Man, even Uganda has more than one openly gay guy. Meet Zdravko Cimbaljevic. He’s highly cute, brave as fuck, and the only openly gay person in the Southeastern European country of Montenegro. Cimbaljevic was the first person to come out of the closet in his extremely homophobic country, and shit got real. It mostly got real for him as he was basically chased out of his country by his fellow citizens and an uncaring police force. Via Towleroad:
“The death threats and assaults began almost immediately, Buzzfeed reports, with his father disowning him, his extended family cutting him off, his neighbor attacking him in the street, and receiving death threats like one posted in public that read:
“With his blown-out ass, we announce that on the day of July 24 2013 in 12 a.m., in front of the Walls of The Old Town Budva, his soul will depart in death, our afflicted and never overf–ked brother … ZDRAVKO CIMBALJEVIC. Commemoration of the dearly screwed deceased will be held in former Government building.”
Someone in Budva, Montenegro has a real talent for lyrical death threats. Zdravko sought asylum in Canada after leading a Pride march in his hometown this summer. He told the press that he wouldn’t have done so if just ONE person in authority had come to his aid.
Cimbaljevic’s bravery might have come at a cost, but it also inspired change. On Sunday, Montenegro’s capital city of Podgorica held their first Pride march. Organizers pointed to Zdravko Cimbaljevic as their inspiration.
“I was frightened in the beginning, but it really was easier for me than it was for Zdravko,” [Stevan] Milivojevic said. Gay and lesbian issues have been part of the national discussion since Cimbaljevic came out — people are at least aware that LGBTs exist within Montenegro now. “My parents and friends and all my surrounding people supported me,” he said.
We salute you Zdravko Cimbaljevic.
– J. Harvey
Check out more pics of this handsome young trailblazer below:
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Wow… Powerful story. Thanks for sharing it. We salute you, Zdravko
I saw on CNN, I believe, that the event in Podgorica wasn’t affected, but elsewhere in the city the nutjobs threw tantrums and the police were called in for riots, looting, etc.
Heavens bless him. That is major and I wish him the very best in his endeavors.
We need more men and women like Cimbaljevic stepping up and helping change the deep discourse.
Obviously many humans have not evolved much in the past century.
And in general we need so much more of these positive, inclusive and mindful realities in gay media, and all of media. We seem to be drowning in mindless proclivities.
Hopefully the value of such a stance will have widespread appreciation.