Sun, Nov 08 2009

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

Sat, May 30 2009 10:14 CET byRene Beekman 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."

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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

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

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

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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.

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