Dozens of people protest for transgender rights in Latvia

RIGA - On Thursday morning, a singing protest took place in front of the Saeima building, where several dozen people are advocating for transgender rights in Latvia, LETA observed.

Participants of the event were carrying rainbow-colored flags and singing Latvian songs, calling for transgender rights, such as ending discrimination and ensuring equal treatment in documents and language.

As previously stated by the leader of the Riga Queer Choir, Jurgis Kalnins, the protest is organized to draw the attention of the public and decision-makers to the situation of transgender rights in Latvia.

"To ensure a dignified and safe life for transgender people in Latvia, there is a need for quality and adequate health care, uncomplicated legal gender and name change, as well as active action by society and the state to ensure the integration of transgender people into society at all levels," said Kalnins.

"We see a lot of stagnation in the development of LGBTQ+ rights in Latvia, so we will continue to educate the public - and where better than through song," said Kalnins, adding that in order to find a focus for the singing protests, they want to hear from and survey at least 1,000 Latvian queers, which will help them understand which issues need to be addressed as a priority, which will be communicated to politicians, state security and human rights institutions.

The organizers of the protest invite every LGBTQ+ person to take part in a 20-minute anonymous survey, available until the end of April on "safespace.lv".

The survey, song video and singing protests are organized by the informal youth group Harp in collaboration with the Riga Queer Choir and Safe Space in the EU-funded project Harmony for Equality: Empowering LGBTQIA+ Youth through Activism. This initiative promotes the visibility and rights of the LGBTQ+ community in Latvia, including inclusion and awareness of the needs of transgender people.