Bicycle ride in support of LGBT+ rights to take place in Tallinn Friday

  • 2021-07-02
  • BNS/TBT Staff

TALLINN – Vikervelo, a Pride bicycle ride aiming to draw attention to the shortcomings in Estonian legislation due to which equal rights and opportunities for LGBT+ people have not been guaranteed so far, will begin from Freedom Square in Tallinn at 7 p.m. on Friday.

Following the bicycle ride, speeches will be made by members and supporters of the LGBT+ community in front of Sveta bar in the Telliskivi district at 8:30 p.m., organizers of the event said.

Anette Maletjarv, head of the organizing team, said that the objective of the Pride bike ride is to call on MPs to legalize marriage equality. "To date, marriage equality has been achieved in 16 European countries. Marriage equality would not be about giving LGBT+ people extra privileges, but simply about changing the current discriminatory situation and ensuring equal treatment under the Constitution," Maletjarv said.

“It is strange that in a situation where 64 percent of Estonian people support the Registered Partnership Act, LGBT+ people are still in an unequal situation due to the lack of implementing provisions. Such a legal standstill disrupts people's daily lives," Maletjarv said, adding that Pride helps show LGBT+ people that they are not alone.

Kristiina Raud, head of communications of the LGBT Association, said that although the Registered Partnership Act was adopted seven years ago, there are still no implementing provisions to really help and protect people. "People will still live their lives despite the lack of laws, but Estonia could be a country where everyone can be sure that their family, children and relatives do not have to worry about their future. We want to live in a country that values our people and their families born out of love," Raud added.

The Vikervelo bike ride is organized by a group of people who were united by the desire to organize this year's Pride. The event is supported by the Estonian LGBT Association. The last time Tallinn Pride took place was in 2017 as part of Baltic Pride.