Montenegro legalized same-sex civil partnerships, in a 42-5 vote among the country’s lawmakers. With this move, it becomes the first European country outside of Western Europe and the European Union to legally recognize same-sex couples.
This is not a complete win, by any means.
While the new law will give same-sex couples the same legal rights as mixed-sex couples, same-sex couples will not have the right to adopt.
The country’s president, Milo Đukanović, tweeted that they were now “one step closer to joining the most developed world democracies.”
The law will come into effect next year, with details yet to be finalized, as well as government clerks needing to undergo training.
Montenegro’s pro-LGBTQIA move is only one of the country’s moves largely driven by its attempt to join the European Union. Another move includes anti-discrimination training for police services and health workers.
Still in the Balkans, parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina are also set to start a consultation that could mean the government starts recognizing same-sex relationships. Now this is worth highlighting: The country is divided into two self-governing entities, and only the Federation is considering the move. The conservative Republika Srpska, which covers less than the Federation, is not considering it.
