The Pride parade scheduled to be held in the Latvian capital, Riga, on Saturday (July 23) has been cancelled, according to Russian agency reports.  It is the first gay pride to be staged in Latvia.

This has been confirmed by the Pride office is Riga.  And UK Gay News was told that Pride will go ahead..

Permission for the parade was originally given by the city authorites.  But Erik Shkapars, the city’s executive director, has withdrawn the permission, following criticism of the event by the Latvian Prime Minister, Aigars Kalvitis.

Holding the Pride Parade near the historic Dom Cathedral was, Kalvitis suggested, “totally inadmissible”.  Latvia was a country of traditional Christian values, he pointed out.

Most of Latvia’s political parties have condemned the parade.

Lativa is a member State of the European Union.

The Riga Pride website describes the event as “an educational and informative event. It is organized for the first time in Latvia and its goal is to promote tolerance towards sexual minorities in Latvian society. The motto of this pride is - I want to believe that I can be free! It is a significant step towards an open and democratic state and society in the context of European Union. It would be a benefit for the society as well as for politicians - they will acquire a wider knowledge and more information in human rights.”

Events are due to start at 11 am with a three-hour conference that will discuss such topics as religion, human rights, homophobia and Latvian and EU policies on sexual minorities.

Then the parade is scheduled for 4pm.  It is not clear yet whether or not the parade will go ahead.

Then, at 5pm, a religious service will be held in the St. Saviour Anglican Church.

Earlier this year, Pride parades were cancelled by city authorities in Bucharest, Romania, and Warsaw, Poland.  But both went ahead following international pressure, especially from the European Union.

The Pride parade in Belfast, Northern Ireland, next month is not certain to go ahead.  Organisers are awaiting permission from the Parade Commission following objections from parts of the religious community.  The decision is expected at the end of next week.

See Also Updates:

Riga Gay Pride: “A Sad, Sad Day. Society Is Sick” – Juris Lavrikovs (July 24)
Eggs and Abuse Hurled by Protesters at Riga Gay Pride Parade (July 23)
Court Says Riga Gay Pride Can Go Ahead Tomorrow (July 22)
We Are Going Ahead, Riga Gay Pride Organisers Pledge (July 20)
Saturday's Pride Parade in Riga Cancelled by City Authorities (July 20)

LINK

Riga Pride website

20 July 2005