United States stands together with LGBTQI+ communities in the Baltics - embassies

RIGA - The United States stands together with the LGBTQI+ communities in the Baltic countries, the U.S. Embassies in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania say in a joint statement issued on Friday.

The U.S. Embassies in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are proud to celebrate Baltic Pride 2021 with LGBTQI+ communities across the region, the U.S. Embassy in Latvia informed LETA. Pride is about equality, respect, justice, courage, and above all, love.

"It is a time to celebrate, but also a time to recommit ourselves to building a safer, more inclusive global society for all? LGBTQI+ persons," emphasize the embassies, stating that they join LGBTQI+ communities of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania in celebrating their triumphs and support their ongoing fight for inclusion and equality.

All people, no matter who they love, deserve equal treatment under the law and a life free of fear, and recognition of their inherent dignity, the embassies say in the statement.

"We value our partnerships with the dedicated activists and community members in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania who are seeking to ensure LGBTQI+ human rights in the Baltics. As the Baltic Pride 2021 motto says, "until we all are equal"," reads the statement.