#S1EP8 -  Same-sex Unions

#S1EP8 - Same-sex Unions

Author: Kosovo 2.0 February 9, 2023 Duration: 57:45
Besa Luci in conversation with Jelena Čolaković and Valmira Rashiti.In this episode we talk about the legal recognition of LGBTQ+ rights, with a focus on same-sex unions.Securing fundamental human rights across the Balkans is an ongoing challenge, and some groups are more discriminated against than others. In terms of the human rights of LGBTQ+ people, governments across the region often dismiss the fact that queer people are deserving of all the rights and respect as any other citizen.Recent legislative discussions in Kosovo about a new Civil Code demonstrated this tendency. Many Assembly members’ refused to move forward on a set of policies and laws that would improve citizens’ lives simply because they were in opposition to a single article in the Code which would have opened a path to same-sex civil unions in Kosovo.During the parliamentary discussions, representatives, many of whom were from the progressive left party, demonstrated that they don’t see LGBTQ+ people as full citizens. Homophobic statements in the Assembly echoed out across the country and prompted hate speech on social media, marking a setback for the fight for human rights.Similar institutionalized homophobia is common in neighboring countries. But in 2020, Montenegro took a first step towards legalizing same-sex civil partnerships, though with a very narrow majority. While this was touted as a historical step by government representatives, the right to adopt or foster children remains inaccessible, meaning that there is still a long path to full equality.Two guests joined us in this episode to discuss what the progress, or lack thereof, for same-sex unions tells us about LGBTQ+ recognition as well as societies’ understandings of the institution of the family. Jelena Čolaković is program director of Juventas, a Montenegro-based NGO working in social justice.Valmira Rashiti is Gender Mainstreaming Officer at Kosovo Women's Network, an NGO supporting, protecting and promoting the rights of women in Kosovo.This podcast is part of the Human Rightivism project, which is funded by the Embassy of Sweden in Prishtina, implemented by the Community Development Fund through its Human Rightivism Program. The author’s views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the Embassy of Sweden in Prishtina.

In each episode of Other Talking Points, a production of Kosovo 2.0, editor-in-chief Besa Luci sits down with a guest whose voice and work challenge conventional narratives. These are not hurried interviews but considered conversations, often meandering through personal history, creative process, and critical thought. You’ll hear from authors dissecting the narratives of place, scholars questioning entrenched ideas, artists explaining the impetus behind their work, and activists detailing the realities of their struggles. The guests hail primarily from Kosovo and the surrounding region, but the scope frequently widens to include compelling voices from across the globe, creating a unique dialogue between local context and wider currents of thought. This podcast operates in the spaces between news and commentary, offering depth and nuance where headlines often fall short. The aim is to move beyond the usual soundbites and talking points that dominate public discourse, hence the name. By focusing intently on an individual’s journey and intellectual contributions, each discussion naturally opens up to reveal new perspectives on politics, culture, society, and what it means to engage with the world thoughtfully. Listening feels like being present for a genuine exchange, one that prioritizes understanding over simple debate. It’s for anyone curious about the forces shaping contemporary life in Southeast Europe and beyond, delivered through the intimate, unfolding format that only a thoughtful podcast can provide. The result is a collection of episodes that together build a complex and human portrait of the issues that define our time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 23

Other Talking Points
Podcast Episodes
#S2EP8 - Reviewing 2023 with the K2.0 editorial desk [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:44
Besa Luci in conversation with Gentiana Paçarizi and Aulonë Kadriu. We are leaving behind a year full of developments in Kosovo, the region and beyond. As always, we as journalists find ourselves having to be attentive a…
#S2EP5 - Investigating corruption and facing the corrupt [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:34
Besa Luci in conversation with Paul Caruana Galizia and Jeta Xharra. In this episode, we talk about threats to journalism and to journalists covering topics that those in power seek to conceal.In his recently published b…
#S2EP4 - Sports: a unifying and divisive force [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:05
Besa Luci in conversation with Loic Tregoures and Albert Mecini.If there’s one form of entertainment that can be considered universal, it’s sports. Be it through regular state games, regional matches, or worldwide compet…
#S2EP3 - Drag in the region, a career and a cause [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:54
Besa Luci in conversation with Adelina Rose and Lana Vee.Drag is thriving in our region, both as a form of art and as a tool for radical change. The vibrant art of drag is becoming ever more present in the public sphere.…
#S2EP2 - Behind the lens of Balkan filmmaking today [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:22
Besa Luci in conversation with Kaltrina Krasniqi and Kumjana Novakova. In this episode, we will be talking about contemporary cinematography in the region. The region has always been rich in filmmaking. Each generation o…
#S2EP1 - Who's shaping the narratives on the Balkans? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:01
Besa Luci in conversation with Aida Hozić and Aidan Hehir. In this first episode, we will be talking about political discourses and narratives about the region — how they're constructed, how they relate to political real…
#S1EP15 - Should I stay or should I go? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:42
Besa Luci in conversation with Ilir Gashi and Aulonë Kadriu.In our last episode of the first season of Other Talking Points, we are revisiting the topic of travel.Not long ago, when we recorded our first episode, we talk…
#S1EP14 - Oral history and the reimagining of historical memory [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:20
Besa Luci in conversation with Erëmirë Krasniqi and Milena Prevelić.Historical memory is shaped by what is documented. What we remember or celebrate, what we overlook or forget, is a result of the narratives we choose, o…