The Croatian Helsinki Committee for Human Rights (HHO) on Wednesday condemned a decision by the authorities of the coastal city of Split to change their previous decision granting permission to organisers of a Gay Pride parade to stage the event on the city's waterfront in June.
"The seemingly unimportant change of the venue is in reality a concession to intolerant groups and individuals in Split, who turned last year's Gay Pride parade in Split into a global display of intolerance and hatred which still keeps the face of Split and Croatia red," the HHO said in a statement.
The HHO supports the right of those who disagree with messages of the Gay Pride parade to express their disagreement, but believes that it should be done in a tolerant and democratic manner, as well as that it is rude, if not contrary to principles of tolerance, to organise a simultaneous counter-rally in the immediate vicinity of the Gay Pride parade.
"We believe that residents of Split are better than the city authorities and that they will show a different face of Split, which is cheerful, Mediterranean and tolerant. We therefore hope that they will not only tolerate but also support the parade."
The HHO supports legislative initiatives in favour of registered heterosexual and homosexual partnerships... which does not bring into question the traditional institution of marriage, says the statement signed by HHO president Ivan Zvonimir Cicak.
