RIGA - The controversial gay pride parade was given the green light to march through the streets of Riga despite widespread opposition from some political and community leaders.
The route of the parade was altered numerous times at the last minute amid concerns for the security of the protesters. At the inaugural parade in 2005, participants suffered violent attacks as protesters hurled bags of excrement and eggs at the marchers.
The Riga City Council refused to allow the parade in 2006. Last year's event was held in a walled off park ringed by police officers, some of whom sported riot gear.
"It's almost the Old Town, not quite but almost, but we are still very happy about it. We wanted to go on the streets instead of [marching through] a closed park, so we are excited," Kristina Garina, spokeswoman for the Mozaika gay and lesbian rights group, told The Baltic Times.
Some politicians have lambasted the parade 's which is the culmination of the Friendships Days' events 's as ineffective ways to promote tolerance.
"Such parades do not form tolerance towards gays and lesbians in the largest part of society, vice versa, many parents feel insulted that their children have to watch such family models which are unacceptable to them," Special Assignments Minister for Society Integration Oskars Kastens said in an interview with LNT in mid-May.
Kastens has received widespread criticism for his intolerant views toward homosexual couples. Before being appointed to his post, the integration minister gave numerous homophobic speeches to Parliament 's some of which allegedly quoted Bible passages calling for homosexuals to be put to death.
Kastens urged the general population not to take part in the event due to take place on May 31.
Gay Rights campaigners attacked the minister for what they believe is a discriminatory attitude.
"I think the integration minister is a joke. It is sad… We have a homophobe as an integration minister. It is a political game, and they don't care about integration. They care about their party being in charge," Garina said.
Church leaders also condemned the event. Evangelic Lutheran Church Archbishop Janis Vanags is as outspoken in his attacks on the Latvian gay and lesbian community. In recent comments on the upcoming pride parade, the religious leader reasserted his belief that the event is, "the manifestation of a conspiracy to pervert the nation's family values."
"It is not an innocent walk on the embankment in the name of equality and tolerance… [But rather] an ideological action aimed at restructuring basic values of the society," Vanags said in a May 24 interview with Latvijas Avize.
"I think that is what is done by liberal sexualists and pride is their special unit. The fruit of such experiments can be tasted in Europe," the archbishop said, referring to the continent's aging population.
Family and Children Affairs Minister Ainars Bastiks has also come out against the gay and lesbian community in recent weeks. In a May 23 interview with Diena, the minister said Latvia should not follow the West in legally recognizing homosexual couples.
Ombudsman Romans Apsitis is one of the few officials that have spoken out in favor of the parade. The ombudsman said he supported the right of the gay and lesbian community to have the parade, even though he would not be personally attending the event.
"I would like to speak about the basic values that should be observed. The sexual minorities rally from the point of view of human rights should be viewed in the context of the rights of assembly," Apsitis said in a May 27 interview with Latvian Public Radio.
Garina meanwhile said the general attitude in the country has improved over the past few years.
"I think it is getting better, the number of really crazy violence protesters has gone down 's they are louder but not the majority. We do have a problem with politicians, because they have great influence," she said.
About 100 foreign delegations will join hundreds of locals for the march, which is slated to take place from 10 a.m. until noon. The march will start at the Anglican Church and run along November 11 Boulevard.
