Intro: Latvia is a ee untry, sce 1991, and now a proud member of the E.U. It boasts a expansive ast on the Baltic Sea as well as unique World Herage turn-of-the-century archecture. It's olr cizens are nservative by nature, rememberg the 60-year Soviet occupatn, while younger cizens reach for the future through tn and unhibed exchange wh the world. Not surprisg however, as other former munist-domated eastern European untri, homophobia ns high fired by Catholic Church nmnatn and neo-Nazi rhetoric and vlence agast LGBT people. Sce the first Pri march 2005 there have been threats, aggrsn and law sus to stop the event. But 2007 wh worldwi attentn foced on the Riga cy ftival there were signs of social soberg wh official permissn and police protectn; the most Pri ftival happened peacefully wh succs. Prented here is a story om Passport magaze that looks at recent history and behd the hysteria to fd a quiet brave gay muny of hospable and welg activists, cizens and bs people.
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LATVIA BE 7TH NATN TO BE LED BY AN OPENLY GAY HEAD OF STATE
Riga is the pal of Latvia, a former soviet untry northeastern Europe. It was recently the host of the 2015 EuroPri, but jt how gay-iendly is Riga? * gay pride latvia *
As we kicked off our #mygaypri mpaign this summer to promote Gay Pri ci worldwi, Riga beme an unual top choice.
GAY LATVIA
As Edgars Rkēvičs be the first openly gay print Latvia’s history, here’s a glimpse at other openly gay heads of state om around the world. * gay pride latvia *
” This was my first imprsn of the gay-iendls of Riga and wasn’t terrible, but wasn’t great. Later the same day I was off to meet my tour gui along wh other #mygaypri team members, fellow travel blogger Adam om Travels of Adam and Jamie om Gay Star News, our media partner for the mpaign. That night was time to check out the gay scene startg wh Goln, one of Riga’s two gay bars.
Riga’s other gay bar is XXL. The same owners even operate a small gay hotel if that’s your kd of thg. I don’t re if you are a gay untry sger or not.
After our quick exposure to this charmg and vg Latvian cy, I n easily see as a great, unforeen statn for gay travelers. It’s not nearly as gay-iendly as s Wtern European neighbors, but ’s makg stris that directn and EuroPri helped to take another step. The gays n seek out their own the gay bars and also feel fortable, while beg somewhat ut, enjoyg all the cy has to offer to all s visors, gays and straights alike.
* gay pride latvia *
Latvia swore the first openly gay print of a Baltic natn Rkēvičs, who sce 2011 was the untry’s foreign mister, was elected by Parliament May after Print Egils Levs did not seek re-electn. ”Rkēvičs “proudly” announced he is gay on Twter November 2014, though the untry, a former Soviet republic, is not pecially LGBTQ-clive. ” He said he knew there would be “mega hysteria, ” but he end wh the hashtag “#Proudtobegay.
”He is one of jt a few openly gay heads of state the world.