LATVIA
Prominent Foreign Politicians to Take Part in Riga Pride
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RIGA, July 12, 2006 – Several European politicians will be taking part in Friendship Days and Riga Gay Pride, due to take place in the Latvian capital next week. Tjeerd Herrema, deputy mayor of Amsterdam, confirmed today that he will be at the Pride. He will be joined by two Members of the European Parliament and domestic MPs from three countries. All have accepted invitations from Mozaika, the Latvian alliance of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people and their friends. Politicians attending are: ■ Sophie In’t Veld, member of the European Parliament and a vice president of the parliament’s Intergroup on gay and lesbian rights, Alliance of Liberals and Democrats of Europe, the Netherlands; ■ Raül Romeva i Rueda, member of the European Parliament and a vice president of the parliament’s Intergroup on gay and lesbian rights, Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance, Spain; ■ Ulrike Lunacek, member of the Austrian Parliament from the Green Party; ■ Martin Andreason, member of the Swedish Parliament from the Liberal Party accompanied by a groups of the Swedish Liberal Party, and ■ Simon Emil Ammitzbol, member of the Danish Parliament from the Social Liberal Party. Another of the participants of the Friendship Days and the Riga Pride will be Captain Krister Fahlstedt, who represents the Swedish Armed Forces in the EU equality -project “All Clear”. This project is a co-operation between employers, trade unions and NGOs in order to tackle discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation at the workplace. “We are grateful to all foreign politicians for their support,” said Linda Freimane, board member of Mozaika. “Latvia is a full member of such international organisations as the United Nations, Council of Europe, the European Union and NATO and consequently signed up to the principles of human rights and non-discrimination. “Following the events of the last year pride in Riga, Latvia became a subject of attention in regards to the situation of LGBT people by various foreign politicians. “Here in Riga they will be able to learn more about the current situation, provide support to the Latvian LGBT community as well as share their experience in promoting tolerance with the local politicians.” This year three groups have come together to organise Riga Pride – ILGA Latvija, Mozaika and Rīgas Praids. Ken Livingstone, the mayor of London, and the mayor of San Francisco Gavin Newsom have both written letters of support from Riga Pride. These, and a letter from former Swedish justice minister and foreign minister Laila Freivalds, will be read out at Pride. < Riga Pride is on Saturday July 22. Visit the Mozaika website for full Pride and Friendship Days programme. LINKS
OTHER RIGA PRIDE COVERAGE
Neo-Nazis Terrorise Riga Gay Pride Rally.
By Peter Tatchell. Neo-Nazi, Christian fundamentalist and extreme
nationalist protesters terrorised participants at the Gay Pride rally in the
Latvian capital of Riga last Saturday (July 22, 2006). Private armed guards
were drafted in to provide security, after the Latvian police repeatedly
failed to halt the aggression of the homophobic mob.
(UK
Gay News, July 22, 2006)
Riga Gay
Pride: Lars Grava - “The Story That Needs To Be Told”.
Open Letter From Lars Grava.
Dearest friends: I am writing this in English since the story needs to be
told far and wide. This is the story from my perspective. Everyone else who
was there will have other stories to share. Gaston and I are safe after yesterday's well-organized
fascist attacks against the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered
community in Riga during Pride.
(UK
Gay News, July 22, 2006)
Gay Pride Organisers "Trapped" in Riga Hotel
– Rescued by Cabinet Minister
Organisers of Riga Gay Pride
have been "rescued" after being trapped for hours in the in the Reval Latvia Hotel, with "hysterical"
protesters surrounding the building. (UK
Gay News, July 22, 2006)
Riga Gay Pride: Putting the European Union to the Test.
Commentary.
Sophie In’t Veld, the Dutch MEP and a vice president of
the European Parliament’s Intergroup for gay and lesbian rights did not
mince her words. “It’s putting Europe to the test,” she charged.
(UK
Gay News, July 22, 2006)
Prohibiting Gay Rights March Is Blow for
Democracy.
Commentary by
Mozaīka. ...
Democracy is being held hostage by the
strengthening forces of extremism in Latvian society. These forces have
been encouraged by the unwillingness of the political elite to rein them in,
and indeed by the continuous barrage of hate speech indulged in with
impunity by many politicians themselves.
(UK
Gay News, July 22, 2006)
Riga Gay Pride: It's Worse Than Moscow.
By Nikolai Alexeyev. It is astonishing. It’s worse than Moscow.
There is total chaos here. The police seem very weak and disorganized. The
fascists are able to act at will. And Latvia is in the European Union.
(UK
Gay News, July 22, 2006)
Citing National Security,
Court Says No To Riga Gay Pride. The
Administrative Court in Riga has this afternoon upheld the decision of the
City authorities to ban the Gay Pride Parade, due to be held tomorrow, on
the grounds of “national security” and concerns over public order. (UK
Gay News, July 21, 2006)
Riga Gay Pride: We Will
Not Organise Any Illegal Event. As the decision of the
Administrative Court as to whether or not tomorrow’s Gay Pride March in Riga
can go ahead, organisers said today that “regardless of the outcome, we will
not organise any illegal event”.
(UK
Gay News, July 21, 2006)
Riga Gay Pride March Ban
Is Wrong Says, Euro-MP Cashman. Labour MEP Michael Cashman has reacted with anger at the decision by authorities in
Latvia to ban this year’s Pride march which was scheduled for this Saturday
(22nd July).
(UK
Gay News, July 20, 2006)
Latvian President and
Amnesty Both Condemn Restriction of LGBT Rights. The President of
Latvia and Amnesty International (AI) have both issued statements this
morning following yesterday’s decision by the Riga City Council to ban this
weekend’s planned Gay Pride march in the capital.
(UK
Gay News, July 19, 2006)
A Blow for Democracy: Riga
Council Denies Permit for Gay Pride March. The Riga city council
this morning denied a permit Saturday’s “Riga Pride 2006” march. The city council justified its
decision by invoking threats of violence allegedly received from extremist
groups – and the police’s inability to guarantee security and order during
the march. (UK Gay News, July 19, 2006)
Latvian Priest Strongly
Supports Riga Gay Pride. An
English translation of an interview with openly gay Maris Sants conducted by
GayRussia website.
(UK Gay News, July 17, 2006)
Tension and Uncertainty
Rising Around Second Gay Pride in Riga. Latvian interior minister Dzintars Jaundžeikars went on record last week that the
Interior Ministry would not be able to provide adequate security during this
year’s Pride March, scheduled to be held on Saturday (July 22).
(UK Gay News, July 16, 2006)
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Posted: 12 July 2006 at 22:00 (UK time)