Unbelievable that in a country within the European Union a Gay Pride march is banned. Jean Lambert and the Green Party LGBT Group respond. Jean Lambert MEP will be speaking tonight at the major hustings in London for the LGBTIQ community organised by the Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association at Conway Hall, Red Lion Square WC1 near Holborn Underground Station. This will be an important event as LGBT rights come under attack within the EU itself and in other parts of Europe. I will be there as a European Parliamentary candidate with other members of the Green Party LGBTIQ Group.
NEWS FROM THE GREEN PARTY of England and Wales LGBT GROUP
http://www.lgbtgreens.org.uk/
GREEN MEP CONDEMNS MOVE TO BAN GAY PRIDE EVENT IN LATVIA
Jean Lambert to raise decision with European Commission
Message in support of IDAHO 2009
For Immediate Release
13.5.9
Jean Lambert, London ’s Green Party MEP, has today condemned the decision by the Riga authorities in Latvia to cancel the Baltic Pride event this weekend.
The annual gay pride march was scheduled to take place in the Latvian capital on Saturday, to coincide with a weekend of events marking IDAHO , the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia on Sunday 17 May.
However, yesterday [Tuesday 12 May] 34 out of 60 members of Riga City Council voted to ban the march on the grounds of public morality. Organisers of the event are liaising with the police and Andris Grînbergs, Riga City Council (RCC) Commission on meetings, marches and demonstrations, who understand that cancelling the march would be unlawful. They are hoping it may still be possible to march on Saturday, but they may have to wait until next week for the event to be rearranged.
Jean Lambert, a longstanding campaigner for equality who has worked extensively on LGBT issues, condemned the move by the RCC.
"I condemn the attempt by the Riga authorities to cancel Baltic Pride 2009. This is an attack on peaceful freedom of expression and a fresh reminder of the challenges we face in achieving true equality for LGBT people across Europe . I will be raising the issue with the Latvian embassy, and also writing to the President of the European Commission – it’s time they tackled homophobia and discrimination in Latvia .”
Jean will be supporting IDAHO 2009 this weekend. She said:
"The news from Riga makes this year's IDAHO all the more important. I'm proud to be supporting this day and joining its call to fight homophobia, transphobia and discrimination in all its forms.
"In April, the European Parliament took a major step forward when it voted to extend anti-discrimination legislation on grounds of sexual orientation beyond the workplace, but there is still a long way to go. Just days before that vote a major report by the Fundamental Rights Agency found that homophobia across Europe remains rife. LGBT people encounter prejudice and abuse at all levels of society, from schools to retirement homes. Many are too afraid to come out and instead adopt 'invisibility' as a survival strategy. IDAHO is about liberating people from that fear: a day to combat discrimination, and a day of celebration and pride.”
She also expressed solidarity with Peter Tachell, the human rights campaigner and her Green Party colleague, who will be in Moscow this weekend for the Slavic Gay Pride parade. Mr Tatchell was brutally beaten by right-wing extremists during the 2007 Moscow Pride event, and subsequently arrested by the Russian police. His attackers, though easily identifiable, were never arrested. Jean said:
"I would like to wish Peter Tatchell all the best for his return to Moscow this Saturday. His tremendous courage and dedication to this cause are an inspiration."
ENDS
Jean Lambert is one of nine MEPs representing London and one of two UK Green representatives in the European Parliament. In October 2005 Jean was named MEP of the year for her work on Justice and Human Rights. Jean was first elected Green Party Member of the European Parliament for London in the 1999 European elections and was re-elected in 2004.
For more information please contact:
Georgina Bloomfield , Media and Public Relations Officer on 07988 790 889
Or Phelim Mac Cafferty Media spokesperson for the LGBT Group on 07765 474 621
http://www.lgbtgreens.org.uk/
GREEN MEP CONDEMNS MOVE TO BAN GAY PRIDE EVENT IN LATVIA
Jean Lambert to raise decision with European Commission
Message in support of IDAHO 2009
For Immediate Release
13.5.9
Jean Lambert, London ’s Green Party MEP, has today condemned the decision by the Riga authorities in Latvia to cancel the Baltic Pride event this weekend.
The annual gay pride march was scheduled to take place in the Latvian capital on Saturday, to coincide with a weekend of events marking IDAHO , the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia on Sunday 17 May.
However, yesterday [Tuesday 12 May] 34 out of 60 members of Riga City Council voted to ban the march on the grounds of public morality. Organisers of the event are liaising with the police and Andris Grînbergs, Riga City Council (RCC) Commission on meetings, marches and demonstrations, who understand that cancelling the march would be unlawful. They are hoping it may still be possible to march on Saturday, but they may have to wait until next week for the event to be rearranged.
Jean Lambert, a longstanding campaigner for equality who has worked extensively on LGBT issues, condemned the move by the RCC.
"I condemn the attempt by the Riga authorities to cancel Baltic Pride 2009. This is an attack on peaceful freedom of expression and a fresh reminder of the challenges we face in achieving true equality for LGBT people across Europe . I will be raising the issue with the Latvian embassy, and also writing to the President of the European Commission – it’s time they tackled homophobia and discrimination in Latvia .”
Jean will be supporting IDAHO 2009 this weekend. She said:
"The news from Riga makes this year's IDAHO all the more important. I'm proud to be supporting this day and joining its call to fight homophobia, transphobia and discrimination in all its forms.
"In April, the European Parliament took a major step forward when it voted to extend anti-discrimination legislation on grounds of sexual orientation beyond the workplace, but there is still a long way to go. Just days before that vote a major report by the Fundamental Rights Agency found that homophobia across Europe remains rife. LGBT people encounter prejudice and abuse at all levels of society, from schools to retirement homes. Many are too afraid to come out and instead adopt 'invisibility' as a survival strategy. IDAHO is about liberating people from that fear: a day to combat discrimination, and a day of celebration and pride.”
She also expressed solidarity with Peter Tachell, the human rights campaigner and her Green Party colleague, who will be in Moscow this weekend for the Slavic Gay Pride parade. Mr Tatchell was brutally beaten by right-wing extremists during the 2007 Moscow Pride event, and subsequently arrested by the Russian police. His attackers, though easily identifiable, were never arrested. Jean said:
"I would like to wish Peter Tatchell all the best for his return to Moscow this Saturday. His tremendous courage and dedication to this cause are an inspiration."
ENDS
Jean Lambert is one of nine MEPs representing London and one of two UK Green representatives in the European Parliament. In October 2005 Jean was named MEP of the year for her work on Justice and Human Rights. Jean was first elected Green Party Member of the European Parliament for London in the 1999 European elections and was re-elected in 2004.
For more information please contact:
Georgina Bloomfield , Media and Public Relations Officer on 07988 790 889
Or Phelim Mac Cafferty Media spokesperson for the LGBT Group on 07765 474 621
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