EuroPride heading for Riga in June
By Ben Kelly
The 22nd EuroPride will take place in June 2015 in Riga, Latvia. It is the first time a Baltic state will host the European LGBT celebration, and subsequently is attracting a lot of interest.
This is the first time the event has taken place in a former Soviet country, just across the border from the harsh anti-gay laws currently being imposed in Russia. Because of this, EuroPride will have a political element this year that extends beyond the traditional march.
Spearheaded by Latvian human rights activist Kaspars Zalitis, representatives from countries where homosexuality is suppressed and punished are being invited to attend, and workshops will be held to explore how attitudes can be changed globally, as well as within Europe.
The event comes in the final month of Latvia’s time holding the rotating EU Presidency, which means delegates from across Europe are in the city dealing with issues as current and pressing as the Greek economy.
Between 2,000 and 5,000 people are expected to attend EuroPride, but organizers are also expecting a higher turn out of protesters than the event is used to. Hundreds of protestors could turn out – a coalition of social conservatives, the uber religious, and Russian right wingers – as they have done for Riga Pride in the past, though organizers have assured Attitude they are peaceful, and remarkably well contained by police, who are neutral in such affairs.
Homosexuality is legal in Latvia, but political opposition has prevented the advance of further equality measures. Though opposition comes mostly in the form of rhetoric, rather than violence, organisers have advised us that visitors should be as wary of their surroundings as they would be in London.
Gaining business support in such an environment hasn’t been easy either, but EuroPride have had some success with big corporations like Air Baltic, and small Latvian creatives like Elina Dobele. Organisers have devised a logo – a circle infused with rainbow colours – which they hope up to 20 businesses in the city will place in their windows to show their support for diversity during the event.
Having visited Riga to get a feel for the location last month, Attitude saw a country still effectively in its adolescence as a country. Having only gained its independence in 1991, many older Latvians remain conservative, and the large ethnic Russian population share the morals of their homeland. But notably, the youth of Riga – indeed people right up to their 40s – are markedly western, welcoming, highly cultured, and wouldn’t look out of step in East London. From hipster markets, and coffee bars that stay open all night, they represent a changing Latvia, which increasingly identifies more with Europe than it does with Russia.
Having been the 2014 European Capital of Culture, Riga is a city which evokes the Nordic capitals. Its culture and heritage is scattered humbly throughout the two sides of the river bank, in a city which boasts 800 Art Nouveau buildings. The centre piece is undeniably the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site which holds the Latvian parliament among buildings dating back to the 17th century. In a country that has been under some occupation or other for nearly 800 years, there’s plenty of reclaiming to be done, and the locals are extremely proud of the architecture, statues and areas that weathered the storms alongside the native people.
Cultural highlights during EuroPride take the form of an multi embassy backed film festival, an exhibition on the history of LGBTI in Latvia across the 20th century, and multiple other events taking place at the specially designated Pride House.
And, if the buzz of the city gets too much for you, it only takes about 20 minutes to link up with Latvia’s 500km of beach, on which you could walk for hours without seeing another human being.
EuroPride takes place in Riga from June 15-21. Air Baltic runs a 2 hour service from London Gatwick daily, Riga airport is 10 minutes from the city by cab, and Radisson have several affordable hotels in the city centre.
For more information or to book Exclusive Gay Travel packages visit Marriottweekends.co.uk/pride