Speech
Riga 15 May 2009
Nyamko Sabuni, Minister for Integration and Gender Equality

Speech at Baltic Pride in Riga

(Check against delivery.)

Dear friends,

I have been looking forward to be here at the Baltic Pride in Riga for years. And it truly feels good to be here.

I believe it was three years ago when I first met Linda Freimane. Linda who is chairwoman of Mozaika and one of the driving forces behind this event. We met at the annual Gay Gala in Stockholm. Since then we have met few times and I always enjoy your striking enthusiasm for equal rights and the concept of Pride. Linda convinced me that I had to find the time to come - and now I am happy to finally be here!

Why is it special for me to participate in Baltic Pride in Riga? I will mention two reasons.

First of all, the city of Riga reminds us of Latvians struggle against totalitarian rule. Twenty years ago, citizens in half of Europe lacked the right to free speech, the right to elect leaders, the right to freedom. Twenty years ago, we could never imagine a unified Europe, with 500 million citizens living together in democratic states.

You, Latvians, should feel pride in your country's journey from oppression and occupation to democracy and European cooperation.

Still - there are people in Europe who live without equal rights, afraid of discrimination and abuse because of sexual orientation. The struggle against oppression continues in new forms.

Now we have to make sure that the EU is really about more than the internal market, it must be about values and freedom of the individual. I am proud to join you in the continued fight for freedom and LGBT-rights.

The second reason for me to be here, can be found outside these doors. Why are they protesting? Why are people protesting? Are they protesting against poverty? Climate change? Are they protesting against war? No, they are protesting against right for people to choose who they love.

We all have an obligation to raise our voices against intolerance. Let's never be tolerant of intolerance!

And of course, another important reason is that, walking in the Pride Parade is so much fun!

Ladies and gentlemen,

Yesterday I received the news that the permit for tomorrow's parade has been cancelled. Should the parade actually be stopped, it would be an embarrassing setback for Latvia as a country, and the EU as a whole.

Why does the thought of love between two men, or between two women, threaten public morality? Is there a limited amount of love in Riga that will run out if we accept gay rights? I believe what Riga, Stockholm and Europe needs is more love - not less!

I walked in the Pride Parade in Stockholm last year, and the year before. All party leaders have walked the parade. The Swedish Prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt has attended pride festivities. To walk in the Pride Parade is an act of solidarity with the LGBT-movement.

I urge my Latvian and Baltic colleagues to make sure that Pride Parades are approved in your cities. In fact, I was hoping to see my Latvian colleges here to day.

The Pride festival is a symbol of the fact that the universal declaration includes all people, no matter sexual orientation. Having the Pride Parade represents what it means to be a tolerant, European democracy.

My home country Sweden is far from perfect. A few years ago the parade was attacked and people were beaten. Hate crimes against LGBT-people happens in Sweden and is totally unaccepted. Yet I am proud that Sweden has come a long way. It hasn't been easy, it has been a gradual process. In Sweden, as here in Latvia, the LGBT movement plays a central role.

I remember when I witnessed my friend Sören Juvas, the chair man of RFSL, enter partnership with his husband. To day, two years later, gay couples can not only enter partnership but also get married. This would never had happened without the struggle and efforts from the LGBT movement. Last week, the same person, Sören Juvas, visited the Moldova Pride festival. In the evening he was arrested by the police and after he was released he was seriously beaten.

The police should always protect the citizens. When the police play a role in harassing and attacking people because of their sexual orientation it is awful. This is both illegal and a fundamental violation of modern democracy.

A crime is a crime! Even if the police are responsible.

In just a few months, Sweden assumes the EU presidency. I would like to share with you some examples on how we will work during the upcoming months to promote LGBT-rights. We will work together, within EU, to highlight LGBT-issues within the human rights discussion of the UN. We will continue to work in the Council of Europe to strengthen and further develop their work on LGBT-rights. We welcome the fact that there is now a working group on LGBT-issues in the Council of Europe. And we are proud that it is led by the Swedish expert Mr. Hans Ytterberg.

We will arrange a summit in November that focuses on how we can strengthen the EU:s antidiscrimination laws and make them more effective. Too little attention has been paid to the fact that discrimination of LGBT people leads to serious health problems.

I would like to conclude with some words about why we gather here at Baltic Pride. We share a common vision for the future and every Pride is an important step.

I am a strong supporter of European integration. But I want to feel a stronger pride in my heart.

I want to be proud of a Europe that puts LGBT rights high on the international agenda.

I want to be proud of a Europe where every country and every city can arrange Pride Parades. And let these parades be parades of freedom!

I want to be proud of a Europe where same-sex couples and their children are considered as families in every country.

We need more love - not less!

I wish you all a fantastic Pride to morrow

YOU make me proud!