When we talk about trans and gender diverse people in Montenegro, we often come across reactions that reflect fear, ignorance and prejudice. These reactions primarily result from the lack of understanding of differences between gender and sex, as well as deeply rooted gender roles and norms envisaged for those perceived by society as „men“ or „women“.
This manual was created with the aim of providing information on issues important for transgender and gender diverse persons. It is intended for them, as well as their families, friends, partners, and anyone who wants to get acquainted with this topic.
Within the Transposium IV, we published a series of publications titled „Gender Diversity“. Packed in pocket editions, they refer to the basic terminology of trans persons, trans identities, how to treat trans person respectfully, explanation of all forms of transfobia, but also mechanisms that can be used overcome it.
Recommendations for media reporting on trans, gender diverse and intersex persons
The purpose of this brochure is to provide guidelines to journalists on the manner of reporting on trans, gender diverse and intersex persons, in a respectful and adequate manner, which will serve to raise awareness of trans and inter-topics, as well as to promote human rights and the position of trans, gender diverse and intersex persons in society. In these recommendations, you can find an explanation of adequate terminology, examples of positive and negative reporting, useful tips during reporting itself about transgender, gender diverse and intersex people, as well as a selection of potential topics of relevance to media reporting.
Prior to the Transposium IV, we published a regional competition for short stories titled „We celebrate our diversity“. The publication contains 13 personal stories of trans, gender diverse and intersex persons from the region who have decided to use artistic way to share their personal experience of their own identity, the influence of society on our own understanding of themselves, and ultimately their liberation.
In today’s time in which human rights and respect for human freedoms and dignity are a priority, discrimination and violence experienced by the most vulnerable groups points to the need to create clear protocols and standardized procedures that adequately address the needs of these groups, reduce discrimination and violence until their eradication , and allow for the respectful treatment of persons deprived of their liberty and are placed in an additional disadvantage due to some personal characteristic. The investigation conducted at the Institute for Execution of Criminal Sanctions (IECS) aims to point out to the existing problems that LGBT prisoners face in serving prison sentences and to offer effective solutions that will enable the safe stay of LGBT persons in prison and create opportunities for their successful social reintegration after the execution of the sentence. The research deals in particular with the problems and human rights of transgender persons in the execution of a prison sentence, taking into account the specificity of the situation in which they are located, due to the perceived gender, as well as the gender mark in documents that is often incompatible with their gender identity.
The State of Montenegro belongs to the order of states that prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity and provides the possibility of gender affirming surgeries with financing from the Health Insurance Fund. However, from the aspect of legal recognition of transgender persons, Montenegro remained at the level of a declarative ban on discrimination. The study, conducted by the Institute for Legal Studies, in partnership with Queer Montenegro and NGO Juventas, in consultation with Spectra, aims to provide an adequate legal solution with regard to the proposal of the Law on gender and sex identity, that will ensure the resolution of legal recognition of the transgender, but also the rights of intersex persons in the legal system of Montenegro. The proposal of the Law on Gender and Sex Identity, if adopted, will give the right to legal gender recognition for transgender people without medical interventions, in consultation with psychologist, as the only precondition, which is a significant step forward and a step towards legal recognition of the gender based on self-determination. In addition, the law would prohibit all unnecessary surgical interventions on intersex persons, introduce an additional „D“ gender mark for those who want it, but also regulated numerous rights related to family life and the prohibition of discrimination in various spheres of life.
Asocijacija Spektra 