ラトヴィア初のプライド、混乱のなかで決行

Violence Erupts At Latvia Gay Pride
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: July 23, 2005 4:00 pm ET

(Riga) Latvian police arrested a number of protesters Saturday during the first gay pride parade ever held in the Riga, the capital.

Several dozen gays and lesbians marched through the center of the city demanding justice for sexual minorities, but they were badly outnumbered by the hundreds of demonstrators who lined the parade route.

There was a heavy police presence for the event after threats to break up the march were made by an extreme right-wing nationalist organization.

Members of the group hurled rotten eggs and insults into the marchers. Several of the demonstrators got into scuffles with police and were dragged away.

Gay pride celebrations had been cancelled by Erik Shkapars, the executive director of Riga City earlier in the week. (story)

Shkapars said he made the decision following criticism of the event by Latvian Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis.

Kalvitis said that holding a gay procession near the Riga Dom Cathedral - the 13th century cathedral in downtown Riga - was a sacrilege.

But, on Friday, a judge issued a restraining order on the city and ruled the parade could go ahead. (story)

The judge said that the ban would have been a blatant violation of Latvia 's human rights obligations both as a member of the European Union, and under the European Convention on Human Rights.

The ban was the fourth attempt by authorities in Eastern Europe this year to prevent Pride marches taking place, but the first initiated by a national government figure. The previous attempts, in Moldova , Romania and Poland , were all instigated by city mayors.

In June, the mayor of Warsaw banned gay pride from the Polish capital city. Despite the edict more than 2,500 people marched anyway. (story)




Last Updated: Saturday, 23 July, 2005, 19:19 GMT 20:19 UK
Protests disrupt Latvia gay march - BBC

Latvian police have arrested protesters after they shouted insults and threw eggs at people taking part in the Baltic state's first gay pride march.

The few dozen marchers were outnumbered by hundreds of protesters who blocked the narrow streets of the capital.

Police were forced to alter the march route and to form a chain around the parade participants to protect them.

The march had sparked outrage in Latvia and only went ahead after a court overturned a council ban on the event.

Officials said that six of the protesters had been detained for their part in disrupting the march.

Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis had opposed the event, saying Riga should "not promote things like that".

"For sexual minorities to parade in the very heart of Riga, next to the Doma church, is unacceptable," he told LNT television on Wednesday.

One of those who took part in Saturday's march, 61-year-old Lars-Peter Sjouberg, from Sweden, said he had been shocked by the offensive remarks made by protesters.

"Protesters here were really aggressive [...] but it won't stop me from helping my Latvian friends fight for their rights."


Last Updated: Friday, 22 July, 2005, 16:32 GMT 17:32 UK
Latvia gay pride given go-ahead

The first gay pride parade to be staged in the Latvian capital Riga has been given the go-ahead by a court, despite fears of homophobic violence.

The court found that the city council's reasons for banning the event on Saturday were unjustified.

Organisers saluted the decision, saying it was a victory for democracy and reason over prejudice and hate.

Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis had opposed the event, saying Riga should "not promote things like that".

"For sexual minorities to parade in the very heart of Riga, next to the Doma church, is unacceptable," he told LNT television.

The city council's chief executive said he had withdrawn the parade's permit after receiving letters and e-mails from religious and extremist groups threatening to disrupt it.

Following the court ruling, the Riga Pride parade will now be allowed to pass through the Old City.

Revellers from Sweden, Russia, Lithuania, Estonia and Finland are expected to join the event.

Court tells Riga's city council to go ahead with Pride
Christopher Curtis, PlanetOut Network
Friday, July 22, 2005 / 04:44 PM

Despite fears of homophobic violence, Latvia's first LGBT Pride parade has been given the go-ahead by a court after it was canceled by Riga's city council.

On Friday, a Latvian court ruled that Riga's city council was unjustified for banning Saturday's event.

The city council's chief executive claimed he had withdrawn the parade's permit after letters and e-mails from extremist religious groups threatened to disrupt it.

The city council action on Wednesday just hours after Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis opposed the event on LNT Television.

Kalvitis said Riga should "not promote things like that," claiming it was unacceptable that "a parade of sexual minorities will take place in the very heart of Riga, right next to the Dome [Cathedral]."

"We are a state based on Christian values, and we cannot promote things that, say, are unacceptable to a large part of society," he said in a quote published by the Associated Press (AP).

The Riga Pride parade will still pass through the historic part of Riga, including the Dome Cathedral. Organizers praised the decision as a victory for democracy and reason over prejudice and hate.

"It's very good that the court has defended freedom of expression and assembly," said Scott Long, director of the LGBT rights program at Human Rights Watch.

"It's unfortunate the prime minister interfered as he did. We will be monitoring the event closely to make sure it proceeds without violence or interference."

Tourists from Sweden, Russia, Lithuania, Estonia and Finland are expected to participate.