RUSSIA: Gay activists stage rally under police protection, in Russia's second city where authorities last month adopted a law against 'gay propaganda'

Record ID: 277665

  • Title: RUSSIA: Gay activists stage rally under police protection, in Russia's second city where authorities last month adopted a law against 'gay propaganda'
  • Date: 18th May 2012
  • Summary: ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA (MAY 17, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF RUSSIAN ORTHODOX ACTIVIST DMITRY BARANOV BEING APPROACHED BY POLICE (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN ORTHODOX ACTIVIST DMITRY BARANOV, SAYING: "I can say that I am an Orthodox Christian, and I demand the law banning homosexual propaganda be observed in our city. Carrying out this rally is illegal. It violates the
  • Embargoed: 2nd June 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Russian Federation
  • Country: Russia
  • Topics: Politics,Lifestyle
  • Reuters ID: LVA9E5C9TGNYA7DSCRVADKDHKUU7
  • Story Text: About 100 gay activists, safeguarded by riot police units, rallied in St.Petersburg on Thursday (May 17) to commemorate the International Day of Fighting Homophobia.
    Activists said they were also protesting against discrimination of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) community's rights by the new law in St Petersburg which outlaws what is called "spreading gay propaganda among minors". Gay and other rights groups say the legislation restricts freedom of expression and is an example of what they see as growing hostility to homosexuality in Russia.
    Before the rally a lone anti-gay protester was approached by police who were deployed to protect the gay activists.
    "I can say that I am an Orthodox Christian, and I demand the law banning homosexual propaganda be observed in our city. Carrying out this rally is illegal. It violates the rights of minors who are walking here on the embankment. The sanctioning of it should result in penalties for all of these participants and for the official of the St .Petersburg administration who allowed it--a penalty of up to 50,000 rubles," said anti-gay protester, Dmitry Baranov.
    A number of other towns and cities in Russia have adopted a law banning the spreading of anything seen as gay "propaganda" among young people. But the issue only hit the headlines after St Petersburg, Russia's second city, passed the law in March. A similar bill has been submitted to the Russian State Duma, the lower house of parliament, which could be applied across the country if adopted. European diplomats have said the law lacks clarity and allows too much room for misinterpretation by police.
    Communications Manager of the LGBT organisation Exit Olga Lenkova said even opposition to Thursday's rally showed progress of the gay rights movement in Russia.
    "That this issue is so widely being discussed, that society is talking about it, and society doesn't have a united opinion on it, and that it doesn't unanimously support this law is an achievement in itself. As Ghandi said, 'first you are being ignored, then you are being laughed at, then they fight against you, and then you win.' As a mater of fact we are in the stage that they are fighting against us. And that is an achievement," Lenkova said.
    Her hopes, and that of other activists, she said was to achieve the same rights as heterosexuals.
    "When heterosexuals are walking down the street and holding each others' hands, they think it's quite a normal expression of their feelings and don't think it's a vivid exposure of their feelings. When homosexuals are doing the same, society reacts a totally different way. It is not excited at all but it says that this is propaganda that this is terrible, bad, that they shouldn't do it, and they should do it at home. And that's what we are talking about when we talk about LGBT rights, LGBT security and their discrimination. We are talking about the rights of people to express their feelings how and when they want to," she said.
    Activists held signs and balloons in the colours of the rainbow--the universal sign of gay rights, which they released into the air.
    Nearby, another religious activist heckled the crowd, and a group of young men in face masks gathered, chanting and clapping, before they were dispersed by police.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register