Support our Queer Family in Russia: Contact Russian Embassy

[Rottie]

Hello folks,

The BBC and Russian News Media are reporting that for the second time in two years, Russian gays and lesbians are going to be refused a permit to assemble and march even though they are supposed to have a constitutional right to assemble and protest. They want to assemble and march on May 27th.

If you remember last year, when Russian gays and lesbians attempted to gather, many of them were beaten and arrested.

Here's their website for more information:http://www.gayrussia.ru/en/news/detail.php?ID=9174

But I would like to suggest that people contact the Russian Embassy if they feel Russia should intervene with the Moscow City Mayor *and* protect the peaceful expression of human rights from neo-nazi violence. i.e. gays and lesbians shouldn't be refused the right to assemble based on safety issues caused by threats by neo-nazis and the religious right.

Address: 2641 Tunlaw Road NW, Washington, DC 20007
Telephone: (202) 939-8907, 939-8913, 939-8918
Fax: (202) 483-7579
Office hours: Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
and 2:30 p.m.-6:00 p.m.

[Rottie]

By the way, you can leave a message of support for the group itself at their website.

~Rottie

[Rottie]

Hi gang,

You've got a few hours left to call the Russian embassy. I'm really hoping this isn't going to be a bloodbath.

Here's latest information:

http://www.gayrussia.ru/en/news/detail.php?ID=9230

[Rottie]

btw, the consular divsion gave me another number to call:

202-298-5701

[MsLinus]

I just received this link on Egale: http://direland.typepad.com/direland..._rightwin.html

For the second year in a row, an attempt to hold a Gay Pride demonstration in Moscow despite a ban by the city's mayor -- who had called such demonstrations "satanic" -- was broken up today by police and special OMON riot militia. The gay contingent was violently attacked by anti-gay ultra-nationalists, who threw punches and bottles. Among the 20 reported arrested so far were German MP Volker Beck, chief Moscow Pride organizer Nicolai Alekseev, British gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, and Italian MEP (Member of the European Parliament) Marco Cappato....

[Rottie]

Thanks, Linus. It just makes me sick. The BBC is reporting that police allowed nationalists to beat up journalists and gays, but only arrested gays.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6696329.stm

I just received this link on Egale: http://direland.typepad.com/direland..._rightwin.html

[Blavatsky]

Two European lawmakers have been arrested by Russian police in a crackdown on a gay rights protest.

Police swooped on 100 demonstrators who were protesting against a march ban imposed by the mayor of Moscow.


Gay rights leader Nikolai Alexeyev is arrested
A dozen protesters, including the two legislators, were taken away.

Earlier, the protesters had been pelted with eggs and punched by neo-Nazi demonstrators who chanted: "Moscow is not Sodom".

The gay activists were trying to deliver a letter signed by 40 European lawmakers to the office of Moscow's mayor.

Marco Capatto, a European Parliament deputy from Italy, was kicked by a gay rights opponent as he spoke to journalists before he was hauled away by police.

The banned march was aimed at marking the 14th anniversary of Russia decriminalising homosexuality.



Eggs and punches at Russia gay march
By Mike Levy
in Moscow
BBC News Sunday 5/27/07

The march started off peacefully
A gay rights demonstration in Moscow degenerated into violence for the second year running as right-wing and orthodox extremists attacked gay rights activists and supporters of the unauthorised demonstration.

GayRussia leader Nikolai Alexeyev was bundled into a police van and driven away moments after arriving outside the offices of Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov, who has called homosexuals "satanic".

Mr Alexeyev was attempting to deliver a petition signed by more than 50 MEPs urging Mr Luzhkov to allow such events.

British veteran gay rights activist Peter Tatchell was punched in the face by an anti-gay rights protester.

After receiving the blow, he leaned on a lamppost and shouted: "Someone protect me, Someone protect me," before being roughly escorted away by riot police.

His attacker was not detained.

The pop group Right Said Fred, in Moscow for a concert, turned up at the protest.
Band member Richard Fairbrass was hit on the nose and ran away with blood on his face.

Russian pop duo t.A.T.u also appeared briefly to show support.

"What we have is authoritarianism and we are moving towards totalitarianism," said Lydia Hmelevskaya, a 24-year-old lesbian.

"I have been beaten up on a train because of the way I look. I have the right to look the way I want to."

Nationalists pelted German MP Volker Beck with eggs and tomatoes before officers took him to a waiting police van.

He was driven away to a government building, then later released.

Italian MEP Marco Cappato intervened to stop a Strasbourg parliamentary aide being attacked.

"Where are the police? Why aren't you protecting us?" Mr Cappato shouted as nationalists gathered nearby, prompting officers to take the MEP away and drive him to a police station.

The demonstration began peacefully with dozens of journalists and scores of uniformed officers and Omon riot police congregating near a statue opposite Mayor Luzhkov's offices on Tverskaya Street, one of Moscow's busiest thoroughfares.

Orthodox extremists and nationalists arrived to speak to journalists and denounce the event.

British gay rights activist Peter Tatchell was punched in the face
Some chanted "Moscow is not Sodom" and "No to pederasty."

Violence erupted after police detained Mr Alexeyev.

As Mr Beck was marched away, someone briefly unfurled a rainbow-coloured banner - adopted by gay rights groups as a symbol of pride.

One extremist began punching the person holding the banner.

The police broke up the scuffle but allowed the attacker to walk away.

On numerous occasions, nationalists circled gay rights activists as they spoke with journalists, then reached in to punch or kick the person being interviewed.


One journalist was attacked because he wore an earring, which led nationalists to say he was gay.

Police intervened to arrest dozens of gay rights activists and only rarely detained their attackers.

Mayor Luzhkov's office says it banned this year's gay pride march.


But Mr Alexeyev claims the order is invalid because the letter he received from Moscow officials refers to the wrong date - 27 May 2006 instead of 2007.

Last year's march was banned and also saw gay activists and supporters attacked by nationalists.

Mr Alexeyev is seeking to appeal against the 2006 ban in the European Court of Human Rights.

(The petiton was never successfully delivered, BTW. -Blavatsky)

[Blavatsky]

Thanks for posting this thread, Rottie.

[heyokagirl]

http://www.cnn.com/video/player/player.html?url=/video/world/2007/05/27/chance.russia.gays.beaten.cnn

This only worked for me on Internet Explorer. It shows what Blavatsky wrote about in a previous post.

[Rottie]

The Gay Rights group in Russia has posted an electronic petition that will go to the United Nations. They're asking people to sign it. Look on the right side, in a box where it says, "Sign the Moscow appeal for Human Rights."

http://www.gayrussia.ru/en/

[citybutch]

Thank you for this...this is real news...will write....

[unndunn]

I saw the video clip on aol and was sickened to not only watch these people being physically assaulted, but also to be beaten by police and not protected. And then they were the only ones arrested. One guy attacked a demonstrator right in front of the camera and no one stopped him. I will contact anyone I can and add my name to any list I find. The inaction of the police and bystanders made my blood boil.

Unn

[unndunn]

British veteran gay rights activist Peter Tatchell was punched in the face by an anti-gay rights protester.

After receiving the blow, he leaned on a lamppost and shouted: "Someone protect me, Someone protect me," before being roughly escorted away by riot police.

That was the most disturbing part of the video that I saw. It was so upsetting to see someone attacked for no reason and then have to ask the crowd of people just standing there to help him. Each and every one of those people who did nothing are criminals as far as I am concerned. Disgusting display of a lack of humanity.

Unn

[heyokagirl]

That was the most disturbing part of the video that I saw. It was so upsetting to see someone attacked for no reason and then have to ask the crowd of people just standing there to help him. Each and every one of those people who did nothing are criminals as far as I am concerned. Disgusting display of a lack of humanity.

Unn

This made me cry.

[Blavatsky]

I posted everything i found online in that post. The url for the 1st part didn't post- sorry, i am new to the computer. I'll keep looking for updates. The courage of those that showed up is impressive. Our voices mean so much to those in more oppressive parts of the world. Russia, Africa, the middle east, etc. ty.

[Blavatsky]

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNew...60527/20060527

[Greyson]

I heard about this on NPR earlier today. The mayor of Moscow swears there will never be a Gay Pride Parade in Moscow as long as he is the mayor. So much for Human Rights. And......not just pointing the finger at Russia. Similar circumstances have happened right here in the Good Old U.S.ofA.

[Blavatsky]

This thread would do better if titled something like:
" Fists Fly As Skinheads Attack Russian Gays "

just a thought.

[Rottie]

Hi Greyson,

You're absolutely correct. And here too it took and continues to take collective action and outrage to even hope to change things. For me though, it's a reminder as many of us are off to celebrate Pride in different places with not much more concern than *which* Pride we want to attend (or who's going to be the designated driver).... that there are queer brothers and sisters in the world who need for us to do our part to put international pressure and effort where we can.

And I don't claim everything is rosy here... our own Patriot Act has curtailed our own civil rights albeit in ways that are so hidden and subtle that people don't think about it until they're reminded that librarians are still fighting it by refusing to keep track of what books we read.

Anway, I'm ultimately an optimist and truly think the world is changing for the better. But even in a place like Singapore, where people are not allowed to march or organize, hard work by local activists and international pressure has resulted in their government allowing mass gatherings of gays and lesbians as a "cultural" and artistic expression.

So, here... there.... things do change if people are willing to do the hard work.

~Rottie

I heard about this on NPR earlier today. The mayor of Moscow swears there will never be a Gay Pride Parade in Moscow as long as he is the mayor. So much for Human Rights. And......not just pointing the finger at Russia. Similar circumstances have happened right here in the Good Old U.S.ofA.

[L.A. Femme]

I signed the petition...
please don't give up on this thread or our family in Russia.

[QueenofQueens]

Events like this are the reason why it is so very important for us not to get lost in the intellectual and ideological minutiae we have the luxury of indulging ourselves in living in a relatively free nation. What I mean to say is that there are oppressed queers all over the world to whom we owe our allegiance and for whom we remain a hopeful example.
We owe it to oppressed people everywhere to remain a unified force for social change.

[L.A. Femme]

Events like this are the reason why it is so very important for us not to get lost in the intellectual and ideological minutiae we have the luxury of indulging ourselves in living in a relatively free nation. What I mean to say is that there are oppressed queers all over the world to whom we owe our allegiance and for whom we remain a hopeful example.
We owe it to oppressed people everywhere to remain a unified force for social change.

Well said Q of Q... and thank you for participating in an action oriented thread.

[L.A. Femme]

The Gay Rights group in Russia has posted an electronic petition that will go to the United Nations. They're asking people to sign it. Look on the right side, in a box where it says, "Sign the Moscow appeal for Human Rights."

http://www.gayrussia.ru/en/

Again - the Petition link is posted above.
Please take a time-out and do something to support our friends.

[QueenofQueens]

I forwarded the petition link to everyone on my email list. That the petition only has about 400 signatures so far is really shameful....

[flamingfemme]

I just signed the petition, and, as of right now, there are only 391 signatures on it. Pretty appalling, considering it's an international petition. Anyway, this link goes directly to the petition site: http://www.petitiononline.com/moscow/
I've already forwarded it to everyone I know.

[L.A. Femme]

Interesting which threads get more attention than others...
I signed the petition and am left wondering??? what else can we do???

[Rottie]

Okay, it's up to 408 signatures now!

Also, I just saw this on Putin's website.... anyone in Maine up for organizing a protest? *w* I don't know... maybe we should individually ask the Human Right Campaign, or some other LGBT groups in Washington to organize some kind of press release or protest in conjunction with Putin's visit? Any ideas folks? Anyone have contacts with the queer politicos in DC? We've got a month to make some phone calls or emails, damnit! *s*

Here's the announcement:

"Mr Putin will also visit the United States on July 1-2, 2007. The visit’s programme will include talks with Mr Bush at the Bush family’s residence near Kennebunkport in the state of Maine."

I just signed the petition, and, as of right now, there are only 391 signatures on it. Pretty appalling, considering it's an international petition. Anyway, this link goes directly to the petition site: http://www.petitiononline.com/moscow/
I've already forwarded it to everyone I know.

[Rottie]

Me again..... I just emailed the following request to the New York-based International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission. I'll let you all know if they send me back a response. Now.... who's gonna take on another organization or queer senator/congressman? Yes.. this is a challenge!

Dear IGLHRC,

I'm sure you're aware of what happened in Moscow for the second year in a row.

With Putin coming to the U.S. July 1, see: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18939032/

Would you all pass on a suggestion for perhaps folks to protest at the Russian embassy and consular offices here in the states? Or maybe you all could have some sort of press conference or something?

One other thing. The Moscow group has had an online petition up for over week now and it's only got 408 signatures as of today. Anything you can do to promote the petition (to go to the UN)? http://www.petitiononline.com/moscow/