Sofia Pride
Sofia Pride Parade is a gay parade occurring each year in the month of June in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia since 2008. The first Sofia Pride parade was held on June 28, 2008.
Violence at first Sofia Pride
The first Sofia Pride parade, organized by the BGO Gemini, was held on June 28, 2008 and it was attended by some 100 people. No one was hurt, but the attempt to attack the people participating in the pride proved the high level of hatred towards gay people. Before the parade 70 ultra nationalists and skin heads were already arrested by police [1]. The police was well organized and successfully prevented any casualties.
Second Sofia Pride
The second Sofia Pride Parade was held on June 27, 2009 with this time having no arrests and violence during it. More people attended, in between 150 to 300. The second pride was very successful and people waved from the open windows of their homes, there was also less spoken political opposition towards the pride [2], but at the same time Bulgarian Orthodox Church (BOC) made an anti-parade statement (also BOC did in the first held parade) while few days earlier yong theologist from the Theologic Faculty of the University of Sofa made their anti-gay pride parade, for which they were vastly joked, however public opinion paid attention to this even either (BOC also made impossible the introduction of domestic partnership in Bulgarian Family law the same year).
Ten foreign embassies (later 12) in Bulgaria was first to officially support the second Sofia Pride parade. The political party Bulgarian Greens ("Zelenite") officially supported the pride by issuing a statement of support on June 15, 2009.[3] Three days later the Bulgarian Socialist Youth declared its support too.[4]
Third Sofia Pride
In 2010, the third Sofia Pride Parade will take place on June 26, 2010. The parade will be the closing event of a one-week program of culture events, photo exhibition and discussions.
