Date: Sat, 08 Nov 1997 11:15:41 +0100
From: Bjoern Skolander <skolander@bahnhof.se>
Subject: Latvian Police Officer Sacked after Coming Out


LATVIAN POLICE OFFICER DISMISSED

The police officer, Gatis Bugoveckis, in the Latvian town Bauska has been
forced to leave his job, following his coming out in the daily newspaper
Atspulgs. 
His superiors demanded that he either revealed the names of his gay
colleagues or left his job. The incident is reported by the Latvian gay
organization HIC, which has had access to the taped discussion between
Bugoveckis and his superiors.

HIC demands that Latvia introduces anti-discrimination laws, as well as
laws for equality between homosexual and heterosexual cohabitation. The
group hopes that the issue of gay and lesbian rights in Latvia will be
discussed in connection with Latvia's application for EU membership.

HIC's e-address is: GayLatvia@hotmail.com

SOURCE:
The Swedish Gay and Lesbian magazine QX (Internet edition)
http://www.qx.se/

Translated by Bjoern Skolander skolander@bahnhof.se