Sun, Nov 08 2009

Gay-rights organisation calls for support for second Bulgarian Gay Pride parade

Sat, May 30 2009 10:14 CET 1751 Views 1 Comment
Gay-rights organisation calls for support for second Bulgarian Gay Pride parade

Gay Pride holding a rainbow flag in front of Sofia's National Palace of Culture in June 2008.

Gay-rights organisation calls for support for second Bulgarian Gay Pride parade

"Be intolerant, be normal" posters in Sofia, June 2008.
Photo: Stoyan Nenov

Gay-rights organisation calls for support for second Bulgarian Gay Pride parade

Riot police detain far-right extremists near the site of the Gay Pride parade in Sofia in June 2008.


Photo: Stoyan Nenov

Ahead of the second Gay Pride parade in Bulgaria in June 2009, gay-rights organisation International Queer Solidarity Network (IQSN) called for "European mobilization, with support from the United States, that will stand in solidarity with Queer Bulgaria." 

The first Gay Pride parade was held in June 2008 and was marred by counter-protests organised by ultra-nationalists Bulgarian National Alliance (BNA).

At the time, BNA called for a "week of intolerance" under the motto `Be intolerant, be normal'.

As The Sofia Echo reported, close to 150 people found the courage to march on the streets with balloons, carrying symbolic rainbow-like flags. BNU leader Boyan Rassate, along with 80 others were arrested.

In a statement published on their website, IQSN accused ultra-nationalists Ataka and Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev of intolerance, saying that Ataka had openly called for "men to beat up gays," and Stanishev was said to have expressed his dislike of "manifestation and demonstration of such orientations."

Comments

Anonymous SS Sun, Jun 21 2009 10:32 CET

This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained .

Anonymous Rahul Rai Fri, Jun 12 2009 10:34 CET

This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained .

Anonymous person Tue, Jun 02 2009 22:58 CET
Inappropriate comment?

I really hope this goes without violence. And hopefully without displays of stupidity....

Write comment

Name:Comment:

Generate new code
Send your comment
Parade against gay parade

Group of theology students march through Sofia, saying that Rainbow Friendship Rally planned for June 27 is dangerous and immoral

UK ambassador's pro-gay rights stance irks far-right leader

British ambassador Steve Williams's support for the forthcoming gay rights parade is criticised by a far-right party leader in Bulgaria.

US ambassador backs Rainbow Friendship Rally

Nancy McEldowney becomes second Western ambassador, after the UK’s Steve Williams, to issue a statement of support for Bulgaria’s second gay pride parade.

Rainbow Friendship Rally draws support from British ambassador

Steve Williams, British ambassador to Bulgaria, sent out a statement unequivocally supporting the upcoming second gay pride parade in Sofia.

Labour unions protest in Sofia

More 10 000 demonstrators are expected to descend on Sofia to protest against the "Government's inactivity in tackling the economic crisis".

US report highlights human rights problems in Bulgaria

Annual assessment says Bulgaria 'generally respects' human rights but finds problems in several areas

Weekend Blog: On gay friends and those bloody faggots

Two years ago, friends and family accepted my decision to return to live in Bulgaria with mixed feelings. There was the fear of inevitable frustrations and disappointments mixed with a semi-hopeful search for any sign of them. But I wasn't going to take any i-told-you-so's. Still, some second-string personae - The Bleeding Liberal, the Bourgeois Bohemian - kept muscling their way from the wings, threatening to spoil my act of strength, grace and deftness. Common concerns proved unfounded - I found a job easily, I endured the bureaucracy of government institutions and patiently waited on long queues so that when I finally reached the clerk's desk I could be directed to a different queue, I got used to information lines ringing into eternity.

Pride and prejudice

The first-ever Gay Pride parade in Bulgaria finally hit the streets of Sofia on June 28. Vigorous threats of violence and mass hysteria notwithstanding, close to 150 people found the courage to march on the streets with balloons, carrying symbolic rainbow-like flags. After changing the planned route a couple of times for safety reasons, the parade started at Мостът на влюбените (The Lovers' Bridge),

One day of gay pride

At about 4.25pm on June 28, on Мостът на влюбените (The Lovers' bridge) near the National Palace of Culture in Sofia, there are only random onlookers and a pack of journalists waiting under the blazing sun. Cameras and camcorders rise in the air, ready to catch some action. Then suddenly, police officers begin to roam about the gathered people. After heated debates and a preceding Week of Intolerance, declared by the Bulgarian National Union (BNU), the first gay parade in Bulgaria is expected to begin in 5 minutes.

Gay Pride in Sofia still on

The gay parade will happen, Sofia mayor Boiko Borissov said, as quoted by Focus news agency on June 27. The gathering place is Моста на влюбените (The Lovers' bridge) near the National Palace of Culture at 4.30 pm on June 28. The parade's route would not be announced for safety purposes. It is only known that the procession will use sidewalks and pedestrian zones, without having to block the ongoing traffic, a statement posted on the Bulgarian gay organisation Gemini's website said. In the mean time, Boyan Rassate, the leader of the right-wing Bulgarian National Union (BNU), visited the Sofia City Hall with the intent to file a complaint, insisting that the parade be banned, Focus reported. Rassate reminded the gathered journalists that three years ago, the gay parade scheduled to take place in Varna was foiled with the help of the local mayor.

Gay Pride row

Amid threats of mass-staged protests and opposition from political and religious quarters, Bulgaria will see its first ever gay parade on June 28 in Sofia. After the announcement of the event, the right-wing Bulgarian National Union (BNU) reacted with a news conference on June 22, where it declared a Week of Intolerance. The union has vowed to organise a counter-event on the day of the parade, a protest

More in this category

Three Bulgarians arrested in Moscow, embassy says

The detainees will be held for 48 hours for questioning

Four Bulgarians arrested in Moscow after police raid illegal software production - media report

After initial complaint, Bulgaria allows Russian police to search premises owned by the Bulgarian state

Russian police storms Bulgarian state properties in Moscow

Bulgaria's Foreign Ministry says it is worried about the police raid that, according to the ministry, violated the property's diplomatic status

A European future

Bulgaria seeks its place in the Lisbon Treaty’s new EU

Greek, Bulgarian PMs discuss speeding opening of new border points

The Borissov – Papandreou talks were held during the European Council summit of heads of state and government in Brussels, and covered border checkpoints, trade and the Bourgas - Alexandroupolis pipeline.