BRATISLAVA, June 2, (WEBNOVINY) — Rainbow Pride 2011, a march aimed at supporting the equality of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people, is planned to take place in Bratislava this Saturday, June 4th. Deputy Prime Minister for Human Rights and Minorities Rudolf Chmel (MOST-HID party) expressed support for the event; however, he still did not know on Thursday whether he will participate. “The deputy prime minister is invited to several events in Slovakia this Saturday, including the Rainbow march. He did not specify whether he would participate,” Jozef Svolik of Chmel’s office told SITA news agency.
“I believe that one day our society will legally acknowledge the fact that homosexual partners are capable of committing to long-term relationships in the same way as heterosexual pairs, and that they deserve not only equal rights, but equal respect as well,” writes Chmel in his statement. He is convinced that denying rights to any minority is often misused in political struggles and obscures the real problems of the state. It is evidence of the persistent intolerance of the so-called majority society, rather than of understanding and tolerance. According to the statement, Slovakia is among the worst EU countries not only in accepting non-heterosexual minorities, but generally in sensitivity toward any minorities.
The Pride march also has the support of diplomats from twenty countries, which is an increase of four compared to last year. “We symbolically and literally stand at the side of the participants of the march, who peacefully gather in order to advocate their human rights and raise awareness about the LGBT community in Slovakia. Everyone, including LGBT people, should be able to freely enjoy their rights and freedoms based upon the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” reads the joint statement of the diplomatic representatives. Among others, the embassies of the U.S., Germany, France, Hungary and Poland declared their sympathies for the event.
Bratislava representatives also support the event – both Bratislava Mayor Milan Ftacnik and Old Town District Mayor Tatiana Rosova publicly expressed their support. The police promised to deploy enough officers to protect the Rainbow Pride participants – and they promise to protect them better than they did last
On Saturday, May 22, Rainbow Pride Bratislava 2010 took place in the Slovak capital of Bratislava for the first time ever. About one hundred rightist extremists disturbed the peaceful march by throwing stones and tear gas capsules at the participants. They beat up at least two people carrying rainbow flags. The neo-Nazis even attacked Austrian member of European Parliament Ulrike Lunacek during her speech. The police were unable to secure an undisturbed march through downtown Bratislava, so organizers ultimately altered their route across the New Bridge to the Petrzalka side of the Danube River. Police detained almost three dozen extremists, but did not respond to previous provocations.
SITA