In the EU there have been openly gay heads of government, but never a homosexual head of state, until the arrival of Rinkevics
Edgars Rinkevics, Latvian foreign minister who held this position the longest, became this Saturday the first openly gay head of state in the European Union (EU) and, when sworn in as the new president of Latvia, promised to fight for inclusion and equality.
During his inaugural address to the Saeima (Parliament), who elected him on May 31, said he will use his limited powers to influence legislation and shape public opinion to make Latvia a more inclusive and egalitarian country.
«Latvia It is a sovereign, free and democratic country. But it must be legal and fair to everyone. each person of Latvia, its citizens, must feel that they belong, legally protected and safethe new president said in apparent reference to his previous support for a gender-neutral civil unions law.
An inclusive Latvia
rinkeviks He was foreign minister from 2011 until his official resignation on Friday and made his sexual orientation public in November 2014.
In his inauguration speech, he referred to inclusion by declaring that “en Latvia, the rights of each person must be respected and protected in accordance with the highest values and standards of human rights«.
Regarding foreign policy, the new president stressed: «Latvia will defend a NATO strong and effective European Union, a law-based international order and close cooperation with our friends and allies. We will continue to support the heroic Ukrainian people in their struggle for freedom until the victory of Ukraine«.
