according to Balkan Insight , surveys have shown that 71 per cent of the country's citizens view homosexuality as an "illness", and half believe gay people are a danger to society.