More News from Budapest Pride

This year the Pride march took place under extremely heavy police protection -police helicopter flying over the centre of town, lots of riot police, the main march avenue was fenced off, smaller streets leading towards the avenue were fenced off too. As a result the protesters and also other people willing to observe were prevented getting anywhere close to the march.

This was in complete contrast to the last time that Ilga-Europe attended the March in 2007 when Jobbik supporters, neo-nazis, religious protesters marched side by side infiltrating the march throwing fire bombs, smoke bombs, bottles filled with sand, eggs, excrement and spat at us. at the end of the march, we were huddled in to a refugee style camp locked away from the protesters. The police had not been expecting any trouble that year so were not prepared. Needless to say, that night ended up with a vicious attack on a lone gay man walking home.

This year, Paata and Juris from Ilga-Europe delivered speeches just before the march.

Juris said "The reason we are here today is to let you know that you are not alone in your struggle for equality and respect, your struggle against violence and intimidation. For many years Hungary was a role model for many countries and many LGBT people, especially in Central and Eastern Europe. What is happening recently here is worrying not just for you, its worrying for all Europe. Raise of racist and homophobic sentiments here in Hungary is not just a problem for Hungary, it is a problem for all Europe. Therefore we are here today to march with you, to let you know that the hearts and minds of millions of Europeans are with you today. Let’s march with pride, dignity and determination. Let’s show Hungary and the whole Europe, that violence, threats and intimidation will not defeat us. Because we know – the future of Hungary and Europe lies not in hatred, violence and division, it lies in unity, respect and equality! Thank you and have a great pride!"

Paata, a board member of Ilga-Europe and LGBT activist from Georgia said "Fellow activists, dear friends, It is my pleasure to be here with you today and show my solidarity as a representative of ILGA Europe. ILGA was founded over 30 years ago, and gay pride events have been staged since 40 years. But our fight for equal rights, dignity and respect had never stopped ever since. If we look through the century long history, we will not find any guarantee that progress in achieving equal rights cannot be reversed, neither is equality ultimately attainable task, it is achieved through elaborate effort and devotion. Indeed, not a single movement could achieve change without having fought for it day by day. And as I said, this fight is continuous and there always are good reasons for it. In fact, what we witness recently is a great setback in eastern parts of Europe in terms of ensuring equal rights of each and every citizen. Number of countries like Hungary have joined the EU, the place where it is hard to imagine such restrictions of civil liberties that have occurred in last couple of years. Depriving right to free assembly is at stake today in many EU countries. And we cannot be absolutely sure of what else can be challenged tomorrow? Free speech? Right to privacy? Our jobs? Our families? Or perhaps our very right to life? We cannot be sure whether the state and society decides to move to our bedrooms. We will never find this out unless this happens. And this will happen unless we stand here in solidarity with each other, lesbians, gays, bisexual, trans, intersex , queer and of course our straight sisters and brothers, who chose to stand by us and show their solidarity which is so crucial! When I heard of violent attacks against the pride marches in recent years I was shocked. I could not imagine this would ever happen in Budapest, the city where I have lived and studied at Central European University 8 years ago, where I came out, where I got involved in LGBT activism, where my life was changed dramatically. Yes it was here when I first felt proud of who I was. And today I am bringing this pride back to you, to support you and cheer you up. Be proud and never give up! I wish you a great pride!"

Cary Jonson, the new Director of IGLHRC was also in Budapest for Pride. as was a former Prime Minister of Hungary.

Ilga-Europes message of support to Budapest Pride:

http://www.budapestpride.hu/en/supporting-the-right-to-free-and-peaceful-assembly-in-hungary-supporting-budapest-pride

Gay Dugnity in Budapest as Security Services thwart Homophobic Extremists

Rioters rampage in Jewish district - aftermath of Pride

Budapest Pride 2009 - Update

Update on Budapest Pride

from UK Gay News

BUDAPEST, Sept 5, 2009

In excess of 2,000 people

took part in Budapest’s “Gay Dignity” march this afternoon.

And there was not a protester in sight, thanks to a massive security operation in the Hungarian capital. Last month, neo-Nazi groups had promised to disrupt the gay parade.

For photos see here http://ukgaynews.org.uk/Archive/09/Sep/0501.htm

The featured photo shows the UK Embassy flying the Rainbow Flag.

Budapest Pride Rising Up for Diversity and Human Rights

Budapest Pride takes place today and solidarity goes to all who are attending. UK Gay News has reported that thirteen Embassies, including the UK representing countries on four continents, have issued a joint statement supporting Budapest Pride due to the protests that are expected. Movement for a Better Hungary (Jobbik) which is at the forefront of the homophobic protests working with other far right extremists is gaining ground and had three MEPs elected earlier this year.

Ilga-Europe has sent a messages of support to the organisers of Budapest Pride and will be formally represented at the event.

I was at Budapest Pride in 2007 and experience first hand the violence from the far right who through fire bombs, eggs, glass bottles filled with sand and excrement at us. That year the police were not prepared for the trouble. This year, they have said that they will provide better protection.

The photo above is from Budapest Pride in 2007.

British Embassy in Warsaw to fly Rainbow flag

Today is Warsaw Pride and the British Embassy is to fly a rainbow flag. Last week the Britsh Embassy in Riga flew a rainbow flag for the Equality March. Read more at Pink News. The Equality March in Riga had been threatened with disruption from the far right and at some stage there was also the possibility that it may have been banned. See here for a letter that has been sent to the authorites in Riga about restrictions on the march. Also in May, Around 200 gay activists marched through Bucharest, Romania in a heavily policed pride parade that defied efforts by religious and far-right groups to have the annual event banned.

This mark of solidarity is very much a result of the FCO's LGBT toolkit and is a symbol of the good work that has been carried out between LGBT stakeholders and the FCO over the past two years.

Warsaw will be host to 2010 Europride.

Back to Blogging............

Summer is usually the time when people have holidays and time to blog. This Summer, I have just been that busy and have also discovered facebook that I have been too busy to blog but have just got back from Bournemouth and feel the urge. But first I will tell you all about what has been happening over Summer.............

Well first of all there was Budapest Pride and I that was an experience and a half. I have provided a link to the media coverage but also wrote an article of my own experience for LGBT Labour which you can read elsewhere. The rest of Summer I spent attending and supporting events such as Nottingham Pride, UK Black Pride, Outburst Black LGBT Pride, Notting Hill Carnival which UNISON won best float in their section. I also attended two UNISON's Disabled LGBT network events and drafted motions, amendments and reports for UNISON's National LGBT Committee. Hence no time for blogging!! LGBT Labour has also taken up some considerable time with two committee meetings, organising events for Labour Party Conference, the new branding and the newsletter LeftOut. One of the main tasks was responding to discrimination law review.

More recently, I attended the PSI / EI LGBT Summit in Vienna and have written separately about this. And last but not least, I managed to get down to Bournemouth on Tuesday for the last two days of Labour Party Conference as a stall holder which has it's restrictions but still had an excellent time networking and attending the LGBT Labour fringe.

Budapest Pride

On Saturday 7th July 2007, I with members of the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA-Europe) attended the Pride march in Hungary’s capital, Budapest, accompanied by skinheads and fascists who massed along the 7km (4.3 mile) route. The Hungarian National Front and the Movement for a Better Hungary had organised themselves well and even surprised the police. They threw eggs, smoke bombs, Molotov cocktails and bottles filled with sand at us. Some of them tried to infiltrate the march. "The counter-demonstrators continuously shouted: "faggots into the Danube, followed by the Jews," "soap factory" and "filthy faggots." Not understanding Hungarian, myself and my friends were oblivious to what they were saying and smiled sweetly back in defiance not trying to show how scared we really were.

Unfortunately, it appeared that the police had not estimated the number of counter demonstrators who were going to turn up and were unable to contain them but on a positive note were at least there to protect the lgbt participants. When the march finished we were hurdled into an enclosure where the freedom party was to be held. We had to leave to attend a meeting which was lucky as we hard that once the police left, some of the fascists returned which meant it was not safe for people to leave. We also heard that later that evening almost a dozen gay people were set upon and beaten.The Budapest Mayor Gabor Demszky and his political party, The Alliance of Free Democrats (SZDSZ), totally condemned the violence, calling the homophobic attackers "intolerant, primitive and cowardly. On these occasions, I consider myself Jewish, Roma and gay," he said. Mr Demszky has been mayor of the city since 1990. ILGA also condemned the actions of the police"We consider the actions of the police extremely negligent as all these crimes could be foreseen, yet the police did not make preparations to prevent them. Violent attacks could be expected in a situation where a provocative extremist group organises a counter demonstration against the pride march.” Budapest Pride was an experience and I now know what it feels like to have to evade a missile because of my sexual orientation or gender identity. It was very frightening but I am glad that I was there in solidarity with my Hungarian lgbt brothers and sisters.