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.
These images and report follows on the fight for sexual freedom and civil rights one year on in Latvia.

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.

As with last year, people found it difficult to get in with only one access point available and the parade was fenced in. The impact of the counter protest served to demoralise but later on that evening it emerged that while people were reluctant to take to the streets, Riga played host to a vibrant Gay scene with an interesting club called Best Boy opening (you couldn't make it up!).

Again at the end people removed their bright clothes and were bussed out to the exact same spot as last year.

Some days later the British embassy flew the rainbow flag of Pride showing from a diplomatic viewpoint where it stood on the matter.

Blogging account from Donncha of Amnesty International
http://blog.amnesty.org/prideblog/?p=30

More comprehensively around Europe
http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/news/gay-rig...80605

pretty good youtube libertarian video- Latvia's countrerpart to Iris Robinson is interviewed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mipwhfyf_L0&feature=related

images (c)