Gay Activists Rally Outside Parliament

Several dozen of gay rights activists and their supporters gathered outside the Parliament on May 18 in what they said was a protest to violence a day earlier, when the march marking the Day Against Homophobia ended in a brawl after a radical Orthodox group blocked the marchers’ way not allowing them to continue procession in downtown Tbilisi. Although there were some tense moments at the rally on May 18 with some by-passers protesting against such a gathering, one-hour rally outside the Parliament ended without any major incidents. At one point police, which was heavily present nearby, dragged away a man to prevent verbal argument from growing into a scuffle. An Orthodox priest from Kashveti church on the opposite side of the street was telling his parish not to approach the rally outside the Parliament warning them against “provocation” on the part of gay activists.