Third Gay Pride march in Tallinn bashed by young skinheads
14/08/2006
Submitted by
Nikolay Alekseev, Human Rights LGBT Project GayRussia.ru
http://www.gayrussia.ru/en/news/detail.php?ID=6822
Third Gay Pride march in Tallinn bashed by young skinheads
Lisette Kampus explains the situation in Estonia in the interview with GayRussia.Ru
Eastern European Prides have one thing in common. They all became target of skinheads, religious fundamentalists and ultra right wing groups. Until Saturday, Estonian Pride remained the only “safe heaven”. After the attacks which took place yesterday in the streets of Tallinn, this is not anymore true. 2006 will remain a difficult year on the very east of the European Union. Riga was prevented to hold its second pride march, Moscow’s first ever gay pride was more like a Stonewall than a pride march, and the tolerant and open society of Tallinn saw young skinheads attacking lesbians.
Lisette Kampus, a 23 years old Estonian activist, also the spokesperson of the organizing team of the Tallinn Pride, explained in the interview with Project GayRussia.Ru current situation in Estonia.
G.R.: How many activists are behind the Tallinn pride? How developed are the LGBT groups?
L.K.: We are 5 organizers, 27 years old on average. There are 3 LGBT groups in Estonia but it is hard to talk about it as we are a small country. The circle of activists is very small. One thing is very unique here: we all cooperate very strongly. There are no tensions here.
G.R.: Did you encounter any problems during the festival?
L.K.: The festival took place without any problems during the week. There was not a single protest. We did not receive any particular threats.
G.R.: How did the Pride march start?
L.K.: There was a bombing alert before the start of the pride. Police and rescue service worked well and fast so we did not have any significant delay. We started off and everything was nice.
G.R.: Protesters were already there?
L.K.: Yes, we saw some skinheads gathering next to the route. We also noticed that there was too little police on display. In the half way of the march, when we were close to the Parliament House, about 30 young skinheads attacked the parade. They were around 20 to 25 years old, and for sure, were Estonians. It’s certainly those who call themselves “Estonian nationalists”. They are very ultra and they belong to the very radical right wing.
G.R.: They attacked the march?
L.K.: Yes, they attacked the middle of the march and first, the women. They had stones and wooden sticks. Before, they threw eggs on the parade. This is one of the most important things: young Estonian men attacking young Estonian woman. It is completely shocking for us. There are no words. It is something extremely shameful. Then, they went to everybody around: men and women.
G.R.: Did you continue the parade?
L.K.: Yes, we continued the parade after the attacks. We terminated the march in the street where we always end the pride for three years. But after the pride, we still saw groups of skinheads around the bars. They were obviously looking for more fights but fortunately nothing happened. Several parties took place after the parade but nothing wrong happened.
G.R.: How many people took part to the pride?
L.K.: I would say around 400 to 500 participants in comparison with 300 to 400 last year and, 700 the first year.
G.R.: From where the participants came from?
L.K.: It’s completely mixed. Estonians, Russians living in Estonia, but also international guests. We had a very nice representation of people.
G.R.: Did you have enough police protection?
L.K.: It is hard to comment how many police took part but, we had our own security. According to Estonian law, we had an obligation to hire a security company. So, we had 15 men from the private company, plus a few police patrols and also, according to the police, “some under cover police officers”.
When we arrived to the place where skinheads were waiting for us, police realized that they were not enough numerous. They understood that they are not able to protect the participants.
G.R.: AFP reported that a French man was severely injured?
L.K.: Three persons got severed injuries. Approximately 15 got hit with stones or by hand and so on. There is a Spanish citizen - not French - who needed hospital care but he did not sleep in the hospital. This morning, he went for check up at the hospital again. He launched an official complaint to the police and also contacted the Spanish Embassy.
G.R.: Did you encounter any attack in the past around bars or clubs?
L.K.: No. This is the first attack to happen ever. There had never been anything like this before. We are in really deep shock. We consider ourselves to be close to Nordic countries in terms of tolerance but I think police was a bit too optimistic.
G.R.: Did you invite any foreign politicians to march with you?
L.K.: In Estonia, we did not have a need to officially include VIPs because we don’t have such problem as Latvia or Poland. It explains also why our marches have always been more entertainment. But, next year will probably be something different. We need to think how to move on.
G.R.: What is the attitude of medias toward LGBT issues? How they reacted yesterday?
L.K.: Media have always been very supportive on LGBT issues. They are on our side. When we reported the attacks to the medias, they were in shock. They also could not believe that something like this could happen. This is something we have never had in any kind of time. We consider ourselves a peaceful and tolerant nation. This is why they covered the issue very well. It is receiving a massive publicity in Estonia.
G.R.: What is the attitude of the government on LGBT issues?
L.K.: Being a small country it is important for our government to have a positive foreign affairs policy. This is why the way Estonia is showed in foreign press is incredibly important. They do not want to be put in the same line of intolerance and homophobia such as Riga, Moscow or Krakow. This news will really be embarrassing for Estonians.
G.R.: Did you encounter any attack from politicians?
L.K.: No political party said anything against the march. Last year there was a statement from the right wing union, in favour of “heterosexual marriage” but we never had any hate speech. We received major support from some political parties.
G.R.: Do you plan any actions with the authorities?
L.K.: We have not planed any protest or something of the kind. We do want to organize a meeting with the police and the authorities to evaluate the parade. Police commented that the parade was… peaceful. They arrested six people and they still say that the parade was peaceful: it raises questions for us. We have a need to increase cooperation with the police for the future.
G.R.: Do you think that what happened in Riga three weeks ago had its impact?
L.K.: For sure, absolutely. I think that we are seeing what kind of impact such situations that took place in Riga, Krakow or Warsaw can have on neighbouring countries. Latvia is exporting its homophobia. Things in Riga were an encouragement for stupid people in Estonia.
Read our interview with Juris Lavrikovs about last year's Tallinn Pride.
GayRussia.Ru
Third Gay Pride march in Tallinn bashed by young skinheads
Lisette Kampus explains the situation in Estonia in the interview with GayRussia.Ru
Eastern European Prides have one thing in common. They all became target of skinheads, religious fundamentalists and ultra right wing groups. Until Saturday, Estonian Pride remained the only “safe heaven”. After the attacks which took place yesterday in the streets of Tallinn, this is not anymore true. 2006 will remain a difficult year on the very east of the European Union. Riga was prevented to hold its second pride march, Moscow’s first ever gay pride was more like a Stonewall than a pride march, and the tolerant and open society of Tallinn saw young skinheads attacking lesbians.
Lisette Kampus, a 23 years old Estonian activist, also the spokesperson of the organizing team of the Tallinn Pride, explained in the interview with Project GayRussia.Ru current situation in Estonia.
G.R.: How many activists are behind the Tallinn pride? How developed are the LGBT groups?
L.K.: We are 5 organizers, 27 years old on average. There are 3 LGBT groups in Estonia but it is hard to talk about it as we are a small country. The circle of activists is very small. One thing is very unique here: we all cooperate very strongly. There are no tensions here.
G.R.: Did you encounter any problems during the festival?
L.K.: The festival took place without any problems during the week. There was not a single protest. We did not receive any particular threats.
G.R.: How did the Pride march start?
L.K.: There was a bombing alert before the start of the pride. Police and rescue service worked well and fast so we did not have any significant delay. We started off and everything was nice.
G.R.: Protesters were already there?
L.K.: Yes, we saw some skinheads gathering next to the route. We also noticed that there was too little police on display. In the half way of the march, when we were close to the Parliament House, about 30 young skinheads attacked the parade. They were around 20 to 25 years old, and for sure, were Estonians. It’s certainly those who call themselves “Estonian nationalists”. They are very ultra and they belong to the very radical right wing.
G.R.: They attacked the march?
L.K.: Yes, they attacked the middle of the march and first, the women. They had stones and wooden sticks. Before, they threw eggs on the parade. This is one of the most important things: young Estonian men attacking young Estonian woman. It is completely shocking for us. There are no words. It is something extremely shameful. Then, they went to everybody around: men and women.
G.R.: Did you continue the parade?
L.K.: Yes, we continued the parade after the attacks. We terminated the march in the street where we always end the pride for three years. But after the pride, we still saw groups of skinheads around the bars. They were obviously looking for more fights but fortunately nothing happened. Several parties took place after the parade but nothing wrong happened.
G.R.: How many people took part to the pride?
L.K.: I would say around 400 to 500 participants in comparison with 300 to 400 last year and, 700 the first year.
G.R.: From where the participants came from?
L.K.: It’s completely mixed. Estonians, Russians living in Estonia, but also international guests. We had a very nice representation of people.
G.R.: Did you have enough police protection?
L.K.: It is hard to comment how many police took part but, we had our own security. According to Estonian law, we had an obligation to hire a security company. So, we had 15 men from the private company, plus a few police patrols and also, according to the police, “some under cover police officers”.
When we arrived to the place where skinheads were waiting for us, police realized that they were not enough numerous. They understood that they are not able to protect the participants.
G.R.: AFP reported that a French man was severely injured?
L.K.: Three persons got severed injuries. Approximately 15 got hit with stones or by hand and so on. There is a Spanish citizen - not French - who needed hospital care but he did not sleep in the hospital. This morning, he went for check up at the hospital again. He launched an official complaint to the police and also contacted the Spanish Embassy.
G.R.: Did you encounter any attack in the past around bars or clubs?
L.K.: No. This is the first attack to happen ever. There had never been anything like this before. We are in really deep shock. We consider ourselves to be close to Nordic countries in terms of tolerance but I think police was a bit too optimistic.
G.R.: Did you invite any foreign politicians to march with you?
L.K.: In Estonia, we did not have a need to officially include VIPs because we don’t have such problem as Latvia or Poland. It explains also why our marches have always been more entertainment. But, next year will probably be something different. We need to think how to move on.
G.R.: What is the attitude of medias toward LGBT issues? How they reacted yesterday?
L.K.: Media have always been very supportive on LGBT issues. They are on our side. When we reported the attacks to the medias, they were in shock. They also could not believe that something like this could happen. This is something we have never had in any kind of time. We consider ourselves a peaceful and tolerant nation. This is why they covered the issue very well. It is receiving a massive publicity in Estonia.
G.R.: What is the attitude of the government on LGBT issues?
L.K.: Being a small country it is important for our government to have a positive foreign affairs policy. This is why the way Estonia is showed in foreign press is incredibly important. They do not want to be put in the same line of intolerance and homophobia such as Riga, Moscow or Krakow. This news will really be embarrassing for Estonians.
G.R.: Did you encounter any attack from politicians?
L.K.: No political party said anything against the march. Last year there was a statement from the right wing union, in favour of “heterosexual marriage” but we never had any hate speech. We received major support from some political parties.
G.R.: Do you plan any actions with the authorities?
L.K.: We have not planed any protest or something of the kind. We do want to organize a meeting with the police and the authorities to evaluate the parade. Police commented that the parade was… peaceful. They arrested six people and they still say that the parade was peaceful: it raises questions for us. We have a need to increase cooperation with the police for the future.
G.R.: Do you think that what happened in Riga three weeks ago had its impact?
L.K.: For sure, absolutely. I think that we are seeing what kind of impact such situations that took place in Riga, Krakow or Warsaw can have on neighbouring countries. Latvia is exporting its homophobia. Things in Riga were an encouragement for stupid people in Estonia.
Read our interview with Juris Lavrikovs about last year's Tallinn Pride.
GayRussia.Ru
