May 24, 2007News: Swedish Government Minister to Attend Riga Gay Pride
By vanrozenheim
(Stockholm, Sweden) – A government minister is to head a delegation of more than 70 people from Sweden to the Riga Friendship Days and Gay Pride, which gets underway on Thursday May 31. In addition, the Swedish Embassy in Riga will be holding an official reception during the Pride. Tobias Billström, the minister for migration and asylum policy at the Ministry of Justice will be taking part in the parade at Vermanes Park in downtown Riga – and is due to make a speech following the event.
When the new Swedish government made launched their manifesto of their main political focus the coming years, it was the first time ever that a government included LGBT issues in such a statement.
“For us it is important that it is not only words, but also action,” Jonas Hansson, president of the international affairs committee of RFSL – the Swedish Federation For Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Rights – told UK Gay News this morning.
He pointed out that the Minister of European Affairs was at last weekend’s Pride in Warsaw, where the Embassy also gave a reception.
“These are examples of how to show the Swedish government’s support to the LGBT work in these countries and a good start of what the politicians can do,” he continued, adding that RFSL would continue to pressure government.
In addition to Mr. Billström, there will be other Swedish politicians travelling to Riga, including Members of the Swedish Parliament Maria Kornevik Jakobsson (Centre party), Camilla Lindberg (Liberal), Börje Vestlund (Social Democrats), Marianne Berg and LiseLotte Olsson (Left) and Helena Leander (Green).
Swedish MEPs attending include Hélène Goudin and Maria Carlshamre.
RFSL plans to have 35 members, including some from RFSL Youth, in Riga. Also travelling will be representatives of LGTB Liberals, LGBT Social Democrats, Feministic Initiaitve board, The Swedish Armed Forces, LGBT Association of the Swedish Armed Forces, Stockholm Pride, Tupilak, LGBT Students, Ecumenic algroup of LGBT, LGBT Police Association and others.
On Friday June 1, the Swedish delegation is due to have a meeting with the Latvian Minister for social integration Oskar Kastens.
