Outraged organisers of Saturday’s Riga Pride have pledged that they will go ahead with their event – the first ever Pride in Latvia – despite the intervention of Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis and his pressure on the city authorities who withdrew permission this morning (Wednesday).

“(We have) decided not to obey and to go ahead with all planned events, including the Pride March,” said Gabriels Andrejs Strautins of the Pride organising committee, Gay and Lesbian Youth Support Group.

Making organisers determined to go ahead was, as news of the withdrawal of the Pride permit was received, Latvian Radio reported that the city authorities had given the go-ahead to the extremist ‘right-wing’ Club 415 to organise an anti-gay event.

Pride organisers were granted permission at the beginning of July to stage the Pride event by the Riga authorities to stage Pride.  Today, following the reversal, they have taken the matter to court.

With the support of the lawyers of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Study, the organisers submitted a complaint to the Administrative Court against the Riga City Executive Director’s withdrawal of his previous permission for the Pride March.  It is expected the Administrative Court will deliver its judgement by Friday (July 22) – the day before Pride.

In the event of the Court not overturning the City’s decision, there are plans to seek a speedy appeal – and, if necessary, lodge a complaint at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasburg (France).

The matter started coming to a head two weeks ago when representatives of the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran and Catholic Churches, various members of the Latvian parliament, Latvian First Party and several extremist right-wing nationalistic organisations (Club 415 and Union of National Force) started an hysterical hate campaign against LGBT people and demanded the Riga City Executive Director to cancel earlier issued permission for LGBT Pride to march through the Latvian capital.

“They also threatened to organise mass disorder events and to block the Pride March. Initially the Riga City Executive Director refused to cancel his permission and explained that all requirements for the Pride March were provided by the organisers,” explained Strautins.

This morning, Prime Minister Kalvitis issued the following statement:

“I, as a head of the government,” the statement said, “cannot accept that a parade of sexual minorities takes places in the middle of our capital city next to the Dom Cathedral.  This is not acceptable. Latvia is a state based on the Christian values. We cannot advertise things which are not acceptable to the majority of our society.”

Following this statement, , the Riga City Executive Director formally withdrew his permission for the Gay Pride March, explaining that his decision was not discriminatory against LGBT people but purely motivated by the security reasons.

In a statement issued this evening in Riga, The Gay and Lesbian Youth Support Group said it was “outraged” at the decision of the Riga City Executive Director to cancel his permission for the Pride March.

“We are shocked by the offensive and humiliating statements by various Latvian politicians and representatives of the Latvian churches and right-wing extremist nationalistic organisations.  We are very sad that in the XXI century in the country which became a member of the European Union over a year ago, the politicians and state authorities feel comfortable to express and support extreme homophobic statements and do not take any action to provide security, honour and rights to Latvian LGBT people. Pride March ban by the Riga City Executive Director is shocking and demonstrates that democracy in Latvia is still very fragile.

“This situation also shows that hate and prejudice are well and alive in Latvia.”

The statement concludes with a passionate plea to the world’s LGBT community.

“We call upon all of you not just to read this news but to take action and to disseminate this news and to express your outrage and protest against state-supported homophobia and to demand that the Riga City Executive Director cancel his ban on the first ever Pride March in Riga.

“We also ask you to write your protest e-mails and letters to the Latvian Prime Minister and demand his apology as well as asking him to use his position and influence to allow the Pride March.”

Address letters/e-mails to:

Aigars Kalvitis, Prime Minister of the Republic of Latvia, 36 Brivibas Boulevard, Riga, LV 1520, Latvia.  Email: vk@mk.gov.lv

Eriks Skapars, Executive Director of the Riga City, Ratslaukums 1, Riga, LV 1539, Latvia.  E-mail: ivars.maurins@rcc.lv

■  Events are due to start at 11 am on Saturday with a three-hour conference that will discuss such topics as religion, human rights, homophobia and Latvian and EU policies on sexual minorities.

Then the parade is scheduled for 4pm.  It is not clear yet whether or not the parade will go ahead.

At 5pm, a ecumenical Christian religious service will be held in the St. Saviour Anglican Church.

Earlier this year, Pride parades were cancelled by city authorities in Bucharest, Romania, and Warsaw, Poland.  But both went ahead following international pressure, especially from the European Union.

The Pride parade in Belfast, Northern Ireland, next month is not certain to go ahead.  Organisers are awaiting permission from the Parade Commission following objections from parts of the religious community.  The decision is expected at the end of next week.

See also updates:
Riga Gay Pride: “A Sad, Sad Day. Society Is Sick” – Juris Lavrikovs (July 24)
Eggs and Abuse Hurled by Protesters at Riga Gay Pride Parade (July 23)
Court Says Riga Gay Pride Can Go Ahead Tomorrow (July 22)
Saturday's Pride Parade in Riga Cancelled by City Authorities (July 20)

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20 July 2005