Thousands of anti-gay protesters riot in Georgia: Chaos on streets as Orthodox priests join march and threaten to lash gay pride activists with NETTLES Police in Tbilisi guarded several dozen gay activists and bused them away Protesters carrying bunches of nettles threatened to use them on activists They insist homosexuality runs against Georgia's Orthodox Christian values 21-year-old: 'If we must allow parades like this to join EU, I don't want to join' Thousands of anti-gay protesters, including Orthodox priests, picketed a gay pride parade in Georgia today, with some threatening to lash homosexual activists with stinging nettles. Police in Tbilisi guarded several dozen gay activists and bused them out of the city center shortly after they arrived at the gathering. In extraordinary scenes that saw chaos spread through the capital, those occupying the street held posters reading 'We don't need Sodom and Gomorrah!' and 'Democracy does not equal immorality!' Medieval attitude: Elderly ladies brandish bunches of stinging nettles with which they threaten to lash them on gay activists Ignorant: Anti-gay protesters try to attack a bus with gay activists as police took them away from the rally Fear: Gay rights activists look out from a bus as they are evacuated by police Police, however, failed to prevent scuffles, which resulted in 16 people getting injured, the ambulance service said. A number of protesters carrying bunches of stinging nettles threatened to use them on gay activists. They insist that homosexuality runs against Georgia's traditional Orthodox Christian values. Father David, a priest who was one of the organizers of Friday's anti-gay rally, said the parade 'insults people's traditions and national sentiments.' VIDEO Protesters break up gay rally with stinging nettles in Georgia Homophobic: Georgian police officers cordon off the area in central Tbilisi where Orthodox believers and anti-gay activists demonstrate to protest gay rights activists' plans to stage a rally marking the International Day Dgainst Homophobia Clashes: Policemen try to stop an Orthodox Christian in clashes that saw a number of arrests Kick me out: An anti-gay protester wears a t-shirt with 'Check Me Out' on the front. Anti-gay protesters, many wearing religious and national dress, marched shouting anti-gay and nationalistic slogans A gay rally in Tbilisi last year was also short-lived and ended in a scuffle. Georgia's authorities had given the green light for the gay parade to take place, saying that all Georgian citizens, irrespective of their sexuality, are entitled to voice their views in public. 'We are against the propaganda of homosexuality,' 21-year-old student Nikolai Kiladze said. 'Deplorable': Those occupying the street held posters and placards reading 'We don't need Sodom and Gomorrah!' and 'Democracy does not equal immorality!' Love is love: Georgia is one of only few countries in the former Soviet bloc that directly prohibits discrimination against homosexuality in law - but in an ultra Orthodox Christian country gay people are nonetheless targeted by vigilantes Trouble: Police, however, failed to prevent scuffles, which resulted in 16 people getting injured, the ambulance service said 'If we need to allow parades like this in order to become a member of the European Union or other Western organizations and blocs, then I'm against joining these organizations.' Georgia's human rights ombudsman, Uchi Nanuashvili, said it is 'deplorable' that gay people's constitutional rights were violated on Rustavi Street on Friday. A nation's shame: Georgia's human rights ombudsman, Uchi Nanuashvili, said it is 'deplorable' that gay people's constitutional rights were violated on Rustavi Street on Friday One student told the AP: 'If we need to allow parades like this in order to become a member of the European Union or other Western organizations and blocs, then I'm against joining these organizations' Georgia is one of only few countries in the former Soviet bloc that directly prohibits discrimination against homosexuality in law. Nevertheless, in a highly traditional Orthodox Christian country, where public discussions of sexuality in general tend to be shunned and ignored, homosexuality is considered a major deviation from the norm. As a result, gay people are often targets of abuse and physical violence.