By guest author, Maris Sants
Here’s my plea to the people of Britain: Today, take pride in Pride London. The event will see thousands of people – gay and straight – flock onto the streets of the capital in a joyous celebration of love. The day will be marked by colour, glitz and glamour. It will be a wonderful advert for the tolerant nature of the people of the United Kingdom and will show how far lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights have come.
Now that for me is reason enough to install a sense of pride. I should know I’ve seen the other side. I am from Latvia. And two weeks ago I quit my country to move to London. My reasons for leaving were not economic – I was operating a thriving psychotherapy business. Nor were they for family reasons – I am very close to my two children Krisjanis, 19, and Elizabeth, 16, and my ex-wife is my best friend.
It was homophobia. I am gay and over the last few years, I have been physically and verbally assaulted many times. The difference between Latvia and London could not be more marked. It’s taken decades for Pride London to reach this point. When Pride first began in London, it was only a few brave souls that took part.
They faced torrents of abuse and physical assault. But those few stood up for the human rights of thousands of others. Their determination led to the overturning of bad laws – such as the infamous Section 28, which banned local councils from distributing any information about homosexuality – and the ingraining of anti-discriminatory policies throughout British society.
It’s been a long battle and sadly one that’s only just begun in dozens of other countries in continental Europe – my own included. Before I came out in 2002, the rumours about my sexuality had already had huge ramifications on my life. I was a pastor in the Latvian church and I had a column in the church newspaper and that was stopped. My weekly radio sermon was taken off the air, and I was kicked out of the cathedral I served in.
On 22 May 2002, I was ex-communicated from the church. Back then there were only three openly gay people in Latvia. My story was on the front pages of all the Latvian newspapers and I have suffered dozens of personal attacks since then. I have been verbally abused, spat at and physically attacked. Last year, two guys ambushed me as I went to baptise a child. Since then my sight started to deteriorate, which my doctor blamed squarely on the stress caused by the attacks.
I wish my story was unique. But sadly I know it not to be. Homophobia remains rife and is even being institutionalised. In 2006, the Latvian parliament voted against an anti-discrimination law that would have brought the country into line with its European partners on gay rights. And they have just elected as chair of the Parliamentary Human Rights Committee an anti-gay activist.
Despite that there is hope in Latvia. Amnesty International has been a huge support to the gay community there. They now have a huge presence at Riga Pride and have helped encourage dozens of individuals to feel comfortable with their sexuality.
Amnesty choose to work with Latvia, but it could have been dozens of other countries in Europe and tomorrow they will highlight six at Pride London. In classic Eurovision-style, Amnesty will say nul points to– Russia, Turkey, Lithuania, Estonia, Belarus and Moldova –With LGBT groups being persecuted in one way or another, it really is a case of null points for all six. And so for Amnesty the battle against homophobia goes on.
So while Pride London will be a magnificent carnival, spare a thought for those thousands of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people across the world for whom the party is still a distant dream. And if you do see the Amnesty float please offer your support – they are continuing to take on the fight. But, for me personally, I have suffered enough.
Maris Sants is a former Latvian pastor, who was excommunicated from the church because of his sexuality. Continuing homophobia led to his decision to leave Latvia for the UK in June.
Hi Maris,
It's really sad that you had to leave Latvia due to homophobia. You are a brave man and set a precedent in Latvia. Your story is a poignant one and inspires us to stand up against homophobia wherever happens. We are all the same, we all deserve the opportunity to be happy no matter where we live
Ferran
Posted by: Ferran | Friday, 04 July 2008 at 02:19 PM
Although huge progress has been, and is being, made on LGBT human rights internationally, there is still more work to be done. Alas the UK is not utopia - a distubingly high number of gay people report being the victims of homophobic bullying or violence. What you say is a powerful argument for higher gay visibility in society - the more people that come out the better for all - and pride marches play an important part in that.
Posted by: Brian | Friday, 04 July 2008 at 03:03 PM
Maris' incredible story shows the need for people of all sexualities to stand up to the hatred and bigotry of homophobia. Whether homophobia is from sections of Latvian society or from a UK Cabinet Minister (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/iran-is-safe-for-discreet-gays-says-jacqui-smith-852336.html), we must adopt a zero tolerance approach to those who attempt to deny human rights to LGBT people. We can do so by celebrating our diversity, our love, our rights, our pride. And this is exactly what will be happening on Saturday.
Posted by: Matt | Friday, 04 July 2008 at 03:17 PM
I find your story very sad Maris. I hope things will improve in Latvia. I am afraid gay people are being used as scapegoats in latvia.
Posted by: Ieva | Friday, 04 July 2008 at 06:16 PM
I am sorry to hear of your persecution. I am no judge of character.
The ordeal in the reformed churches is not that it bars anyone. The great issue is marriage.
It is destroying the Church and causing upheavel everywhere.
excommunicated from the church
well - you must've really pushed it
Sunday service is for the memory/memorial of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
What has this to with sexuality when the standard is the Lord and his Apostles.
It is written that the path is narrow. Never is it said to be wide and this has caused much dilema in regards to Vatican I and II which to many are heresy.
The scope of religious freedom has nothing whatsoever to do with sexuality.
In places like the UK and the USA, they fought for religious freedom. Never did sexuality come into play.
On the whole they keep to the written word, but never get any press over this.
Persecution and fear are terrible things. May God bless you.
May you find balance in your life.
May you return to the church. You are too young to understand the greater scope and how the church affects everyone.
I of course understand the many problems and the hypocrisy that the Church goes through.
But to add the hypocrisy of sexuality just makes things worse.
The UK has quite a few dilemas, and in the history of the nation people have made do.
Excommunication, well that takes a lot of effort. With the troubles people face you couldn't leave well enough alone.
Extroidinary - you pushed it that far.
May you come to your senses.
Posted by: Alex | Friday, 04 July 2008 at 08:50 PM
I remember that first Pride March, and those early days, but nothing was as awful as the way you are being treated in Eastern Europe now - personal persecution such as you suffered, the fire-bombings in Budapest, the list goes on Thank God for the European Union - I wish we had something similar here in Australia, because we have no Bill of Rights and hence no recourse when the majority decide to exercise their unlawful tyranny over us.
I hope you find happiness and success in my old country, the UK, and thank you on behalf of all gay people everywhere for taking a stand. It is only by people such as you being out and bearing the tribulations that follow that we demonstrate our utter normality and win equal treatment. I salute you for your courage.
Posted by: Doug | Friday, 04 July 2008 at 10:10 PM
Alex, if anyone needs to come to his senses it's you.
Posted by: George De Stefano | Friday, 04 July 2008 at 10:48 PM
I'm shocked that something like Maris's story can happen in a European country. I can't properly comment on the religious aspects, but no one should be "verbally abused, spat at and physically attacked". Clearly the government of Latvia needs to protect its citizens better.
Posted by: Martin | Saturday, 05 July 2008 at 07:48 AM
Maris, welcome to the UK.
Posted by: helen | Saturday, 05 July 2008 at 09:58 AM
I am so thankful that you have written this article. In this country we thankfully can be comfortable, to a point of expressing our sexuality. But I always have an unsettled feeling that this status quo is new and could easily be taken away from us. There is a real danger in the world today, religous fundamentalism, Christian, Muslim, you name it.
Oh, forget serial killers, forget paedophiles, the real danger in the world is homosexuality. What makes me laugh is that most of those Bible Bashers who are decrying the evils of homosexuality are remarried and their first partner still alive. If you read the Bible that is a no, no. Adultery, which it is, is one of the Ten Commandments, Thou Shalt not be a Homosexual is not. And if you read the bible it mentions Adultery all the time, it hardly mentions homosexuality and when the two are mentioned it is interesting where they appear.
Adultery is placed next to murder, and it says it is the murder of the family. Homosexuality is placed next to spiritualism. Therefore, it appears that Adultery is the bigger crime in God's mind.
We really do need to hear brave individuals speaking out about their experiences and we need to support them all the way. You never know, one day we may need their support!
Posted by: Sindona Taglioni | Saturday, 05 July 2008 at 11:38 AM
Hi Maris and welcome to the UK.
My thoughts and support are with you all the way.
stevie
Posted by: srevie t | Saturday, 05 July 2008 at 11:47 AM
Greetings from Canada, Maris...
I live in a rural area of this country, where it isn't always easy being an out, proud gay man, but it is nothing like what you have had to go through. Folks like you help me to remind complacent queers (and supportive straights) in my country that there are many, many others of our People who are at risk all around the globe, victimized by small-minded, pinched-spirited, hateful bigots, simply because of who they are. As I constantly reiterate, none of us are truly free as long as our People are persecuted somewhere on this globe. The work is ongoing, and will not end in our lifetimes.
I am glad that you have been able to maintain a good relationship with your children and your ex-wife, and I agree that you have earned a rest. But keep speaking up, telling your story, and working for those of our People who are still facing danger and persecution, whether it be in Latvia, Poland, Iran or Jamaica. Your voice is valuable, and has power -- use it!
And if you ever manage to meet that "special someone", come on over to Canada for your honeymoon -- you'd love it! :-)
Posted by: Nathanial | Saturday, 05 July 2008 at 01:19 PM
The whole gay thing is disgusting,there,s nothing to be proud about.
It's growing acceptance in the UK is just another sign of the gowing national depravity...drunkeness, adultery, murder etc.
Posted by: Frank De Kuca | Saturday, 05 July 2008 at 04:56 PM
I believe in tolerance.
As a non-religious person I do not give a toss if religions hate gay people (though the same bible would recommend the killing of adulterers and disobedient children and converts, if one reads these texts literally - and also t would condemn wearing clothes of two or more fabrics).
However, for my gay friens who are also religious, this kind of stuff is important. So, it is therefore important to realise: 1) jesus (if he ever existed) said nothing against homosexuality at all; 2) Human societies have always been homo-social, especially in asia - and sex exists for bonding purposes; 3) African and American puritan moron immigrants are th reason for this bigotry in the UK - traditionally, the C of E has been very tolerant, even blessing gay friendships in the middle ages, because it isx a happy vague compromise.
Americans and Asians and Africans should keep themsleves to themselves: we do not want your filthy puritan crap in the UK. OK?
American puritans should be boiled down and put into marmitr jars - as it says in the bible.
Posted by: Mooooo | Saturday, 05 July 2008 at 05:14 PM
I am sure that people of same sex leanings *gay," which they are mostlynot but the complete opposite as I read, have always existed. Then it seems they felt the need to come "out." Why? There were all possibly better of where the were; Just people living a quiet life as us all.
Posted by: albert hall | Saturday, 05 July 2008 at 09:16 PM
I hope you realize that many churches are just political organizations that do not actually follow the teachings of Jesus when it comes to loving your neighbor, not judging others, and welcoming all to the table. I hope you find one of the good churches that treat all people as Children of God, and do not think that all churches are all judgmental and condemning, just as not all countries mistreat gay people the way Latvia does.
Posted by: Daniel | Saturday, 05 July 2008 at 10:32 PM
Cau Mara Kungs!
I remember you in Kekava as a strong and honest pastor and after you left the church I never heard a critical word of you in my many visits to Latvia, just mention of your stance in the media and from family - well, it was a first! It is different there in many respects and whilst I respect you as a human being many things in the country are tolerated without being publicised. It is the promotion of homosexuality that people dislike such as marches. Ar Cienu!
Posted by: Romans Seja | Saturday, 05 July 2008 at 11:35 PM
As a GLF activist in the late 60's and early 70's we have a vision that one day we might live in a world that respected diffrence and accepted the worth of the human as a being to be valued. We still need that vision while Prime Ministers stand with the marginalised and excluded we still have storied of personal abd institutional oppression.
Yesterday I was in the company of a 72 year old gay liberationist we talked and regretted some of our history but wallowed in our successes! Reemeber our past and fight like hell for the future - Yours in equity & dignity
Posted by: Alec Deary | Sunday, 06 July 2008 at 12:28 PM
The supposed decline in morals is a total lie. Murder rates and child abuse have dropped every year since the war. Rape is everywhere now because women are able to speak of it; in the past women simply suffered in silence when men raped them The golden age of family values was a morass of hypocrisy and misery designed to make life easy for a minority of white men at the expense of everyone else. Is your wedding ring 'flaunting' your sexuality. Can i complain if you kiss your spouse goodbye? Gays should be able to kiss, hold hands, wear rings and express their love and attraction in whatever way is considered acceptable for heterosexuals.
The lie that gays are abnormal is FINISHED. It has been conclusively shown that gays comprise at least 5% of ALL POPULATIONS regardless of nation, religion, colour or language. It is beyond culture; therefore it is above culture. Culture (that is to say social mores and religious values) have no right to confine or oppress homosexuals for their inclinations; it is far easier to leave your religion than to change your sexuality. Simply becasue gays are a minority does NOT make them abnormal. Red haired people are a minority and are normal, so are left-handed people and people with high IQs. And they are all normal; that is to say naturally and consistently occurring all over the world as a biological phenomenon. Homophobia and barbarism walk hand in hand with hatred of women; you can bet that, the lower that women are regarded in a society, the more homophobic that society will be and the lower the educational standard and the higher the religious zeal.
A moral society is a rational society. religious morals are the playthings of a species in its intellectual infancy. Hate gays? Scared of women? Think your dick is too small? See crime and depravity everywhere? want the empire back?
Sorry, loser. The world rolls only one way; forward.
Posted by: charlie Brennan | Sunday, 06 July 2008 at 03:09 PM
well done mate welcome to the uk I had problem from latvian that i use to work with in this country they just dont understand
Posted by: dave | Sunday, 06 July 2008 at 04:10 PM
"It has been conclusively shown that gays comprise at least 5% of ALL POPULATIONS regardless of nation, religion, colour or language" That may be true, but why is it that homosexuals believe that they deserve 95% of the attention? Has it ever occurred to you that, if you simply got on with your own lives and didn't constantly bang on about your sexual orientation, or demand special treatment, you would probably find that there would be considerably less discrimination. The majority of people that rail against homosexuals do so because they are sick and tired of having your lifestyle thrust in their faces.
Posted by: Keith Lonsdale | Sunday, 06 July 2008 at 04:39 PM
Maris, Welcome. May you find both God's welcome and purpose for your new life in the UK.We shall speak.
Posted by: Trevor Moss | Sunday, 06 July 2008 at 05:44 PM
Dave, You met one Latvian and you make an opinion of us all! In Latvian culture one shows respect to fellow citizens by NOT shouting or making scenes, or making a clown of oneself such as in a march in which people dress up weirdly. Understand there are different ways of achieving objectives. In Latvia people are left to lead their private lives unless they act illegal. There is no need to shout from the roof tops about one's private actions. Reminds me in a similar vein in I find it embarrassing to witness English men drunk in Latvia shouting and dancing half naked in the streets; they normally go to Spain for that.
Posted by: Romans Seja | Sunday, 06 July 2008 at 11:40 PM
"Americans and Asians and Africans should keep themsleves to themselves: we do not want your filthy puritan crap in the UK. OK?"
Given the populations of Asia and Africa (whole continents, Mooooo, with upwards of 3 billion people, while the US is only good for 300 million people), you've branded almost 50% of the people of planet Earth as homophobic puritans. Well done, sir/madam/bovine. This is the same kind of blind, illogical, irrational, blanket bigotry that is used by homophobes, sexists, and racists to denograte their victims.
Until we all stop thrashing about in our own anger, we will never overcome the evil of bigotry. (In case you've never noticed, Mooooo, the rhetoric of hatred is all the same.) Until we overcome the hatred in our own hearts for people who are different from ourselves, we will continue to be corroded by our own hatred. It should be an everyday struggle for each of us to overcome the devils of our own natures.
I'm very sorry, Maris, you've been treated so badly. If you can continue to overcome the temptation to hate those who hate you, then you're an inspiration to all. Namaste.
Posted by: KG Whitehurst | Monday, 07 July 2008 at 03:30 AM
Maris Sants should stay in his country and fight homophobia not flee like a coward to cushy britain. How will Latvia ever improve if everyone acts like him?
I treat his story with scepticism, like that of a lot of so called asylum (benefits) seekers. Gullible liberals on here will lap it up though.
Posted by: tracey | Monday, 07 July 2008 at 05:14 AM
I am sure that people of same sex leanings *gay," which they are mostlynot but the complete opposite as I read, have always existed. Then it seems they felt the need to come "out." Why? There were all possibly better of where the were; Just people living a quiet life as us all.
"Has it ever occurred to you that, if you simply got on with your own lives and didn't constantly bang on about your sexual orientation, or demand special treatment, you would probably find that there would be considerably less discrimination."
"The majority of people that rail against homosexuals do so because they are sick and tired of having your lifestyle thrust in their faces."
Posted by: Keith Lonsdale
Listen, all three of you ignorant bigots, it might be more convenient for people like you, but we are not going to stop "banging on" about having the SAME rights as everyone else, not suffering in silence as second-class citizens. What special treatment are you talking about precisely? We would love to "get on with our lives". Just let us do it! And no we will not stop coming out, being who we are in public, just like heterosexuals. We will not stop protesting about being punched, spat at, insulted, thrown out of work or our homes, murdered. No-one ever chose to be gay. We just ARE. It is not a "lifestyle" for crying out loud. Do you ever stop to think how sick and tired we might be of having YOUR heterosexual "lifestyle" shoved in our faces?
Posted by: Robert C | Monday, 07 July 2008 at 08:36 AM
Welcome to the UK Maris, I hope that you find happiness here. Please ignore the comments on this page from those who are ignorant.
KG Whitehurst, how dare you speak and judge what you do not understand. Maris is totally entitled to come to the UK and seek a better life. He's enjoying one of the rights given to him by the EU. Just as you are perfectly entitled to go to Latvia to live and work. Maris has tried to fight homophobia in his country, it is difficult, living as a homosexual in Lativa poses real threats to one's safety. The homophobic attitude is everywhere. As Maris said, the chair of the Parliamentary HUMAN RIGHTS Committee is an anti-gay activist. Slightly controversial right?
Maris is in no way a coward, anything but, I wish his liberal and accepting attitude would spread to everyone else in Latvia. I'd like to see you put in the same boat to see how you would react. Would you stay in your country and suffer abuse, physical and verbal, on a daily basis, or who you head to somewhere where you can be yourself without worrying? Somewhere where you can be happy.
I admire Maris's bravery to come to the UK and start a new life. That takes courage. Something I doubt very much that you have.
Posted by: sophie | Tuesday, 08 July 2008 at 11:12 AM
CORRECTION - I referred to KG Whitehurst, when I should have said "tracey". Apologies.
Posted by: sophie | Tuesday, 08 July 2008 at 11:15 AM
Hello darling,
Hope you´re well.
Thank you so much for your sincere article. I had no idea you´ve been through such rough times in your own country.
I wish you the best for a new start in the UK.
Hugs,
Pablo
Posted by: Pablo Fernández-Arias Cazorla | Tuesday, 15 July 2008 at 12:37 AM
Let's remember the Gay Pride events happening around the UK & the World at this time...that they will truely be inclusive of women,transgender, every ethnicity, disabilities, ages etc...we can take pride in being ourselves when we learn to accept difference - to love our neighbour as ourselves..
Posted by: Bro. David (MCC) | Wednesday, 16 July 2008 at 04:58 PM
There are many lies written above. Many points confused and not related.
The fact is that gays are accepted in Latvia. No one attacks the many gay clubs in Latvia.
The main problem is with the Gay Parades. The majority of people in Latvia don't want sexual parades in Latvia. The majority also do not want Strip Clubs in Riga. It is not discrimination but anti perversion.
many foreigners can not be stopped from attending these parades so Maris is disingenuous with his comments on this suggesting that on Latvians will attend.
As for Brits being pigs in Latvia - Well this year my Latvia staff agreed to ban Latvians for an event as they saw the Latvians that attend these events to be messy. We only accepted foreigners.
Yes the Latvian Constitution was changed to recognise marriage as only between male and female. Why not? Male and Female marriages established the institution of marriage. How about being innovative and establish another name for union.
As for this - "As Maris said, the chair of the Parliamentary HUMAN RIGHTS Committee is an anti-gay activist. Slightly controversial right?"
Maris forgot to include that one of the heads of the Gay Rights movement in Latvia got her foreign girlfriend in to a graduate law progam in Latvia at the expense of others when it was not open to foreigners and people that did not have a basic law degree.
It's about time people trying to represent other people got some integrity.
Dean
Posted by: Dean Strautins | Wednesday, 06 August 2008 at 09:18 AM
I don't believe You, Maris.
Posted by: from Riga | Wednesday, 06 August 2008 at 11:16 AM
The problem you see with your story is that religious doctrine prohibits homosexual action. If this doctrine is changed then it is no longer the same religion, it is dwarfed to conform to people's ideas and belief (As seen in the UK). But this is not a purpose of a religion. The purpose it to share its teachings not the other way around. Why must people declare themselves homosexual. This should not be some glorified homosexual fashion trend. There is a gay campaign with the slogan "some people are gay, get over it" it should rather be to contextualise what i have said "if you are gay, get over it"
Posted by: Sigat Krisindi Jesa | Monday, 15 September 2008 at 07:29 PM
"if you are gay, get over it"... no one man needs your advice or accept? sadly...
Posted by: Scept | Thursday, 18 September 2008 at 12:41 PM
Well if you stayed straight then u would not have this problem,it is not the fault of the church or your home country,you were married so you should stay as u were born
straight do that and u will not have a problem u created your problems by bein g ay,do not blame others for your sinful mistake.
Posted by: Christian Church | Tuesday, 10 March 2009 at 03:12 AM
to "christian church" -if we're all born str8 then why doesn't homos/lesbians get turned on by the opposite sex? Why would they go thru all this fuss? Why is so damn hard for u religious wack jobs to let other people live their own lives they're not in your bed -what do u care? Why do religious nuts spend so much time in other people's bedrooms? Could it be the church needs to breed more mindless slaves to fleece and extend its power? Its not about any god its purely a social control machine-politics.
Posted by: aaron | Wednesday, 18 March 2009 at 08:29 AM
The issue of lesbian and homosexual practices is an important one because it directs our attention to the basis on which we judge the human behaviour of our fellow men and women. If we are to follow the teachings of Christ and the Apostles, then there must be clarity on the moral issue as defined in Holy writ. But Christ did not come to condemn the world but that the world through his sacrifice on the Cross might have eternal life. Nobody is beyond redemption and there is no problem too big for God to fix. In declaring what is morally wrong and unacceptable to God, the Church calls upon sinners to repent and believe the Gospel. It is through this process that sinful relationships and unnatural affections can be healed. God's love for the world is all inclusive and the only hope for humanity unable to meet God's perfect standards.
Posted by: Alan Symes | Saturday, 01 August 2009 at 09:25 PM
I am Latvian gay
and I approve everything, what Maris Sants writes
homophobia is still very alive and kicking in Latvia
and people are afraid to say that they are gays and they hide it
Posted by: kriss | Wednesday, 09 September 2009 at 09:30 PM
I am a Latvian bisexual and it is impossible to fight here. That's for those who said that Maris shouldn't left.
And to those who say that problems are only with gay Parades... it is nost the only problem. Intolerance is the biggest problem of those who live here. Grow up, people!
I say - good job, my friend. You did well leaving Latvia and I hope you will be happier in the UK.
Best wishes!
Posted by: Amanda | Saturday, 12 December 2009 at 04:04 PM