Strange

Gay Rights Protests in Latvian Capital

by Jordan Yerman | June 3, 2007 at 04:46 am

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According to teh Riga City Council, the government is really afraid of homosexuality: the Riga Pride 2006 parade permit application was denied due to "national security". The rally was held anyway, as Latvian citizens (also European Union citizens) felt they had the right to assemble. this turned out not to be the case. The gay community is stepping up again, rallying in Riga.

Gay rights protesters have gathered in the Latvian capital, Riga, expecting an angry reaction from conservatives.

Last year, an informal meeting of gay rights advocates in Latvia attracted angry demonstrators, some of whom threw eggs and excrement at them.

The police, who were accused of ignoring the attacks, have promised to be more vigilant during this year's parade which is in a popular city park.

It is the second gay pride march to be held in Riga. The first was in 2005.

Linda Freimane, a board member of Mozaika, Latvia's foremost gay rights group, said the parade was an important step for the gay community in the Baltic states, which joined the European Union in 2004.

"If we don't do it again this year then we give in to the illegal, violent forces who can limit other people's rights just by smothering them," the Associated Press news agency quoted her as saying.

Gay rights activists have been concerned at the violence shown during a recent rally in the Russian capital, Moscow, which saw foreign dignitaries and gay men punched and kicked in front of police.