Other events in Baltic States

Europe's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender people and their friends' (LGBT) event "Europride" could see several thousand participants in Riga in 2015.

LGBT association "Mozaika" board member Kristine Garina told LETA that "Mozaika's" project convincingly won the "Europride" organizers' approval and the association received the license for organization of "Europride" in Riga in 2015.

The project featured a description of Riga and the city's history, the history of the organization of "Pride" events in Riga, as well as the progress in society's position on LGBT, as well as developments east of Latvia, because of all countries that applied for hosting "Europride", Latvia was closest to the EU eastern border.

"Riga will be the furthest place east where such an event has ever been organized. Knowing that the rights of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people are limited in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, "Europride" will be an important display of solidarity with this region," said Garina.

Commenting on the program of "Europride" events, Garina said that there was no detailed plan yet, but the main emphasis would be on European values, and the scale of the event would be much larger than the past "Pride" events in Riga.

The "Europride" events will be financed by the Open Society Foundation, established by George Soros, which also provides funding for "Mozaika". Money from European Union projects and sponsors would also be used for these events. Altogether, LVL 50,000 to LVL 100,000 may be needed for the organization of "Europride" in Riga, but if such large amounts cannot be raised, "Mozaika" will make do with what it has.

Commenting on the general public's stance about such events, Garina said that the attitude toward "Pride" this year was much more tolerant than six years ago. "Of course, public opinion change is a very long process, but it is obvious that people are now much more open and forthcoming. Association "No Pride" CEO, Riga City Council member Janis Smits, who has said he would turn to courts demanding "Europride" be banned in Riga, does not represent the entire community's opinion. Every resident has the right to turn to courts," said Garina.

The "Europride" in Riga will be organized during Latvia's presidency of the European Union in the first half of 2015.