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Pride in Latvia- to the streets
international |
gender and sexuality |
news report
Friday August 01, 2008 19:14 by Paula Geraghty mspgeraghty at yahoo dot ie
Last year Pride in Latvia took place hemmed in a closed off park surrounded by Riot Police and hundreds of homophobic protesters. Mozaika's pride event took place at the start of June and marked a new departure for gay rights in Latvia. Officially sanctioned, it moved from a park to the symbolic street along the river where the homophobic anti pride festival last year took place. It is also significant a a site of Latvian Independance. Hundreds gathered and the march had a strong international attendance. While there may have been fewer present the homophobic presence had all but collapsed. |
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Those protesting the Pride were mostly from Russian Orthodox and Evangeilcal Christian groups. A major US based church group is funding one of these groups. Latvian politics is interesting, to put it mildly. Since the collapse of the former Soviet empire Russians in Latvia don't have equal rights and must sit a Latvian exam and pass Latvian language tests. Many older people can't pass and will never be citizens as long as this rule is in place. Most homophobic signs are in Russian and religious groups are hearkening back to a time of stability that existed under the Soviet system.
The hate and bigotry is vile and disturbing but as it's far away sometimes in Ireland we're a bit cocooned from it. In the 80's tens of thousands left ireland due to the culture of repression here. How many people have left Latvia for Ireland for similar reasons?
(c) images
Thanks to all who made me most welcome!
Linda Freimeine, Chair of Mozaika
hiding Pride
Paula,
Well done with this. It's great to see feedback and updates being added. Your photos are very well taken too (even if I have reservations about the (c) thing).
Hopefully, this type article will help the fight for equal rights in Latvia.
Mark.
.
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