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According to UK Gay News, Redmond preacher Ken Hutcherson is expected to join Oregon anti-gay activist Scott Lively this weekend in Latvia as anti-gay protesters seek to distrupt gay pride observances in Riga, capitol of the Baltic republic of Latvia.

Scott Lively, the American author of The Pink Swastika, is reported to be already in Riga.

"He has asked if he can attend the conference on family models in Latvia and Europe," a spokesperson for Mozaika, the organisers of Riga Friendship Days and Gay Pride, said last night.

There are rumours here that the American preacher and former NFL linebacker Ken Hutcherson, who heads the Antioch Bible Church in Seattle, will also be in Riga this weekend.

Both Lively and Hutcherson were in Riga earlier this year following in invitation from the New Generation Church. It was on this visit that Hutcherson said that he was an "envoy of the White House," which was subsequently strongly denied by the White House.

After violence last weekend at a gay rights observance in Moscow, the situation in Riga is being watched closely by European human rights groups.

After banning the gay pride march for two years, Riga officials allowed it to go on this year. A regional court in Latvia ruled earlier this year that the city's refusal to grant a parade permit to the gay group Mozaika violated the law.

The anti-gay group that has invited Lively and Hutcherson to join them isn't so happy about seeing other foriegners in Riga this weekend.

Foreign guests, please don?t come to Latvia for Riga Friendship Days and Gay Pride. That is the message from the 'No Pride' group, who have not headed their own plea.

They say on their website: "Foreign Guests please don't come. It's our problem. Not yours!"

A high-ranking Swedish official said earlier that he would travel to Latvia for "Riga Friendship Days".

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. ...

"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.

Update: The Guardian has a great summary, titled Crucible of Hate, of the fight for rights in Latvia and throughout Eastern Europe.

Latvia is typical among eastern European countries where, increasingly, being gay is seen as an act of political aggression. Rights to freedom of speech and freedom of assembly are denied on vague grounds of "promoting homosexuality" or posing a risk to security. Homophobia has become a touchstone issue for politicians seeking to divert attention from economic frustration. Homosexuality may be decriminalised in these countries, but only on condition that it stays out of sight.

Labels: gay pride, ken hutcherson, latvia