Montenegro legalizes same-sex couples

Montenegro has become the first European country outside of Western Europe and the EU to legally recognize same-sex couples, TopNaija can confirm.

President Milo Djukanovic said it was a confirmation that Montenegrin society “is maturing.”

The Balkan nation of Montenegro legalized same-sex partnerships on Wednesday. President Milo Djukanovic described the moment as “one step closer to joining the most developed world democracies.”

Montenegro is considered a predominantly conservative and male-dominated society, where the LGBT+ community has often faced rejection and harassment.

But the country’s government is currently undergoing advanced negotiations to join the EU. Boosting the rights of minority groups has been seen as necessary for the EU integration process.

The move makes Montenegro the first European country outside of Western Europe and the EU to legally recognize same-sex partnerships.

However, public expression of affection among same-sex couples is still not widely tolerated, according to surveys.

On Twitter, President Milo Djukanovic, whose ruling Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) backed the law, said Montenegro was taking “one step closer to joining the most developed world democracies!”.