Montenegro: 60% consider homosexuality an illness, survey

(ANSAmed) - PODGORICA, FEBRUARY 21 - Sixty percent of Montenegrins consider homosexuality an illness, according to a survey carried out recently in the small Balkan country. In the survey, conducted by the Centre for Civic Education (CGO) and the gay movement Progres in collaboration with the Canadian embassy in Podgorica, 52% say they support the right of homosexuals to publicly declare their sexual orientation, compared with 45% who are against it. Another 25% say they believe that homosexuals are a group of people at risk and who should be helped to achieve their rights, a statement rejected by 40% of the respondents. Even neighbouring Serbia homosexual are looked on with suspicion and oftentimes with open hostility. Last October's Gay Pride event scheduled to take place in Belgrade was called off at the last moment due to serious threats from a group of homophobic extremists and ultra-nationalists, who had threatened to carry out acts of violence and cause incidents. (ANSAmed).