On 9th June, 2018 the representatives of the National LGBT* rights organization LGL joined thousands of Baltic Pride 2018 marchers and showed Lithuania’s support to the Latvian LGBT* community. The event provided with an opportunity to bring focus to LGBT human rights situation in the region. LGL representatives arrived in Riga with a special LGL bus.
The Baltic Pride 2018 in Latvian capital was a success and went through without any major incidents. More than 8000 LGBT community members and their allies from all of Europe participated in the march. 300 representatives from LGL and other NGOs and human rights activists also joined the march.
The march was organized in the afternoon and went through the streets of the Old Town. After the march, the participants were invited to a concert in Vērmanes Park, where they shared in good mood and festive spirits.
“I am glad that the Baltic Pride marches in the Baltic capitals are becoming a city holiday. Today, we succeeded in creating a miracle of being together and in sending out a very clear message that democracy, tolerance and respect for every person – despite individual differences – are precisely the values that our societies are guided by. I am confident that the Baltic Pride festival taking place in Vilnius next year will turn out to be even more successful,” commented Vladimir Simonko, Executive Director of the National LGBT* Rights Organization LGL.
In 2019, the Baltic Pride march will take place in Vilnius on 8th June.
© Augustas Didžgalvis
