RIGA, May 29, 2007  –  A draft new partnership law will a unveiled on Friday at a Riga Friendship Days and Gay Pride seminar

Five seminars will form part of Riga Friendship Days and Gay Pride, this coming weekend, in addition to the march, film screenings and party nights.

On Friday morning (June 1) a draft law for partnerships will be unveiled at a Family in Contemporary Latvia seminar  in the Riga Conference Centre

The aim of this draft proposal for legislation will be to gain legal rights for same-sex couples, as well as secure certain rights for any co-habiting couples who are not married, regardless of sexual orientation.

The most visible event as well as the culmination of the Friendship Days will be the Equality March, which will take place in Vermanes Gardens on the 3rd of June at 12:00 noon. The gathering for the event will be from 10:00am.

Linda Freimane, a board member of Mozaika, the Alliance of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transgender People and Their Friends, pointed out that their had been a lot of discussion in Latvia recently on the “sexual minority” parade and its necessity.

“Our opinion is that this parade is necessary and we are working toward this goal.  Why?  By taking to the streets, LGBT people will become more visible and this will promote discussion about sexual orientation, LGBT rights, human diversity, mutual respect and human rights.

“Since Latvia regained her independence there have been a lot of educational events, conferences and seminars about homo- and bisexuality, but only this parade has been able to gain the serious attention of the Latvian media for LGBT people and their social and legal situation.

“Only after such a parade will politicians, leaders and even different groups in society start to speak about this theme and define their positions.  But the first step of this discussion is gaining equality,” she said.

“We also reject the idea that the parade will only worsen public opinion toward sexual minorities and that society does not want to se LGBT people in the public arena. It is important to remember that social attitudes do not change overnight.

“Holding a public discussion for a greater number of people will provide these people with the opportunity to learn more about LGBT people and their situation in Latvia, to get to know more about them, and in that way be able to form an objective and informed opinion. LGBT people are an integral part of society and they have their rights to public space just the same as anyone else.

“Another important goal of the parade is to secure support and solidarity for those thousands of LGBT people in Latvia who are currently afraid to live openly in society and give them some sign of hope, Ms. Freimane concluded.

Mozaika stresses that the main idea behind the Equality March is affirm our conviction in equal rights and respect for all people in Latvia, despite of differences and regardless of sexual orientations.

“We would also like to emphasise that the Republic of Latvia is a democratic society ruled by law and as such has a positive duty to safeguard the right to freedom of assembly which belongs to all people, regardless of their sexual orientation,” a from the group says.

A wide variety of seminar programmes has been organised and aimed towards various interest groups.  The seminars are:

● about human sexuality
● about discrimination in the workplace and ways to fight against this discrimination
● about the role of the police in combating crimes that are based on hate and homophobia
● for parents, relatives and friends  of LGBT people who would like to better understand homo- and bisexuality, as well as share their problems and concerns, and to gain mutual support
● about the London and Stockholm experiences of the positive influence of Prides celebrations on the economics and image of both capitals.

■ Riga Friendship Days and Gay Pride 2007 is between May 31 and June 3.  For details of all events in English, click HERE.  Hier findest du die Programme auf Deutsch.

Printable guide to Friendship Days with map of central Riga showing event location and the gay venues (PDF file in 'landscape'), click HERE

More information can be found on our website: www.mozaika.lv

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