Threat of Violence Looms Over Latvia's Pride  | News | Advocate.com

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May 30, 2008
Threat of Violence Looms Over Latvia's Pride

Latvian nationalist groups have issued a joint statement stating that if a gay pride event occurs this weekend in the Latvian capital of Riga, it may result in violent protests.

The event is scheduled for Saturday at the 11th November Embankment, where a key battle for Latvian independence was fought.

"It is completely unacceptable to us as nationalist Latvians that on May 31 of this year, one of the central symbols of Latvian statehood and national self-understanding, the 11th November Shoreline, will be used by minorities of sexual inclinations to propagate their absolutely unhealthy views and amoral way of life," the nationalists' statement said.

Resistance to the Pride event has also come from Riga's deputy mayor, Andris Argalis, who called it "propaganda of perversion."

"I don't believe that we should spoil a few percent of society members by allowing them to propagate their perversion," Argalis told LETA, Latvia's national news agency.

"Otherwise, we're going to have to afford the same opportunities to other, similar groups of sexual oddities -- flashers, exhibitionists, glue-sniffers," said Argalis. Cardinal Janis Pujats, head of Latvia's Catholic Church, wrote an open letter to encourage the citizens of Latvia to counterdemonstrate against the annual Riga Pride.

The Latvian newspaper Ritienda published Cardinal Pujats's letter, titled "Defending Family Values." In it Pujats describes homosexual behavior as an "unnatural form of prostitution" and says that "homosexuality is against the natural order and, therefore, against the laws of God." Twenty-six priests from Roman Catholic congregations signed the letter, and it was sent to Prime Minister Ivars Godmanis, Interior Minister Mareks Seglins, and the Riga city council.

Authorities in the Latvian capital had banned the gay parade on public grounds in 2006, but activists decided to continue with smaller activities. Participants were attacked with eggs and bags of excrement by protesters when they celebrated Riga Pride.

Municipal authorities in Riga said the event was canceled to avoid public disorder after Christians, nationalists, and neo-Nazis threatened to use violence against the Pride participants.

In 2007 politicians from Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and the European parliament joined the Riga Pride march, and the event proceeded peacefully. (The Advocate)

Reader Comments

These comments are reproduced as written by visitors to this Web site. They have not been edited for content, grammar, or spelling. The viewpoints appearing here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or views of advocate.com, The Advocate, or its affiliates.

  • Name: Larisa
    Date posted: 2008-05-30 1:49 PM
    Hometown: Seattle, WA

    Comment:

    I'm half Latvian, my mother is Latvian. I'm gay. While I love Latvia, I'm appalled at the country's general lack of respect for gay people, especially from a country that was so oppressed for so long, you would think they would understand. Regardless, I'm proud of the members of the Latvian community that are standing up and shouting their gayness and equality to the masses who fail to hear. Thank you to those courageous souls.


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