In the LGBT community, Pride celebrations mark the Stonewall Uprising in Greenwich Village in 1969, when the community stood up against oppression by society. Pride is both a remembrance of the discrimination that the LGBT community faced and still faces every day and it is also a celebration of life. In other countries, violence, hatred and discrimination are never far away. Most Pride celebrations are peaceful, but not always so…
Violence at Lithuania's First Gay Pride Parade
The Advocate
By Michelle Garcia
A violent attack marred Lithuania's first gay pride parade Saturday, when about 400 people marched for equality in a sealed-off area of downtown Vilnius
Gas Attack on Pride Parade "Premeditated"
YLE, Reuters
Helsinki police took three young men into custody on Saturday suspected of launching a pepper spray attack at the Helsinki Pride festival. Officers are also looking for three other individuals suspected of participating in the assault.
Over 30 people were hit by the spray. No one was seriously injured, however, some of the victims were children.
Pride celebrations also are protested against…
Nationalists in Bulgaria protest Gay Pride Parade
The Daily Inquirer
Hours before the Sofia Gay Pride Parade on Saturday, Bulgarian nationalists gathered in the country’s capital to protest the event.
Among the slogans of the protesters, who went to downtown Sophia before proceeding from the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral to the Palace of Culture, were the words, “No to Moral Decay.”
…
In 2008, nationalists successfully disturbed the parade, resulting in chaos that led to the arrests of 80 people. Last year, the parade proceeded quickly and under heavy police protection, with some 300 people participating.
However, the United States is not immune from violence and hatred directed towards the LGBT community. In Anchorage, Alaska a Pride float was torched in a Fourth of July parade…
Gay Community Rallies Back After Parade Float Burnt
KTVA
Natalie Travis
Created: 07/04/2010
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTVA-CBS 11 News) Two days after fire officials call a blaze that destroyed a gay pride float possible arson, leaders from the gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender community's Imperial Court were able to rebuild their float, taking first prize in the July 4 parade contest.
On a day meant to celebrate freedom of self-expression, the LGBT community seemed to express that this obstacle could not stop them from rising again.
…
Back from the ashes, the float's theme depicted a phoenix rising, surrounded by the fun parade goers expected to see on the Forth of July. Through that, one soldier's mom says Lady Liberty's true meaning was reaffirmed.
Meanwhile, in Minneapolis the conservatives Christian right wanted to hand out Bibles at the Pride Festival.
Pride Festival taking park board to court over anti-gay activist
Minneapolis City Pages
By Hart Van Denburg
Jun. 22 2010
About 200,000 people are expected to show up for the Twin Cities Pride Festival centered on Loring Park this weekend, and one of them is bible-totin' anti-gay activist Brian Johnson, of Hayward, Wis.
Should he be allowed on the grounds? The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board says yes. Pride Fest organizers say no. And they plan to file an injunction today in federal court to keep him out.
And here's the irony: Organizers are basing their argument on a 1995 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that allowed St. Patrick's Day parade organizers in Boston to exclude GLBT marchers from taking part in the procession.
The court said that a private organization holding a permit to use a public street for expressive purposes could not be compelled by the government to include a group whose message is different from the organizer's.
How do you think the judged rules?
Judge Says Evangelist Can Preach at Gay-Pride Festival
Wall Street Journal
By DANNY YADRON
Organizers of the Twin Cities Pride festival had sought to bar Brian Johnson, 53 years old, from distributing literature, conducting polls and engaging in theological debates on festival grounds where 200,000 people are expected to gather. U.S. District Judge John Tunheim in Minneapolis ruled that such limitations would have violated Mr. Johnson's constitutional right to free expression.
"As a festival attendee in a public forum, Johnson is entitled to speak and hand out literature, quintessential activities protected by the First Amendment, so long as he remains undisruptive," Judge Tunheim wrote in a 19-page ruling.
I don’t know about you, but this ruling seems to go against the Supreme Court ruling. I do not see any difference in “a private organization holding a permit to use a public street” and a private organization holding a permit to use a public park. The conservatives always criticized ruling “by activist judges” when a court decision went against them, but this seems like an activist judge who choose to write his own law and not follow the Supreme Court.
This is a case where I firmly believe the SC law is wrong. Neither should have been kept from participating as long as there was no disruption. However, you are correct that the district judge had no business going against the precedent established by the SC. I still think the SC is wrong. There are demonstration guidelines in place that would limit areas of demonstration and secure the event from disruption.
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