FACTBOX-Gay Pride events hit by by bans or violence
Source: Reuters
June 21 (Reuters) - Israeli police detained an Orthodox Jewish man accused of carrying a small home-made bomb in Jerusalem on Thursday as thousands marched in support of gay rights and in defiance of religious protesters. The Brazilian city of Sao Paulo this year hosted what organisers said was the largest gay pride event in the world, attended by about 3 million people. Here are some recent instances where gay pride events have been banned or disrupted by violence. ISRAEL: In 2005, an ultra-Orthodox Jewish protester stabbed three marchers in a parade through Jerusalem. In 2006, organisers had planned a gay pride street parade but cancelled it and rallied at a small stadium instead after police said they needed to beef up security in case of Palestinian attacks. RUSSIA: In May 2007 far-right activists kicked and punched demonstrators calling for the right to hold a gay pride parade in central Moscow. Police detained dozens of gay protesters, including two members of the European Parliament. Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov refused permission to hold the parade. In 2006, a gay march went ahead despite the ban. Activists were detained by police, abused by militant Christians and attacked by neo-Nazis. LATVIA: A gay pride march in the capital Riga was banned by officials in 2006. In 2005, thousands tried to physically block the path of the parade. This year's event was attended by about 500 people. There was no violence. POLAND: Polish President Lech Kaczyinski banned two gay pride marches when he was mayor of Warsaw. Authorities in Warsaw reluctantly allowed a march to go ahead in 2006 after Polish courts ruled such bans in other cities were illegal. ROMANIA: Police detained dozens of protesters in June 2007 as hundreds tried to break up a gay rights march in the capital, Bucharest. About 500 gay activists marched through the city to demonstrate against discrimination and to call for the legalisation of same-sex marriages. LITHUANIA - Permission was refused for the first gay pride event in Vilnius in May this year. The same month, bus drivers in the city of Kaunas refused to drive vehicles carrying ads promoting tolerance towards homosexual men and women, a campaign sponsored by the European Union and the Lithuanian government. Source: Reuters
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