LGBT Forum Progres submitted a report regarding Amfilohi's statements

LGBT Forum Progres announced that as part of regular monitoring of public space and registration of cases of hate speech and discrimination, it filed reports for violation of human rights of LGBTIQ persons, spread of intolerance and discrimination, and publication of factually unfounded allegations. One report refers to the statement of Metropolitan Amfilohi Radović.

The president of LGBT Forum Progres, Bojana Jokić, said that Amfilohi's allegations are very discriminatory.

"Also, we want to highlight the fact that the statements of Metropolitan Amfilohi Radović are very discriminatory and represent the spread of hatred and intolerance towards LGBTIQ people. Such attitudes are not unexpected and surprising when it comes to Mr. Radović, but we must emphasize that this time they are part of an organized campaign which is conducted against the LGBTIQ community in the Balkans and by which we are trying to categorize ourselves as sick people, which is completely untrue. homosexuality is a disease," said Jokić.

She said that the fact that the public word Amfilohija has weight and significance among part of the domestic public, "as well as that it entails negative actions directed against the LGBTIQ community."

"In our work, we noted that, after every negative statement by Amfilohi Radović, the level of hate speech against LGBTIQ people on the Internet increases, and there is an increase in the violence that LGBTIQ people suffer in their daily lives. We hope that the competent authorities will finally take seriously the reports that are filed against Mr. Radović, and that his hateful statements will be adequately processed and treated in accordance with Montenegrin legislation," said Jokić.

The LGBT Forum Progres calls on all public actors in Montenegro to "recognize the seriousness of the situation that is gradually developing to the detriment of the LGBTIQ community, i.e. to recognize that a broad negative campaign is being conducted that aims to equate homosexuality with pedophilia, and to categorize LGBTIQ persons as the sick and draw targets on their backs."

"It is the obligation and responsibility of all of us to react and stand up for the protection of all citizens of Montenegro who suffer any form of violence and discrimination, especially if it is coordinated and comes from public figures and the media," LGBT Forum Progres announced.