Livewire – Amnesty International blogging for human rights

By John Dalhuisen, Amnesty International’s researcher on discrimination in Europe.

Marching for equality, for respect and for human rights © Kåre Viemose

So it’s done.  It happened. Exhilarated, and a little exhausted, we are back at the hotel after a successful Pride march along Vilnius’s river Neris.  We were around 500 in the end, marching for equality, for respect and for human rights.  It was a demonstration and it was a celebration.

We were watched by a couple of thousand – and many more watching it, transmitted live, at home.  Some of those watching were supportive, some curious, many were opposed to our march, and a few, as we expected, were violent – throwing the odd smoke bomb, and anything else they could get their hands on (including, rather strangely, the occasional hotdog) at the police.  But the 600 plus police officers did their job.

We felt safe, we felt proud and we felt honoured to be walking alongside the local activists, gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender people – and others, who just came to show their support.  It was harder for them than it was for us.  We go, but they stay behind.  They are the ones spreading tolerance and defending rights.  They have a long way to go still in overcoming prejudice and hatred – but they took an important step today.  We were just glad we could help them.

Here are the thoughts and reactions of some of those who took part:

Vladimir Simonko, Chair of the Lithuanian Gay League and lead organiser of the 2010 Baltic Pride:

Many were opposed to the march © Kåre Viemose

It’s hard to say how I feel right now. I will start to feel something next week.  We worked very hard, prepared everything well and I want to thank our brave volunteers.

The main thing is that I felt safe.  The police worked really hard to guarantee our rights to freedom of assembly.  It was brave of them too. They got a lot of abuse from counter demonstrators.  Homophobia in country is really high and they protected our rights.  They were professional.  It was a big surprise for us – that a march like today was possible in this country.

I would like to thank Amnesty International because you guys did a great job.  I think you showed that your organisation can change things.

I was sorry for the Lithuanians who came out but couldn’t join us.  We did not expect so many, and the security arrangements couldn’t cope.  Next time, maybe, we will be three thousand – lets see.  Anyway we will apply for a bigger march.  And maybe we wont need so much security.

Egle is a student from Klaipeda, the second major city in Lithuania:

I am here because I think that Lithuania needs such sort of activities because our people really are not tolerant. I hope that when they see us they can realize that we are not that different from them, that we share the same anxieties and hopes, and they will come to accept us. I have come alone to the march, I don’t know anybody here. My family and friends don’t know about me being lesbian but now they will learn. I hope to go to the next march not alone but with people who support me.

The police worked hard to guarantee our rights to freedom of assembly @ Kåre Viemose

Marta is from Latvia. She is 18 and has not finished school yet. She is at the march with her partner of one year Sandra:

This is our first participation in such an event. We are not activists yet but we will become because of the prejudices we encounter at every step. Yes, the march went very well but we are here and the people are on the other side of the river. We live among the people there and we want to be there with them. We want to be accepted for what we are. We don’t have understanding in the family. If my being here can help break barriers regardless whether they are here or not.

Janika is from Estonia, where next year’s Baltic Pride will take place.  She is a young travel agent. She is at the march with her partner:

In Estonia people claim to be tolerant but they are not. They say gay and lesbian people should not advertise their sexuality, they should keep everything at home. People frown when they see me holding hands with my partner. I am happy with the way the march went and the security provided by the police. What I am wondering though is whether we could get our message to the people from whom we were cordoned off. We are asking for human rights for the LGBT people but for many people in the former Soviet countries the notion of human rights is not very clear. I think that we need more human rights education. And maybe, we need to think of other forms of taking our message out. Next year the Baltic Pride events are scheduled to be in Estonia. I think we will have to find other forms of approaching people.

Around 500 people took part in the march © Kåre Viemose

Sabine Zwiers from Amnesty International Netherlands, was part of the security team for the march:

The police did a very good job. They were well prepared and tackled very professionally the couple of attempts aimed to disrupt the march. I cannot say that there were too many of them because in such situations we have to be well prepared. The police of Vilnius secured the safety of the participants of 2010 Baltic Pride march.

Ferran, a member of Amnesty International UK:

I’m very positive. Its my fourth Pride in the region. I was at three before in Riga. What’s great is that the numbers have increased a lot.  The organisation and the security were excellent and everybody is very happy.  It’s great for Lithuanians to see that this kind of event can happen here and that so many Lithuanians took part.  They are the ones risking their jobs, their family relations.  I am happy for them that it went so well.