Sofia Town Hall Fails to Endorse LGBT Pride
14/06/2011
Submitted by
ILGA-Europe
Original article: http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=129256
Although it has issued a permit of the 4th annual Sofia Pride to be held, the Sofia Municipality has this far abstained from officially endorsing or backing the event.
Monday Sofia Mayor Yordanka Fandakova stated she explicitly refused to give permit for any other public gatherings to be held at the same time. She said several such requests were received at the Town Hall, and were seen as manifest "provocation" against the LGBT event.
In the past, neo-nazis and other extremists have gathered to protest the Sofia Pride, sometimes violently.
This move comes after municipal coucnilor Georgi Kadiev, who will run for Sofia mayor for the Bulgarian Socialist Party in the fall, protested the fact that a nationalist rally is scheduled for the same Saturday, all the more crossing routes with the pride.
Last week Kadiev had entered a motion at the Municipal Council requesting that it officially endorse the Sofia Pride as co-organizers, but his report was not discussed by the council.
Monday the ambassadors to Sofia of eight countries expressed their strong support of the LGBT rally.
The fourth Sofia Pride will take place Saturday at 16.00 EET, starting at the so-called Lovers' Bridge nearby the National Palace of Culture in Sofia.
Although it has issued a permit of the 4th annual Sofia Pride to be held, the Sofia Municipality has this far abstained from officially endorsing or backing the event.
Monday Sofia Mayor Yordanka Fandakova stated she explicitly refused to give permit for any other public gatherings to be held at the same time. She said several such requests were received at the Town Hall, and were seen as manifest "provocation" against the LGBT event.
In the past, neo-nazis and other extremists have gathered to protest the Sofia Pride, sometimes violently.
This move comes after municipal coucnilor Georgi Kadiev, who will run for Sofia mayor for the Bulgarian Socialist Party in the fall, protested the fact that a nationalist rally is scheduled for the same Saturday, all the more crossing routes with the pride.
Last week Kadiev had entered a motion at the Municipal Council requesting that it officially endorse the Sofia Pride as co-organizers, but his report was not discussed by the council.
Monday the ambassadors to Sofia of eight countries expressed their strong support of the LGBT rally.
The fourth Sofia Pride will take place Saturday at 16.00 EET, starting at the so-called Lovers' Bridge nearby the National Palace of Culture in Sofia.
