THEGAYUK

Tag: Russia News

Get the latest LGBT+ Russia news from THEGAYUK. Breaking news, features and interviews from the gay community in Russia.

  • THEATRE FEATURE: From Russia, With Love

    A theatrical fundraiser which aims to tackle homophobia in Russian is to take place on Sunday 27th October 2013.

    (more…)

  • Actor Stephen Fry Branded ‘Sick’ By Russian Politician

    The Russian Politician who was instrumental in creating Russia’s anti-gay law, banning the ‘promotion of non-traditional relationships’ to anyone under the age of 18 has branded the actor, writer and broadcaster Stephen Fry ‘Sick’ as the world’s attention is drawn to the furore over the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

    The world’s attention was drawn to the violations against Russia’s LGBT community last week when the QI presenter, Fry, wrote an open letter to the Prime Minister David Cameron, the International Olympic Committee’s president and Lord Coe.

    In the open letter Fry called for the Olympics to be banned or moved, stating:

    ‘An absolute ban on the Russian Winter Olympics of 2014 on Sochi is simply essential. Stage them elsewhere in Utah, Lillehammer, anywhere you like. At all costs Putin cannot be seen to have the approval of the civilised world.’

    Russian Politian Vitaly Milonov has hit back at Fry during an interview on BBC 5 Live insisting that homosexuality is a sin and that Fry was ‘sick’ over his suicide attempts last year.

    Mr Milonov said: “Who is this Stephen Fry? I know because he is sick person because he tried to commit suicide as far as I remember.”

    Speaking today, Mr Milonov when asked whether he was fighting a war against gay people said:

    ‘It is a shame and it is a sin but it is a personal choice. It is not normal but a person cannot be punished in Russia for being homosexual, or to live with a dog, with a horse, with a sheep, whatever.

    ‘Homosexuality is one of the sins for us and it means we should not teach our kids that sin is okay.’

    During an interview with BBC News over the weekend Stephen Fry called on athletes competing in the Sochi Winter Olympics to show a sign of solidarity with Russian LGBTs by crossing their arms across their chest.

    Read our live blogging from the LGBT Russia Protest which took place over the weekend in London.

  • OPINION | #HateDoesNotPay: Russian’s Shortsighted Homophobia

    So Putin hates homos. We all know that – he has made it very clear and the Anti-Gay legislation plaguing Russia has been referenced across the LGBT and mainstream medias. The human rights and social welfare implications are dire but what about a colder, less humane, and perhaps purely financial interpretation?

    So, let’s ask – do we reckon Putin has thought this through? Does he understand the social and economic impact state-sponsored homophobia will have on the country? Does he hate money as much as he hates homos? I doubt it.

    The pink pound is estimated to be worth £6 billion per year in the UK, and over £350 billion of pink money was spent globally in 2012. Russia is missing out on this trade as discerning gay consumers will not be flying to Moscow or St.Petersburg, and many will also be boycotting Russian products at home. Indeed Chief Executive Officer for SPI (which owns Stolichnaya Vodka) Val Mendeleeva has publically explained that although some ingredients used to make Stoli do come from Russia, “the Russian government has no ownership interest or control over the Stoli brand that is privately owned by SPI Group.” It is interesting to see that he has made it very clear the company “fully support and endorse your [lgbt community] objectives to fight against prejudice in Russia. In the past decade, SPI has been actively advocating in favor of freedom, tolerance and openness in society, standing very passionately on the side of the LGBT community and will continue to support any effective initiative in that direction.” Clearly the boycott, even if slightly misdirected, does have an impact. Perhaps that is an angle Russia might listen to?

    And what about the labour force contributing to such businesses? How productive are people when they cannot be themselves? Various organisations have argued that 6-10% of the UK population is lesbian, gay or bisexual. Assuming that the UK is roughly representative of other European countries (and not a homo-hot-spot) then that means there could be 8.6 – 14.3 million lesbian, gay or bisexual Russians. Even a conservative medium estimate leaves over 10 million employees not giving 100% to their work, social or personal lives.

    With Russia’s economy showing signs of weakness, workers need to perform better and be happy to invest back into goods and services. With industrial output declining in early 2013 (for the first time since 2009) and foreign direct investment subdued, perhaps Russia’s unpredictability and lack of commitment to the rights of its nationals is having a cost. Further economic issues, such as inflation, increased in the second half of 2012 and is set to remain high for 2013.

    Furthermore, if you had the choice wouldn’t you leave? And who has those choices in life usually? Is it Russia’s affluent? Perhaps they will be able to escape first and take their money somewhere else. And is it a stretch too far to assume that not all Russians are homophobic? Galop, London’s LGBT community safety charity, highlights that over 1000 homophobioc hate crimes take place in London each year – does that mean everyone in the capital is partial to a bit of gay bashing? I’d hope not! And would Putin carry out the attacks we see in the news personally?

    But who will ask these questions of him? Is anyone able to pose these questions? #hatedoesnotpay @VladimirPutin

     

    Opinions expressed in this article may not reflect those of THEGAYUK, it’s management or editorial teams. If you’d like to comment or write a comment, opinion or blog piece, please click here.

  • Russia’s Anti-Gay Laws To Be Protested Outside Downing Street

    Love Russia, Hate Homophobia protest called for 3rd September outside Downing Street.

    Over a thousand people have signified that they are going to attend a ‘day of action’ outside Downing Street on the 3rd September 2013 to protest the Russian government’s treatment of LGBT people.

    The protest is due to take place just days before the world’s leaders meet in St. Petersburg, Russia for the G20, which President Putin hosts this year.

    The protest organisers are calling all participants to meet outside Downing Street from 5pm – 8pm.

    Peter Tatchell, the veteran human rights campaigner said in a statement,

    “There can be no normal sporting relations with an abnormal authoritarian regime like Putin’s Russia. The attack on the LGBT community is one fragment of a much wider attack on human rights. It is important to encourage an alliance between LGBT and straight Russians to defend freedom of expression for all the people of Russia. LGBT people need allies to win and all Russians who love democracy and human rights deserve our support.

    “The anti-gay legislation will prevent LGBT teens from being told that it’s okay to be gay and from receiving HIV prevention information about how to have gay sex safely.

    “Long before this law was passed, I was beaten up with police collusion and arrested in Moscow for holding a sign saying “Gay Rights”. I still live with the brain and eye injuries incurred. Many Russian LGBT campaigners and other human rights defenders have also been bashed and arrested. They are heroes of the LGBT freedom struggle. They stand and fight. Their courage is awesome. We have a duty to support them.”

    Meanwhile LGBT organisations across the world are planning their own protests on the 3rd September, which is hoped will bring visibility to the violations against the LGBT community in Russia.

     

    To find out more visit the Facebook page

  • Wentworth Miller comes out as gay

    Actor and screenwriter, Wentworth Miller, best known for his role in hit US drama series Prison Break has come out as a gay man in support of the LGBT community in Russia.

    CREDIT: Depositphotos

    The actor posted an open letter on the GLADD website to the St Petersburg Film Festival organisers saying he was declining the invitation to be the guest of honour because “The situation [in Russia] is in no way acceptable, and I cannot in good conscience participate in a celebratory occasion hosted by a country where people like myself are being systematically denied their basic right to live and love openly”.

    The letter not only further highlights the current issues in Russia faced by the LBGT community, but also serves as a massive boost to them by sending them a clear and strong message of support.

    GLAAD spokesperson Wilson Cruz added “As people from across the globe continue to speak out against Russia’s horrific law, more celebrities and corporations should follow his courageous lead in openly condemning Russia’s anti-LGBT law.”

    Wentworth Miller’s full letter reads:

    August 21, 2013

    Re: St. Petersburg International Film Festival / “Guest of Honor” Invitation

    Dear Ms. Averbakh:

    Thank you for your kind invitation. As someone who has enjoyed visiting Russia in the past and can also claim a degree of Russian ancestry, it would make me happy to say yes.

    However, as a gay man, I must decline.

    I am deeply troubled by the current attitude toward and treatment of gay men and women by the Russian government. The situation is in no way acceptable, and I cannot in good conscience participate in a celebratory occasion hosted by a country where people like myself are being systematically denied their basic right to live and love openly.

    Perhaps, when and if circumstances improve, I’ll be free to make a different choice.

    Until then.

    Wentworth Miller

    Member, HRC

    Member, GLAAD

    Member, The ManKind Project

  • Stephen Fry: “Athletes Should Find A Symbol” For LGBT Russians

    Broadcaster Stephen Fry has called on athletes in the Russian Sochi Winter Olympics to find a symbol to show ‘solidarity’ with gay Russians.

    Openly gay writer, presenter and broadcaster Stephen Fry calls upon athletes who take part in the Sochi Winter Olympics to find a symbol to show solidarity with Russian LGBTs.

    During an interview with the BBC Fry said that at the end of competitors’ games, they should stand up and adopt a cross armed pose to show their support and that they ‘are thinking about the gay people of Russian who are being tormented and brutalised everyday.’

    In June, President Putin signed into law a bill that could see both nationals and international visitors promoting “non-traditional relationships” to anyone under 18 face hefty fines and prison.

    Lord Coe and the Prime Minister David Cameron have reacted to an open letter from broadcaster Stephen Fry calling for the boycott of the Winter Olympics in Sochi 2014. In the letter Fry compare the situation in Russia to the decision to host the 1936 Olympic games in Nazi Germany and that President Putin: ‘is making scapegoats of gay people’, adding that: ‘an absolute ban on the Russian Winter Olympics of 2014 on Sochi is simply essential’.

  • Stephen Fry: Open Letter To The Prime Minister and International Olympic Committee

    An open letter to the Prime Minister, David Cameron and to members of the International Olympic Committee from Stephen Fry has gone viral over the internet, crashing Stephen Fry’s own website.

    The letter reads,

     

    Dear Prime Minister, M Rogge, Lord Coe and Members of the International Olympic Committee,

    I write in the earnest hope that all those with a love of sport and the Olympic spirit will consider the stain on the Five Rings that occurred when the 1936 Berlin Olympics proceeded under the exultant aegis of a tyrant who had passed into law, two years earlier, an act which singled out for special persecution a minority whose only crime was the accident of their birth. In his case he banned Jews from academic tenure or public office, he made sure that the police turned a blind eye to any beatings, thefts or humiliations afflicted on them, he burned and banned books written by them. He claimed they “polluted” the purity and tradition of what it was to be German, that they were a threat to the state, to the children and the future of the Reich. He blamed them simultaneously for the mutually exclusive crimes of Communism and for the controlling of international capital and banks. He blamed them for ruining the culture with their liberalism and difference. The Olympic movement at that time paid precisely no attention to this evil and proceeded with the notorious Berlin Olympiad, which provided a stage for a gleeful Führer and only increased his status at home and abroad. It gave him confidence. All historians are agreed on that. What he did with that confidence we all know.

    Putin is eerily repeating this insane crime, only this time against LGBT Russians. Beatings, murders and humiliations are ignored by the police. Any defence or sane discussion of homosexuality is against the law. Any statement, for example, that Tchaikovsky was gay and that his art and life reflects this sexuality and are an inspiration to other gay artists would be punishable by imprisonment. It is simply not enough to say that gay Olympians may or may not be safe in their village. The IOC absolutely must take a firm stance on behalf of the shared humanity it is supposed to represent against the barbaric, fascist law that Putin has pushed through the Duma. Let us not forget that Olympic events used not only to be athletic, they used to include cultural competitions. Let us realise that in fact, sport is cultural. It does not exist in a bubble outside society or politics. The idea that sport and politics don’t connect is worse than disingenuous, worse than stupid. It is wickedly, wilfully wrong. Everyone knows politics interconnects with everything for “politics” is simply the Greek for “to do with the people”.

    An absolute ban on the Russian Winter Olympics of 2014 on Sochi is simply essential. Stage them elsewhere in Utah, Lillehammer, anywhere you like. At all costs Putin cannot be seen to have the approval of the civilised world.

    He is making scapegoats of gay people, just as Hitler did Jews. He cannot be allowed to get away with it. I know whereof I speak. I have visited Russia, stood up to the political deputy who introduced the first of these laws, in his city of St Petersburg. I looked into the face of the man and, on camera, tried to reason with him, counter him, make him understand what he was doing. All I saw reflected back at me was what Hannah Arendt called, so memorably, “the banality of evil.” A stupid man, but like so many tyrants, one with an instinct of how to exploit a disaffected people by finding scapegoats. Putin may not be quite as oafish and stupid as Deputy Milanov but his instincts are the same. He may claim that the “values” of Russia are not the “values” of the West, but this is absolutely in opposition to Peter the Great’s philosophy, and against the hopes of millions of Russians, those not in the grip of that toxic mix of shaven headed thuggery and bigoted religion, those who are agonised by the rolling back of democracy and the formation of a new autocracy in the motherland that has suffered so much (and whose music, literature and drama, incidentally I love so passionately).

    I am gay. I am a Jew. My mother lost over a dozen of her family to Hitler’s anti-Semitism. Every time in Russia (and it is constantly) a gay teenager is forced into suicide, a lesbian “correctively” raped, gay men and women beaten to death by neo-Nazi thugs while the Russian police stand idly by, the world is diminished and I for one, weep anew at seeing history repeat itself.

    “All that is needed for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing,” so wrote Edmund Burke. Are you, the men and women of the IOC going to be those “good” who allow evil to triumph?

    The Summer Olympics of 2012 were one of the most glorious moments of my life and the life of my country. For there to be a Russian Winter Olympics would stain the movement forever and wipe away any of that glory. The Five Rings would finally be forever smeared, besmirched and ruined in the eyes of the civilised world.

    I am begging you to resist the pressures of pragmatism, of money, of the oily cowardice of diplomats and to stand up resolutely and proudly for humanity the world over, as your movement is pledged to do. Wave your Olympic flag with pride as we gay men and women wave our Rainbow flag with pride. Be brave enough to live up to the oaths and protocols of your movement, which I remind you of verbatim below.

    Rule four: Cooperate with the competent public or private organisations and authorities in the endeavour to place sport at the service of humanity and thereby to promote peace.

    Rule six: Act against any form of discrimination affecting the Olympic Movement.

    Rule 15: Encourage and support initiatives blending sport with culture and education.

    I especially appeal to you, Prime Minister, a man for whom I have the utmost respect. As the leader of a party I have for almost all of my life opposed and instinctively disliked, you showed a determined, passionate and clearly honest commitment to LGBT rights and helped push gay marriage through both houses of our parliament in the teeth of vehement opposition from so many of your own side. For that I will always admire you, whatever other differences may lie between us. In the end I believe you know when a thing is wrong or right. Please act on that instinct now.

    Yours in desperate hope for humanity

    Stephen Fry

     

    This post first appeared on www.stephenfry.com

  • Russian Gay Teenager Tortured By Anti-Gay Group Believed To Have Died

    Gay Teenager Tortured by Russian Anti-Gay Group believed to have died.

    • Teenager was allegedly kidnapped and tortured by Russian neo-Nazis
    • Spectrum Human Rights Alliance (SHRA) say he died from injuries caused by his torture
    • Victim was forced to come out to parents and soaked with urine.

    TheGayUK recently reported that gay teens were being tortured anti-gay groups who used personal ads on popular social networks to lure their victims. According to SHRA, Dr. Valentin Degtyarev, MD, who closely monitors infamous Neo Nazi group “Occupy Pedofilyaj” reports the victim shown in the pictures has died from numerous tortures against him. TheGayUK has censored the picture.

    The SHRA also claims that no arrests or charges have been filed against any of the men in the picture. The identity of the victim in the photo has yet to be verified, so we’re unable to validate the claim.

    The Spectrum Human Rights Alliance is a leading international organization devoted to human rights advancement on behalf of people who experience discrimination or abuse on the basis of their actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity or expression in Eastern Europe, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and former Soviet Union countries.

    The SHRA also reports that an activist Artem Gorodilov who dared to stand-up to the gang, was kidnapped in the middle of the night and taken a local cemetery in Kamensk-Uralsk. He was brought the grave of another alleged victim of this group, who later committed suicide, a point the kidnappers were pleased to point out. He was tortured and bullied for being gay and spreading gay propaganda.

    ‘Eventually this Nazi group dismantled a huge wooden cross from one of the graves nearby and made Mr. Gorodilov to run with it for his life while being chased by their car. This incident caught attention of the local branch of the Russian Orthodox church who thought that the Nazi group displayed a disrespect to the Holy Cross and offended feelings of their believers thus the church representatives complained to the police. As a result, these Nazi group was brought by the police for questioning and immediately released,’ a statement from the SHRA reads.

    In June, President Putin signed into law a bill that could see both nationals and international visitors promoting “non-traditional relationships” to anyone under 18 face hefty fines and prison.

    A mass protest is due to take place this Saturday in London to demonstrate against the violations against LGBT people in Russian.

    Over 3000 people have signed up to protest near the Russian Embassy in London.

  • Over 2500 People Signed Up To Protest Violations Against Russian LGBTs

    Over 2500 people have signed up on the official Facebook page for a forthcoming protest aimed at the Russian Embassy in the London.

    Protest Date: August 10, 2013
    Protest Location: Richmond Terrace, Westminster SW1A 2JL
    Protest Time: 1.00pm to 4.00pm
    Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/133404016869068/?fref=ts

    A statement on the official Facebook page reads:

    STOP the LGBT violations in Russia NOW.

    In 2012 The Russian government banned all gay pride events throughout the country for the next 100 years.

    In 2013, The Russian government adopted a trifecta of anti LGBT bills basically criminalizing homosexuality. One bans the distribution of “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations” to minors. This law imposes heavy fines for using the media or internet to promote “non-traditional relations.”

    Secondly, the government made it illegal for the adoption of Russian children by gay couples or any single person who comes from a country that recognizes marriage equality.

    Thirdly, a bill has just been passed giving authorities the rights to arrest foreign nationals whom they suspect being LGBT or pro gay and detain them for up to 14 days.

    There is talk in the media of the next step being the removal of children from Russian homes, natural or adoptive, from parents who are, or are suspected of being LGBT.

    We are witnessing imagery in the media showing unspeakable violence towards LGBT people. We see evidence that the new laws are being broadly interpreted by the Russian public and by the legal system to unfairly and violently persecute, intimidate and vilify LGBT people. This violence must stop, and the laws must be repealed.

    We are organizing a peaceful static protest for our Russian LGBT family, with whom we show solidarity. We want our Russian brothers and sisters to be free from persecution and to have the freedom to love without fear.

    We call on David Cameron, the UK Parliament and the G20 to urge the Russian government to repeal these laws and to provide the same level of human rights protection to all of its citizens regardless of their sexuality and gender.

  • New petition urges TEAM GB to wear rainbow flags

    A petition has been created to ask members of Team GB to wear rainbow colours in solidarity with Russian LGBTs.

    • Petition calls for Olympians to wear rainbow colours at the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014.
    • Petition goes live as many bars across the world continue to boycott Russian produced vodka
    • Petitioners hope for Olympians to speak out against human rights violations.

    The petition hosted at Change.org is asking members of Team GB to wear rainbow colours at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics, because ‘Russia are [sic] acting against human rights.’

    The petition that was created by Jade Rayment of Cardiff, has already attracted 227 supporters within days of it going live.

    In June, President Putin signed into law a bill that could see citizens promoting “non-traditional relationships” to anyone under 18 face hefty fines and prison.

    The UK Government has updated its advice for LGBT Travellers to Russia, after TheGayUK contacted the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

    The law has been criticised widely as a countrywide crackdown on Russia’s LGBT community.

    The worldwide LGBT community has responded in a number of ways including petitions and a boycott on Russian produced vodka.

    Last week every gay bar in Leeds committed to boycotting Russian produced vodka just in time for Leeds Pride weekend.

    The petition:

    As UK citizens we enjoy a quality of life that few other places in the world can appreciate. This is our privilege, and one of the many reasons that a life elsewhere is so coveted; we enjoy many rights and freedoms that are easy to take for granted.
    The Winter Olympics has always been a time to shine. We all get excited when we watch our countries compete on a world stage in the sports we excel at best. They are a great teaching tool to teach kids about different nations and cultures, and there’s always a special thrill of excitement and national pride when the games come.
    Russia, the next site for the Olympic Winter Games in 2014, is committing some horrible human rights violations. We cannot turn a blind eye to the plight of not only Russian citizens, but those citizens of other nations that are endangered by the anti-LGBT laws that have been created in this part of the world. We need to stand up and put pressure on them to change.
    This not intended to punish the athletes who have worked hard for this opportunity. It is our hope that all Olympians will stand with us and speak out against these violations, and let the world know that we cannot in good conscience Stand by and allow such atrocities, stand with us, be proud.

    To sign the petition click here

  • First Study Of HIV Among Gay Men and Prostitutes in Russia

    Despite cutting the budget for Aids prevention in half this year, the Russia government has announced it is to launch a study on the spread of HIV among gay people and prostitutes.

    • Russian Government cut AIDS prevention budget from $12m (£7.9m) to $6m (£3.9m) this year
    • Around 703,000 as of November 2012 people are infected with HIV in Russia.
    • 83% of HIV infections were registered among injecting drug users.

    The Moscow Times is reporting that the Russian government is to conduct the first ever study of HIV among gay people and prostitutes

    The study will be conducted by the Federal Scientific Center for the Prevention and the Fight Against AIDS.

    Vadim Pokrovsky states that the research on the spread of HIV through the gay community has been ‘difficult’ because ‘the group is not legally defined.’

    The study would cost several million Russian Roubles and would be conducted through polling and testing in various regions.

    This year the budget for AIDS prevention was slashed in half from $12m to $6m – the Moscow Times reports apparently for ‘ideological reasons.’