Latvian gay rights parade passes off peacefully

May 16, 2009, 13:02 GMT

Riga - A march by gay and lesbian groups and human rights activists in the Latvian capital, Riga, passed peacefully Saturday with police reporting no serious incidents.

Tensions had been high before the 'Baltic Pride' event after Riga City Council attempted to stop the event taking place, a decision which was subsequently overturned at an appeal on May 15.

The council's actions attracted widespread international condemnation.

Around 300 marchers gathered at Vermanes park near Riga city centre at midday and were escorted by police around two sides of the park, chanting 'Respect human rights.'

They were met with boos and a range of insults from a slightly larger number of anti-gay demonstrators on the other side of the park railings.

Many anti-gay demonstrators waved bibles while others carried placards saying 'Gay pride is AIDS pride' and 'More gays equals less Latvians.'

Human rights group Amnesty International said it had brought 70 members from 20 countries to the event to show solidarity with Baltic gay rights groups.

'It went well. People were able to march and we even went outside the park, which felt like conquering a little bit of the city,' Amnesty International spokeswoman Nicole Sprokel told the German Press Agency dpa.

'The police did its job and protected the people inside the park. Let's hope it's like this during the days after Baltic Pride,' she said.

Many supporters on the march had travelled considerable distances to take part including a man named Alex, from the German capital Berlin.

'I came because I think in Latvia it's still a problem being gay,' he told dpa. 'It will take a long time until there is tolerance and acceptance in this country. I don't want to be pessimistic but it won't be solved in a few years.'

Catrine Norrgard, a Swedish candidate in the forthcoming elections to the European Parliament was also at attendee.

'We are all Europeans. If these people don't have equal rights, it's important for me and my rights. This is the fourth time I have come, but things are not progressing as fast as I would like,' she said.

Another participant from Sweden, Vladan Boskovic, said the European Union needed to put much more pressure on Latvia to guarantee free expression and equal rights in EU member state Latvia.

'The Latvian government needs to do much more,' he said.