Latvia’s Edgars Rinkēvičs sworn in as president, becoming 7th out leader of a nation ever

Edgars Rinkēvičs
Photo: Saeima – Valsts prezidenta vēlēšanas/via Wikipedia

Latvia swore in Edgars Rinkēvičs, 49, as president over the weekend, the country’s first out president and the seventh out LGBTQ+ leader of a nation.

“Latvia is a sovereign, free, and democratic country,” he said in his inaugural address to parliament. “But it must be legal and fair for all. Every person in Latvia, its citizens, must feel that they belong, legally protected and safe.”

The Latvian Parliament elected Rinkēvičs to a four-year term this past May.

One of Latvia’s most popular politicians, Rinkēvičs has served as the country’s top diplomat since 2011. He came out publicly in 2014, saying he was “proudly” gay.

Latvia has some protections for LGBTQ+ equality but same-sex marriage remains banned by the Baltic nation’s constitution, and same-sex couples are not allowed to…

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