EuroPride is one of Europe’s main LGBT events and this year it ill be hosted by Riga, Latvia, coinciding with the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. This EuroPride marks a historic occasion as the first EuroPride to be held in a post-Soviet country on the EU’s Eastern border with Russia. This year’s event provides an invaluable opportunity to draw pan-European attention to LGBT and human rights in the region.
EuroPride in Riga will take place June 15 to 21, 2015 – just a few days before Midsummer celebrations, one of the most important holiday periods in Latvia!
EuroPride 2015 will feature a wide variety of events, culminating in a EuroPride parade through the streets of Riga on Saturday, June 20.
“As owner and licensor of the EuroPride brand, we – EPOA, European Pride Organisers Association – have always felt very strongly about smaller prides or prides in hostile environments wanting to take on the challenge of hosting a EuroPride in their respective cities. Our members voted in favor, knowing that this was the right choice and perfectly in line with the vision of this important event: ‘EuroPride is the celebration of LGBTI solidarity throughout Europe. It is for every LGBTI person in Europe and far beyond and aims to promote the variety of LGBTI culture’. The ideal moment and time to show all the LGBTI people in Russia or any other discriminating/hostile country that they have not been forgotten and that our fight continues until all are free to be who they are: human.” –Hans De Meyer, EPOA president.
“We are delighted at this opportunity to bring EuroPride to Riga. It’s of huge importance not only for Latvia and Eastern Europe but for the entire region, including the post-Soviet space where freedom of speech and assembly is under attack every day. Right now solidarity is more important than ever before.” — Kaspars Zalitis, Co-Chair of EuroPride 2015
Among the many events set to take place for EuroPride 2015 will be an international conference “Freedom of Speech and Assembly World Perspective”, capacity building clinics for LGBT activists from post-Soviet countries, an LGBT Business Forum, several exhibition (including “LGBTI in Latvia from the Beginning of the 20th Century”), the “Black Carnation” film festival, and a wide range of workshops celebrating inclusion and equality.
Registration for the parade is now open!
Register by the May 17 deadline at http://goo.gl/forms/MI6jachX0l Registration is not required for individual but mandatory for groups. For non-profit organizations and non-commercial groups participation in the parade is free.
Participation in the parade and access to the pride park is free of charge – but putting all the EuroPride activities together costs! If you wish to make a donation or support us in any way, please contact us at office@mozaika.lv. We appreciate your support!
Let’s celebrate the great LGBT rights achievements in the region over the last decade, look forward to the challenges ahead, and commemorate the victims who have suffered and continue to suffer in Latvia, other post-Soviet states, and elsewhere in the world on their path to full and equal rights.
Be the change!
Changing history is hot!
EuroPride 2015 on Facebook www.facebook.com/EuroPride2015
EuroPride 2015 on Twitter @europrideriga
EuroPride 2015 – Riga is organised by Association of LGBT and their friends MOZAIKA, the only LGBT organisation in Latvia.
