■ Rev. Maris Sants:  “I think Jesus was very provocative.  I am convinced he would have gone together with Russian gays to take flowers to the tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow [at Moscow Pride].  He would provoke the society.” (photo: GayRussia)

The following is an English translation of an interview with openly gay Maris Sants conducted by GayRussia website.

A few days before the second-ever Gay Pride Parade takes to the streets of Riga, GayRussia met Maris Sants.  The Anglican priest told of his life and the reasons of his support to the gay movement.  He also answered the criticism that was published recently in Russia about his plans to hold a service at the Anglican church after the gay human rights march in Riga on Saturday.

GayRussia (GR):  Can you tell us a bit more about your background?

Maris Sants (MS):  I am 40.  I was born in a communist family.  When I was 12, I recognized that I was gay and I tried all sort of therapy to change my sexual orientation.  I visited several psychiatrists and psychologists in six different countries!

When I was 17, after I tried a lot of doctors who did not succeed in changing me, I became Christian.  At that point, I understood that if people cannot accept me, and I cannot accept myself, then God will accept me.  Finally, I became Christian only because I was homosexual.  When I was 25, I went to the Theology Faculty and then I became priest.

When I was 33, I started to understand that God has no problem with my sexual orientation.  I understood that the problem comes from people who do not accept us.  But when I was 36, I was excommunicated from the church by the Archbishop of Latvia because of my homosexuality.

GR:  Last year you held a service at the Anglican Church at the conclusion of  the first Riga Pride. Why?

MS:  I believe that there is nothing wrong in being gay.  Churches are doing very wrong things.  Probably in 10 or 20 years, they will have excuses for having burned and stoned so many of us in the past. I believe that God is different.  God knows that being gay is not a choice.

GR : Will you organise a similar service next Saturday at the second pride?

MS:  Yes.  There will be a service.  It has been taken out of the official schedule because of fears of aggression.  But anyone who wishes to attend can get the schedule from the organisers.  Unlike last year, the Pride will be separated from the service.  In fact, last year the police asked if all the Pride participants could go into the church for security reasons.  They wanted to avoid having people being attacked in the streets at the end of the Pride.  There was no intention to end the pride in the church.

GR : Some say that your service is a “provocation”...

MS:  I believe that holding Prides all over the world is a provocation – and there is nothing bad in that.  We provoke hypocritical society and the hypocritical church.  By doing that, we just ask them to change.  Yes, it provokes a debate in the society; and this is the purpose.  I think Jesus was very provocative.  I am convinced he would have gone together with Russian gays to take flowers to the tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow.  He would provoke the society.

GR : After some disputes within the Latvian gay community, two applications were submitted to the city council.  Finally, a few days ago, both sides agreed to organize one united Pride event.  Are you really all united?

MS:  It’s a very complex question.  Some people hate Christianity because of the current policy of the church.  There are three organisations around Pride.  Two of them do not support anything connected to the church.  Last year they were happy because the church helped us all to organize the pride.  Last week, we have signed an agreement in which we agreed not to criticize each other in the public space.  So, I am not going to criticise them even if they criticise me.  I don’t want to break my agreement.

GR : In Latvia, despite the troubles of the first Pride last year, no one says that a Gay Pride should not be organised.  What would you say to the Russian gays who are opposed to any march for their human rights?

MS:  I would say that honesty is a value.  Trying to pretend that you are not gay is a sin.  People should respect those who are out and fight for the rights of the community.  Because of such people who are fighting, there can be places where gays can meet.  I think they have to respect those who fight for gay rights.  This is a very important thing which benefits everyone.  I have faced lots of aggressions from gays and lesbians who think that I am doing everything wrong, but because of this we have a church that bless same sex unions. 

GR : The website gay.ru has reported that organisers of the Riga Pride have refused to allow you to organize a service at the Anglican church this year.  Can you explain the situation?

MS:  It’s totally wrong!  No one has ever asked me not to organise this service.  Only some of the organisers have published negative things about the service.  In fact, I found out about this while reading this news published by gay.ru.  No one told me anything directly.

GR:  Would you say that there is a division between the Russian minority and the Latvian gay community?

MS:  Not in the church.  My Russian is not as good as I would like it to be – and this is the reason why I cannot conduct a service in Russian.  In fact, I have married some Russian same sex couples and I did the services in Russian.  In our congregation, there are lots of Russian people.  In the community there are probably some divisions, like in society.  Working for integration should be done in the future.  But definitely, I can say that there is no hatred between Russians and Latvians.  Some clubs are more Russian-oriented and vice versa.

GR : Finally, how many people do you expect at Riga Pride?

MS:  I would say around 300 – but I don’t know.  By the way, my mother will be coming to Pride. She said that she prefers to be with gays than with homophobes.  I expect around 80 people at the service.

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)

 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)

Prominent Foreign Politicians to Take Part in Riga Pride.  Several European politicians will be taking part in Friendship Days and Riga Gay Pride, due to take place in the Latvian capital next week.  (UK Gay News, July 16, 2006)

 

LINK

		For Riga Pride information
		GayRussia website