LATVIA
Riga Gay Pride: Putting the European Union to the Test
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Commentary by UK Gay News
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. “Homophobia grows in a climate of fears and hatred. And we are living that climate. We see that a European Union government is throwing human rights out of the window,” she said as she and others were ‘under siege’ in the Reval Latvia Hotel in Riga. “The majority of Europeans are democrats” pointed out Ms. In’t Veld “We need to speak louder or we will leave the floor to the bigots, to the extremes, to the ones who want violence. Tell your friends and family to speak out. That is just as important, she told those in the hotel “I will go back the European Parliament and will make sure that the Parliament will speak out,” she pledged. “We will try to put on pressure. It’s putting Europe to the test. It’s the moment for Europe to show its colours,” the MEP concluded. Fighting words, indeed. And the European Parliament is certain to censure Latvia over its stance to the Gay Pride March. The European Parliament, thanks to the LGBT Intergroup, has been at the forefront of demanding human rights for everyone – including gay men and women – for a long time. This year, two resolutions on gay rights have passed through the Parliament. But the Eurocrats in Brussels appear to be “pussy-footing around” and doing little, if anything. It is time from Brussels to do something – they have enormous powers. The unelected Eurocrats should take notice of the elected Parliament. They should also realise that gay men and women also pay taxes and along with all other citizens of the European Union expect the Commission to “look after” them in the context of EU “rules”. The only person in high office in Latvia to come out of this sad affair over Gay Pride with any credibility is the President. Within hours of the decision by the Riga City Council to ban the Gay Pride March on grounds of “national security”, President Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga issued an astonishing – and welcome – statement reminding Latvians about human rights for everyone. The timing of the statement, which did not specifically mention the Gay Pride March, could not have been coincidental. Her words fell on deaf ears in the executive, the judiciary and a small minority of homophobic Latvians. If the European Union eventually takes action, Latvia cannot complain. The country was warned by its President. (Reporting from Riga courtesy GayRussia.ru) 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)
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)
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)
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Posted: 22 July 2006 at 15:30 (UK time)