World news story

SeaSidePride event in Montenegro

Promoting equal rights

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

On Wednesday 24 July, the British Embassy will be joining the celebrations of the SeaSidePride event in Budva. This parade is not just about LGBT people standing up for their rights, it is about all of us - straight or gay - supporting them in their quest for equality. It is about saying no to intolerance, no to prejudice, no to discrimination, and no to violence. It is about embracing diversity.

The UK’s position is simple: in an open and diverse society, everyone should be treated equally, irrespective of sexual orientation. We fully support the efforts of civil society organisations and the Montenegrin government in promoting these values that we share, particularly through the recent adoption of the Strategy for Improvement of the Quality of Life of LGBT Persons. We all need to work together to make everybody feel a part of society, of a larger whole. By excluding and labelling people we limit not only their freedom, but also our own. And the world becomes a smaller place.

The British Embassy Podgorica is proud to support the SeaSidePride event in Budva and to participate in the parade. We will continue to promote diversity, tolerance and mutual respect in order to create a climate in which people feel free to be themselves.

Published 23 July 2013