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Violence at Lithuania's First Gay Pride Parade


LITHUANIA GAY RIGHTS MARCH X390 (GETTY) | ADVOCATE.COM

A violent attack marred Lithuania's first gay pride parade Saturday, when about 400 people marched for equality in a sealed-off area of downtown Vilnius.

More than 1,000 protesters threw smoke bombs and tried to break through the barrier before being stopped by police firing tear gas, according to the Associated Press. Unable to pass the barrier, protesters then started throwing rocks and street signs at police. Two Lithuanian lawmakers were detained after trying to climb the barrier, and a Catholic mass was held at the nearby national cathedral to pray for the gays.

Eight hundred police officers were put on duty to secure the event. They detained 19 people.

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Reader Comments
  • Name: Jay
    Date posted: 5/10/2010 8:26:24 AM
    Hometown: Santa Monica

    Comment:

    Congratulations to the brave marchers for freedom. Lithuania should be expelled from the European Union if they are not committed to equal rights.

  • Name: Paxaeternam
    Date posted: 5/10/2010 5:22:49 AM
    Hometown: Dublin

    Comment:

    It is genuinely shocking that the type of prejudice displayed at the march in Vilnius is alive and well in the Europe of 2010; it's 65 years since they had us in concentration camps and One had hoped that we had moved on from this aggressively militant homophobia. I have such pride in these 400 LGBTQ persons who had the strength of character and the integrity to stand up to be counted in these terrrible circumstances. As for the Catholic Church; what can One say other than that they need to let go of this terrible urge they display to incite hatred of the LGBT community and get back to the basic Christian message of 'Love One Another'.

  • Name: SteveMD2
    Date posted: 5/10/2010 2:49:08 AM
    Hometown: Baltimore

    Comment:

    The catholics held a mass for the gays. They shouold hold a mass for all the sex starved priests who raped boys and girls. And they should take out the hierarchy who hid these vile crimes, prob because they themselves did them as priests, and drag them in chains to the police. But fat chance while RATZInger rules. or at least till he is outed

  • Name: Randall Valentin
    Date posted: 5/9/2010 7:52:17 PM
    Hometown: Dallas, Texas

    Comment:

    Thank you courageous gay people of Lithuania -- you've take a step in the direction of self-respect and equality. This action benefits all of us regardless of where we live and I am humbled by the sacrifice so many make in extremely hostile environments.

  • Name: Jerry
    Date posted: 5/9/2010 3:26:24 PM
    Hometown: Washington DC

    Comment:

    Irmantas, you must be reading an exclusive version of Reuters. When I enterned your phrase, I got no results found. There were several entries from other press sources and they are consistent with that of the Advocate. So sad that it's so easy to fact check claims made these days.

  • Name: Dakotahgeo
    Date posted: 5/9/2010 8:38:57 AM
    Hometown: KCMO

    Comment:

    Looks like the USA has exported ome of its Catholic Talibangelicals to Lithuania. I'm hoping the Eurpoean countries will learn sooner than the USA later did, and seek to be more accepting that some parts of the USA. It can't be soon enough!

  • Name: mylilefeluke.blogspot.com
    Date posted: 5/9/2010 7:49:55 AM
    Hometown: poland

    Comment:

    video pride lithuania http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBV5k5Y3Yu0&feature=player_embedded

  • Name: Ben
    Date posted: 5/9/2010 7:47:50 AM
    Hometown: Atlanta

    Comment:

    I don't come to The World's Leading Gay News Source looking for objectivity. I want to to know what is on other gay people's minds. Gay news is covered as just plain news elsewhere. It often lacks passion. It's Joe Friday's "Just the facts ma'am." We often get angry with our main stream news outlets and call for viewer boycotts. Sometimes you can't call them on their bullshit in their house.

  • Name: Marcin
    Date posted: 5/9/2010 5:43:18 AM
    Hometown: Warsaw

    Comment:

    When one of the first (then banned) Warsaw Pride Marches was held in 2005 in Poland, two lawmakers were among the GLBT people, not the angry and hateful rock-throwing mob (one of them was the late Izabela Jaruga-Nowacka, who was among the 96 Polish public figures who died in the plane crash in April). It is a sad testimony to the state of affairs in Lithuania, that representatives of the people that itself suffered under Soviet oppression take the side of haters and those who would deny others their rights. Still, all my best wishes and thoughts are with our Lithuanian brothers and sisters. Though difficult and dangerous at first, this is how our rights are won.

  • Name: Irmantas
    Date posted: 5/9/2010 4:49:42 AM
    Hometown: Utena

    Comment:

    Well, at least Reuters do have a more objective report: search for "Lithuania holds first gay march amid protests" on their website.



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