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Sat, Nov 07 2009
Rainbow Friendship 2009 without incidents
Photo: Rene Beekman
Photo: Rene Beekman
Photo: Rene Beekman
Photo: Rene Beekman
Photo: Rene Beekman
Photo: Rene Beekman
Photo: Rene Beekman
Photo: Rene Beekman
Tension was high with organisers, police and private security when the 300 or-so participants in the 2009 Rainbow Friendship parade gathered on Lovers' Bridge behind Sofia's National Palace of Culture (NDK).
Between the blue flags along the edge of the bridge, a multi-coloured sea of balloons, flags and helmets formed.
Organisers handed out coloured, plastic construction-helmets to participants, a tongue-in-cheek reference to last year's violence that surrounded Bulgaria's first gay pride parade.
The press had arrived in large numbers, expecting a repeat of last year's stand-off with ultra-nationalists.
Instead, they were offered colourful photo-opportunities by Bulgarian and foreign participants.
Two boys positioned themselves smack in the middle of one of the banners and started a long, demonstrative public kiss. Within seconds they were the focus of every camera on the bridge.
At the head of the parade itself was an open truck with a DJ and several dancers; both leather-boys and transvestites.
When the parade reached the corner of Graf Ignatiev and Vasil Levski, the dancers had to leave the truck, causing some commotion among guards. "Move, move, move," one uniformed police officer tried to persuade the head of the parade to continue its route.
Once inside the Red House, a sense of relief and pride filled the air. They had done it!
Between the blue flags along the edge of the bridge, a multi-coloured sea of balloons, flags and helmets formed.
Organisers handed out coloured, plastic construction-helmets to participants, a tongue-in-cheek reference to last year's violence that surrounded Bulgaria's first gay pride parade.
The press had arrived in large numbers, expecting a repeat of last year's stand-off with ultra-nationalists.
Instead, they were offered colourful photo-opportunities by Bulgarian and foreign participants.
Two boys positioned themselves smack in the middle of one of the banners and started a long, demonstrative public kiss. Within seconds they were the focus of every camera on the bridge.
At the head of the parade itself was an open truck with a DJ and several dancers; both leather-boys and transvestites.
When the parade reached the corner of Graf Ignatiev and Vasil Levski, the dancers had to leave the truck, causing some commotion among guards. "Move, move, move," one uniformed police officer tried to persuade the head of the parade to continue its route.
Once inside the Red House, a sense of relief and pride filled the air. They had done it!
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Belgrade Pride parade is ‘Sodom and Gomorrah’ says Serbian Orthodox Church
Church joins ultra-rightists and football fans in rejection of gay pride parade in Belgrade on September 20 2009, as the government in Belgrade pledges tight security against attacks on the event.
Authorities pledge protection for Serbian gay pride parade
September 20 2009 event planned against background of homophobic graffiti and memories of a 2001 event that ended in turmoil.
Rainbow Friendship supported by 2 local political organisations - organisers
At a media conference on the morning of the second Rainbow Friendship parade, organisers said the parade had the support of 11 foreign embassies and two local political organisations.
Rainbow rights
Western embassies support the Rainbow parade after criticism from conservative groups and the clergy and silence from politicians
Editorial: Parading rights
Opinion polls in Bulgaria have shown a prevalence of homophobic attitudes. In public life, being openly gay is unusual, limited usually to people in entertainment and the arts. Unlike other European countries, if any politician of note is gay, they do not say so, probably well aware that to do so would be career suicide.
Christian theology students organise protest march against Rainbow Friendship Rally in Sofia
We are not against self determination but against the insolent demonstration of homosexual orientation organisers say
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.
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Congratulations to the organizers and participants. I was in Budapest where gay marriage is now legal. There is an active "anti-homophobic campaign" there.
well done indeed!
well done to the organisers and participants in the rally, so glad it all went well without any incidents