Russia, Europe

As of 2011, Russia has no criminal law directed at LGBT people and has refused to enact legislation to address discrimination or harassment on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Public opinion about LGBT topics and people tends to be negative, although there is a visible LGBT community network, including nightclubs and political organizations. In 2010 anti-gay Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov was replaced by another homophobe Sergey Sobyanin who continues to refuse authorizating gay Pride events. As usual attempts to defy the ban and march in public (in 2011) degenerated into violent clashes with anti-gay protestors and as usual police failed to protect gay rights activists. Several were taken to jail but later released. Nevertheless GayRussia continues to resist against repression and inequality.

 

News & Reports:

 

St. Petersburg Governor Georgy Poltavchenko Signs ‘Gay Propaganda’ Bill

St. Petersburg City Governor Georgy Poltavchenko has signed a bill which outlaws “gay propaganda,” the city announced on Sunday. Poltavchenko signed the bill into law on Wednesday, March 7 and it will take effect 10 days after being officially published, Interfax reported. The law criminalizes “public actions aimed at propaganda of pederasty, lesbianism, bisexuality and… Read more »

Anti-Gay Law Stirs Fears in Russia

Moscow — St. Petersburg’s legislature passed a law on Wednesday aimed at eliminating what its backers called “propaganda” of homosexuality among minors, prompting fears among gay rights groups of an impending crackdown on their activities as other cities vowed to look into adopting similar measures. The law, which follows similar legislation passed elsewhere recently, appears… Read more »

St. Petersburg Assembly Approves ‘Gay Propaganda’ Bill

St. Petersburg’s Legislative Assembly on Wednesday approved a bill which seeks to outlaw “gay propaganda” in the city. If signed into law by St. Petersburg Governor Georgy Poltavchenko, the bill would criminalize “public actions aimed at propaganda of pederasty, lesbianism, bisexuality and transgenderism among minors.” Offenders face a fine of up to $16,700 under the… Read more »

St. Petersburg bans gay propaganda and promises to punish Rammstein

As St. Petersburg city legislature approved the bill banning the promotion of homosexuality and pedophilia, its initiator promised that when the bill comes to force he will personally seek to have the German rock group Rammstein penalized. The bill was approved at its third reading on Wednesday by 29 votes to five with one abstention.… Read more »

The European Parliament strongly condemns Russia’s LGBT censorship laws

Today the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the upcoming presidential election in Russia, where it clearly denounces Russian laws which forbid the public mention of homosexuality or gender identity to minors. European Parliament logo Presented by five political groups, the resolution recalls that Russia is subject to several international human rights agreements, including the… Read more »

European Parliament denounces Russian ‘gay propaganda’ laws

The European Parliament adopted a resolution on the upcoming presidential election in Russia today clearly denouncing the regional laws which ban ‘gay propaganda’ around minors. The St Petersburg city legislature approved the ‘gay propaganda’ bill 31 to 6 in a delayed second reading last week and reportedly increased fines for those convicted under it tenfold.… Read more »

Gay activists gather for anti-fascist march with pink triangles

Leaders’ Association of the Rainbow “counting on that gays and lesbians come out to anti-fascist rally in Moscow on 19 January 2012. It was organized for the second year in a row speaks committee “January 19”. This year’s day in January will be held for three years after the murder in Moscow of lawyer Stanislav… Read more »

Discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity in health care, education, employment and social security in the russian federation

Table of Contents Executive Summary ………………………………………………………………………………….. 3 Key Terms ……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4 General prohibition of discrimination – art. 2, para. 2, of the ICESCR …………………. 5 Right to work – art. 6 of the ICESCR ……………………………………………………………… 9 Right to social security – art. 9 of the ICESCR ……………………………………………….. 11 Protection of the family, motherhood and childhood… Read more »

Update on LGBT issues in Russia

It’s been a busy month.  The fine folks at the Russian LGBT-network have put together a handy guide to existing and proposed laws banning homosexual “propaganda” in front of minors, a scary bit of legislative homophobia that could make any public statement of same-sex attraction a punishable act.  The guide is useful and comprehensive; unfortunately… Read more »

Russia’s Gay Revolution, As Seen by An American Abroad

For an American living in Russia, many things are funny. The laughter never stops, really. Don’t tell anyone, but I’m actually only here to collect amusing stories that I can tell at cocktail parties to impress girls. I like to think of it as an investment for the future. Among these delights are watching straight… Read more »

250,000 sign petition against St Petersburg “gay propaganda” law

Nearly a quarter of a million people have signed a petition calling on world leaders to hold Russia to account for a draft law in St Petersburg which threatens to silence its gay community. The draft law would punish the promotion of LGBT lifestyles in public alongside paedophilia in Russia’s second largest city. The US… Read more »

Catherine Ashton and MEPs receive petition on freedom of speech in Russia

Today the High Representative of the European Union Catherine Ashton and Members of the European Parliament received a petition with almost 250,000 signatures, urging them to support the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in Russia. The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Presidents of the LGBT… Read more »

Gay Rally in Moscow is Broken Up by Opponents

Translated from Russian At an opposition rally in Moscow did not give gays and lesbians to speak, seized their slogans and flag The Nationalists refused to listen to and homophobic members of the LGBT community at the rally and tried to beat up gay people were in the crowd. At an opposition rally against the… Read more »

Putin Plays Homophobia Card

Draconian anti-gay laws menace nascent Russian queer movement on election eve In the run-up to the Russian parliamentary elections held this past weekend –– in which the country’s authoritarian strongman, Vladimir Putin, and his United Russia Party suffered large losses –– the Putin forces made crass appeals to homophobia by introducing a spate of anti-gay… Read more »

Update: St Petersberg Passes Anti-Gay Law

Russia’s second city has passed a law banning so-called ‘gay propoganda’. Update: The law passed second reading but lawmakers have delayed the third reading until 30 November, according to a video statement by Polina Savchenko. The law, which has been rushed through the St. Petersburg Legislative Assembly, prohibits so-called propaganda of ‘sodomy, lesbianism, bisexualism and… Read more »

Gay Russia News & Reports 2011 Sep-Dec

1 At the Heart of Moscow Gay Pride: A Video Report Exclusive 9/11 2 Moscow photo exhibition dedicated to the experience of coming out 9/11 3 Study: In Ukraine Tens of Thousands of Teens Engage in Gay Sex 9/11 4 Gay Rights Festival to Start in St. Pete 9/11 5 International Queer Culture Festival 2010… Read more »

Gay Russia News & Reports 2011 Jun-Aug

1 Russia’s Best-Known Gay Activist Has an Uphill Fight 6/11 2 A Refracted Rainbow 6/11 3 …Why I am Organising a Protest at the London Embassy 6/11 4 St Petersburg Bans Slavic Gay Pride Parade but OKs Anti- Gay Rally 6/11 5 Controversy Over Gay Rights In Moscow City Hall? 6/11 6 Activists Announced a… Read more »

Gay Russia News & Reports 2011 Jan-May

0 A photo essay of Belarusian LGBT life 1/11 1 Documentary on gay Russia at London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival 1/11 2 Inadequate Fight Against Drugs Hampers Russia’s Ability to Curb H.I.V.1/11 3 Russia Targets Gays with Public Service Ads 1/11 4 Gay Activist From the Komi Republic Beaten Unconsciousness 2/11 5 Russian NGOs… Read more »

Gay Russia News & Reports 2010 Oct-Dec

1 Gays Demonstrate in Moscow – and Are Not Arrested 10/10 2 Russian court rules LGBT Pride parade ban ‘illegal’ 10/10 3 St. Petersburg must allow gay Pride marches, court rules 10/10 3a Как сообщают друзья Сергея Прадеда 10/10 4 III International Side by Side Film Festival Starts! 10/10 5 Gays Win Rights Case Against… Read more »

Gay Russia News & Reports 2010 Jan-Sep

1 Male sex workers in Moscow, Russia 1/10 2 St. Petersburg Set to be Second Russian City to Host a Gay Pride 2/10 3 UN Human Rights Committee Asked to Take a Position on Russian Anti Gay Law 2/10 4 Russian gay marriage group denied registration 3/10 5 Russian Court: Ban of ‘Gay Propaganda to… Read more »

Gay Russia News & Reports 2009

Book: ‘Out of the Blue: Russia’s Hidden Gay Literature’ Edited by Kevin Moss, 1997 1 Euro Parliament says Human Rights Integral to EU-Russia Relations 1/09 2 Russian Gay Activists Send Their Sixth Application 1/09 3 Activists say registration of new LGBT group in Russia is "historic" 2/09 4 US State Department Criticises Russia & Serbia… Read more »

Gay Russia News & Reports 2008

Book: ‘Out of the Blue: Russia’s Hidden Gay Literature’ Edited by Kevin Moss, 1997 1 Third Moscow Pride To Be Staged at End of May -Moscow authorities hint city’s Mayor to impose ban again 1/08 2 Poll exposes high levels of Russian homophobia 2/08 3 Russia to hold anti-homophobia week 2/08 4 Anti-gay Riot Participant… Read more »

Gay Russia News & Reports 2007 June-December

Book: ‘Out of the Blue: Russia’s Hidden Gay Literature’ Edited by Kevin Moss, 1997 1 German Parliament Protests after Moscow Pride 6/07 2 Three gay activists arrested at Moscow Pride 6/07 3 Russian activists target "gay" park 6/07 4 Russia: Gay Rights Under Attack 6/07 5 Moscow gay park patrols end in violence 6/07 6… Read more »

Gay Russia News & Reports 2007 January-May

1 Bashkortostan is latest country to debate gay marriage 1/07 2 Moscow Mayor Calls Gay Pride Parade Satanic 1/07 3 Russian Leader Slams Gay ‘Propaganda’ 2/07 4 Putin’s Contests Words on Gays An Interview 2/07 5 Russian army accused of gay prostitution 2/07 6 Moscow Bans Gay Prider March – Again 2/07 7 Moscow Gay… Read more »

Gay Russia News & Reports 2006

Book: ‘Out of the Blue: Russia’s Hidden Gay Literature’ Edited by Kevin Moss, 1997 1 Muslim leader threatens violence against Russian gay pride parade 2/06 2 Moscow mayor refuses Gay Pride parade 2/06 3 Moscow Bans Gay Pride March, Religious Leaders Threaten Violence 3/06 4 Skinheads, Militants Disrupt Gay Night at Moscow Club 3/06 5… Read more »

Gay Russia News & Reports 2004-05

Book: ‘Out of the Blue: Russia’s Hidden Gay Literature’ Edited by Kevin Moss, 1997 1 For Russians, A Queer Centerfold 1/04 2 Gay farm is world’s first, say activists 1/04 3 New Russian Gay Magazine: We’re Here, We’re Queer 1/04 4 Gay Showman Barred from Dagestan 4/04 5 Bill Aims to Ban Gay Deputies 6/04… Read more »

Gay Russia News & Reports 2000-03

Book: ‘Out of the Blue: Russia’s Hidden Gay Literature’ Edited by Kevin Moss, 1997 0 Queer History of Russia and Eastern Europe (2000) 1 Banging Fists Against City Hall’s Walls 9/01 2 Moscow Mayor Rebuffs Gay Parade 7/01 3 Tatu’s Teen Queens: Lesbian Tunes 3/01 4 Gays Gather Quietly, Out of Political Spotlight 3/01 5… Read more »