Latvia became an independent nation on the 18th of November 1918, and again after the liberation from the Soviet Union on 21st of August 1991. Earlier in history, present day Latvia consisted of Livonia and Courland. The two regions were dominated alternately by the German Empire, Poland-Lithuania, Sweden and Russia. Today Latvia is a lively democracy, member of the EU, as well as NATO. However, the marks from Russia still prevail and widespread homophobia is prevalent in many parts of the country. Nevertheless, an active LGBT movement and the gay scene In Riga, the capital, offers a ray of hope and shortly Latvia may again, with pride, call itself by its former nickname, Paris of the North.