- Title: LATVIA: THOUSANDS PROTEST GAY PARADE
- Date: 23rd July 2005
- Summary: (L!1) RIGA, LATVIA (JULY 23, 2005) (REUTERS) VARIOUS PARADE/ ANTI-PARADE PROTESTERS (3 SHOTS) SV (English) MAN SHOUTING: "Shame on you!" MCU (Russian) PROTESTER SAYING: "It's perversion! Perversion! It's not normal! And our children will not live like that!" VARIOUS PARADE (2 SHOTS) MCU (Latvian) PROTESTER SAYING: "Generally I condemn it, I suppose it's not normal that pe
- Embargoed: 7th August 2005 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: RIGA, LATVIA
- Country: Latvia
- Topics: Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVAA603JD4NVFUSZ6S2BI7UZUB0C
- Story Text: Thousands protest gay parade.
The first gay and lesbian parade in Latvia, "Gay
pride 2005" was held in Riga on Saturday (July 23, 2005).
Thousands of residents of Riga came to the Old Town to
protest the parade, shouting derogatory remarks and
throwing eggs at participants.
"It's perversion! Perversion! It's not normal! And our
children will not live like that!" said one protester,
Alona.
"Generally I condemn it, I suppose it's not normal
that people occupy themselves like that," added Aigars
Vicups.
Gays and lesbians from Latvia, Estonia, Germany,
Sweden, Finland, Lithuania and Russia participated in the
parade, which was guarded by as many policeman as
participants. The protesters blocked the parade in several
streets in the Old Town, and the planned route had to be
changed. Other protesters, gathered outside an Anglican
Church where a service was held for marchers, were dragged
away by the police.
"I did not feel afraid but I'm a bit afraid of leaving
church later and going home. We'll see what happens. I just
hope the police will still protect us," said Otto from
Bavaria.
After the service police formed a corridor for marchers to get
safe
ly to buses. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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