Edgars Rinkevics, Latvia’s longest-serving foreign minister, became the first openly gay head of state in the European Union. As he was sworn in as the country’s new president, pledged to fight for inclusion and equality.
Edgars Rinkevics, who had served as foreign minister since 2011, was sworn in as Latvia’s president in Riga.
The EU has had openly gay heads of governments before, but never a gay head of state. Former Belgian Prime Minister Elio di Rupo was the EU’s first openly gay head of government.
Rinkevics, 49, first came out in 2014 and has been a vocal champion of LGBT rights ever since.
“He does not have time for mistakes”
On Saturday in his inaugural speech, Rinkevics vowed to continue supporting Ukraine’s ongoing war effort against Russia. He said Latvia’s foreign policy “does not have time for mistakes”, adding he will act “quickly, decisively and wisely”.
Also in his speech, Rinkevics encouraged young Latvians to “break the glass ceiling” as he addressed inequality as being a “significant problem”. “The social divide in our society is too big,” he said.
“During my presidency, I will stand up for the creation of a modern and strong Latvia, for a legal and just Latvia, for the wellbeing of the people, for an inclusive and respectful society. And it is possible for all of us to achieve this by working together.”
LGBTI+ rights in Latvia
Latvia is one of three Baltic states, including Lithuania and Estonia, which joined the EU in 2004 after breaking away from the crumbling Soviet Union in the early 1990s.
According to the Rainbow Map 2023 report published annually by ILGA Europe since 2009, Latvia ranks 37th out of 49 countries and 24th out of 27 EU countries.
Gay marriage is illegal in Latvia, though the country’s constitutional court recognised same sex unions last year.
Sources: BBC, Euronews