tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1669595284088933931.post2933307941261832257..comments2023-05-30T07:15:02.711-07:00Comments on Free Speech Emergency in Latvia: A post-Pride diagnosis of Latvian society?Juris Kažahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10052208772017734513noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1669595284088933931.post-22173382201620856742013-08-23T14:49:03.812-07:002013-08-23T14:49:03.812-07:00If you want to know the truth I think most Latvian...If you want to know the truth I think most Latvian people simply don't care about homosexuality. I know many homosexuals in Latvia and in different ages (pretty much everyone knows they're gay) and haven't heard that they're being persecuted on every step. If Pride causes such trouble then perhaps it should be done in a different way or delayed until the society is ready. Quite a few people tolerate gays but do not prefer the actual form of Pride (every parade is different and can vary in form). I mean, honestly, what did Pride members and Mr. Kaža think - that everyone is going to cheer and hug the Pride participants from the very first moment? Even in supposedly liberal USA sooo many homosexuals are treated as scum and face terrible discrimination, especially by the Church and Christians. I've only heard negative attitude towards gays from Christians in Latvia (and complete morons). I was shocked that liberal thinking Archbishop Jānis Vanags said that if we accept homosexuality we will soon accept pedophilia too (I guess here's the answer to where does the affiliation of these two things comes from).<br />One can blame damaged Soviet thinking only on the older generations but shout at the WHOLE society that it is totalitarian and dark-minded is a terrible mistake. It only makes the situation worse.<br />Latvian society is very contrasted and there should be a more intelligent approach to solve this problem instead of yelling big, exaggerated words like Free speech, democracy etc.<br />BTW Kārlis Streips (popular journalist), Andrejs Žagars (Head of National Opera)and other celebs are long been openly gay. I hope more do come out without making big deal out of it. Anemonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1669595284088933931.post-33639702531851841942012-06-06T02:05:59.693-07:002012-06-06T02:05:59.693-07:00Good to hear that there is still hope on the stree...Good to hear that there is still hope on the streets and in regard to the reactions on the internet: barking dogs don't bite.<br />However what I never understood and still do not understand is, why people in Latvia think that pedophilia and homophilia is the same thing. Can anyone explain this? Where does this come from?<br />I am happy to read that several Latvian officials visited the Pride this year but it would be better if finally prominent Latvian gays would publicly just be gay. That would be a tough job, but someone has to start, at least to create awareness in Latvia.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1669595284088933931.post-45463368135007842382012-06-03T19:34:40.222-07:002012-06-03T19:34:40.222-07:00Anonymous, you forget that for most LGBTs (especia...Anonymous, you forget that for most LGBTs (especially in strongly anti-gay places like Latvia), the Pride Parade is the <i>only</i> occasion in which they can openly show who they are: all the rest of the time, as soon as there's a non-gay person around, they pretend to be straight or behave in straight-accepted ways to avoid prejudice, discrimination, offenses, etc. In the only occasion in which they feel free to openly be gay, don't you think some exaggeration is to be expected?<br /><br />Think also of other similar pride parades you may have seen: ethic-cultural ones, like those by Russians who live in the Netherlands, or Brazilians who live in the US... Or think of St. Patrick's day for the Irish in the US. In these parades, you'll see also people wearing strange clothes and saying strange things; but their 'strange clothes' are traditional clothes typical of their culture and the strange talk is their native language. If you can have some respect for these people's public display of their culture (and even enjoy it somewhat), why not do the same for the LGBTs and their culture?Lingüistahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06327147408198046253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1669595284088933931.post-86042799347713483632012-06-03T15:29:35.043-07:002012-06-03T15:29:35.043-07:00I read a statement by "Mozaika" that pri...I read a statement by "Mozaika" that pride marches are necessary because of prejudice towards sexual minorities in Latvia. I will not talk about my own views, but what are people supposed to think about "LBGTs" if some of those marching are dressed as clowns and what not and are acting loud and weird? To show the society that LBGTs are the same as everyone else, don't you think that a regular formal march with no screaming and crazy (in some prides, even provocative) outfits would be more effective?<br />You don't have to hide who you are, but you shouldn't exaggerate.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com