Anti-gay protesters have marred the first-ever Gay Pride Parade in Latvia.  The protesters hurled eggs and abuse as the parade wound through the streets of the capital, Riga.

Police were forced to alter the planned route after concerns for the safety of those on the march which included some from other countries.  Protester heavily outnumbered those on the parade.

As police surrounded the march to protect those taking part, a number of protesters were arrested.

Earlier in the week, the Riga city authorities revered the original permission to allow the parade following remarks made on television by the Latvian Prime Minister, Aigars Kalvitis, who opposed Gay Pride.

But yesterday (Friday) the courts ruled that the parade must go ahead.

Gay Pride Parades: Belfast on the Brink of Joining Chisinau, Bucharest, Warsaw and Riga.  Problems with Gay Prides from officialdom in Europe have been experienced this year in Chisinau (Moldova), Bucharest (Romania), Warsaw (Poland) and Riga (Latvia).  But by the end of this week, it is possible – and perhaps unthinkable – that Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom, will be added to this list.

See also:
Riga Gay Pride: “A Sad, Sad Day. Society Is Sick” – Juris Lavrikovs (July 24)
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)