Sophie in't Veld, MEP writes to President Barroso after Riga Pride
Below is a text of a letter Sophie In't Veld, a member of the European parliament, wrote to Mr Barroso, the president of the European Commission, following her participation in the Riga Pride 2008.
Open Letter
Brussels, 06 June 2008
José Manuel Barroso
President of the European Commission
European Commission
Rue de la Loi 200
1049 Brussels
Dear President,
On Saturday May 31st I participated in the 2008 "Friendship Days" or Gay Pride in Riga, organised by the LGBT association Mozaika. Since 2007 the Gay Pride parade takes place under extensive police protection. Whereas the Riga authorities deserve recognition for upholding the fundamental right of freedom of assembly, it is regrettable that the annual parade has to take place in a climate of hatred and threats of violence against LGBT people and the supporters of the Gay Pride. The parade met with an angry crowd of counter demonstrators, shouting menacing slogans. In previous years the counter demonstrators physically attacked the participants in the Gay Pride. The day of the parade the computer system of the Latvian LGBT association Mozaika was hacked, and the hackers published the names and addresses of all members on various websites. These people are likely to face violence and harassment.
The climate of hatred is fanned by church leaders and political leaders, engaging in homophobic hate speech and seemingly condoning violence. They are inciting hatred and violence. At the eve of the "Friendship Days", Cardinal Janis Pujats and 26 priests from Roman Catholic Riga Archdiocese wrote an open letter1)to Latvian government officials asking for the events to be declared unlawful and impermissible. According to the Cardinal, Pride Marches are " aimed against morality and the family model which exists in our nation and is enshrined in the fundamental law of the state, the Constitution. Second, homosexuality is against the natural order and, therefore, against the laws of God. Third, homosexuals also claim unlawfully to have the rights of a minority...there can be no minority of alcoholics, homosexuals, drug addicts or any other people if the minority is based on immoral inclinations. Otherwise this would be direct promotion of immorality". Pujats also attacked foreigners stating that "a ban on the Pride would also cause these foreigners, who are so full of bravado, to think about the fact that they have no right to publicly propagandise perversion in Latvia and expect that this shameful behaviour is even protected by the police. This is humiliation to law enforcement officials who, in contrast to their conscience, are forced during the Pride event to stand with the gays. Even more, it would be humiliation for our government and for the entire nation if we were to feel captive in front of amoral pressure. A responsible decision from the men who are in power is expected by everyone who is concerned about the raising of young people - parents, teachers and clergymen". This message is often echoed by politicians, or they chose to turn a blind eye. In the case of Latvia however, the President deserves praise for speaking out very forcefully against this kind of intolerance.
Violence against LGBT people is often justified with references to religious doctrine. In the context of your regular dialogue with church leaders a firm and unambiguous condemnation of this kind of vitriolic hate speech and incitement to violence would be appropriate. It would be a very strong message that there is no place for hatred and bigotry in Europe, and that no European citizen should have to live in fear because of his or her sexual identity. By way of this letter I propose that you raise this matter with the church leaders, and that it will be put on the agenda of the next meeting.
In October 2004 you pledged to make fundamental rights a key priority of your Commission. In 2008 millions of LGBT people and their families and friends are counting on you!
Yours respectfully,
Sophie in 't Veld
ALDE MEP
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs
