In an attempt to take advantage of the press his country was receiving for hosting the Eurovision finals, a Russian activist named Nikolai Alexeyev organized a gay rights rally. The protesters had barely unrolled their banners before the Russian riot police showed up to arrest them all.
At the same time, a demonstration sanctioned by the government was going down miles away in Moscow, in which anti-gay protesters held signs reading "Moscow is not Sodom". As you may have guessed, the police did nothing to stop this rally.
In case you're wondering, Russia dropped laws that criminalized homosexuals sixteen years ago, but the government's attitude hasn't made it easy for gay individuals. Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov has openly stated that homosexuality is a disease that needs to be treated, that gays are satanic and a pride parade would never occur in Moscow.
It might seem like Alexeyev's dedication is insane, given that he's been arrested five times by now, but I admire him for standing tall in the face of adversity. After all, we're not free until everyone is free.
- Dewitt
Photo credit: Alexander Natruskin/Reuters
wasn’t it russia who was pimping out its military boys for porn money? i swear i heard that rumor somewhere…
LOL you go Matt 🙂
In Austria there was Life Ball on the same night with guests such are Pamela Anderson, Eva Longoria and Bill Clinton, why didn’t they go all together to Moscow to support those poor people?! I bet police wouldn’t dare to touch them if those celebrity names were among them!? That Ball was waste of money and energy!