March of Minsk Gay Pride 2011 will take place on 10 September
06/05/2011
Submitted by
Viachaslau Bortnik, Volunteers without Borders
The Organizing Committee of the seventh Minsk Pride confirmed concrete dates of festival events in support of a tolerant attitude towards gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people in Belarus. The festival will be held in Minsk from 30 August to 12 September. Public action of the festival in support of equal rights will be held on 10 September along with festive activities of the City Day.
"Through the Gay Pride public action at the City Day, we want to show that our action, contrary to the opinion of many, is no vulgar than other holiday events in the Belarusian capital. If the authorities will not impede the Minsk Gay Pride, Minsk residents and guests will be able to break many of their stereotypes about gays and lesbians, as well as relax and spend time with interest in the activities of the Minsk Gay Pride 2011," said the organizer of the Minsk Pride and Head of GayBelarus Human Rights LGBT Project Siarhei Androsenka.
Wide press conference about the life of homosexuals in Belarus, film screenings, seminars, workshops, parties, exhibitions, 6th national LGBT conference, final of Mr. Gay Belarus contest will be held as a part of the Minsk Gay Pride 2011.
The organizers of the Minsk Gay Pride are a human rights project GayBelarus, almost all LGBT organizations in Belarus - The Gay Alliance of Belarus, Labrys, Volunteers Without Borders. Festival organizers expect NGO sector and political parties will be more active in organizing activities against homophobia and xenophobia in the Belarusian capital before the conduction of the Minsk Gay Pride.
It is worth noting that the Minsk Gay Pride 2011 will take place against the background when the United Nations recommended the Republic of Belarus to include representatives of the LGBT community in the decision making process at the state level and improve the visibility of LGBT people in Belarus.
The Organizing Committee of the Minsk Pride is already working on organizing activities of the Minsk Pride and registration of foreign participants. Minsk Pride is planning to visit the guests from Europe, CIS, and America.
"Undoubtedly, the Minsk Gay Pride will be a major human rights activities in Belarus and effect of it also depends on the Belarusians themselves, and the Belarusian authorities. We urge the authorities to protect and preserve the activities of the Minsk Pride from the radical fascists and religious groups," said a press release from the organizing committee of the Minsk Gay Pride.
Recall that the activities of the Slavic Pride 2010 was held in Minsk from 14 to 17 of May, and some activities are faced homophobic resistance from football fans and right-wing radicals, a public action on May 15 was dispersed by riot police, as a result 12 people were arrested, five of them for three hours and seven for two days.
Minsk Gay Pride 2011 will take place under the slogan "Love! Freedom!Change!", ridiculing the homophobia of the youth organization "Young Front", that disallowed gay activists to participate in "Young Front" action at the St. Valentine's day.
"Our festival has no political overtones, we advocate for equal rights and opportunities for all people, we stand for tolerance and diversity," said the organizer of the Minsk Pride Siarhei Androsenka.
"Through the Gay Pride public action at the City Day, we want to show that our action, contrary to the opinion of many, is no vulgar than other holiday events in the Belarusian capital. If the authorities will not impede the Minsk Gay Pride, Minsk residents and guests will be able to break many of their stereotypes about gays and lesbians, as well as relax and spend time with interest in the activities of the Minsk Gay Pride 2011," said the organizer of the Minsk Pride and Head of GayBelarus Human Rights LGBT Project Siarhei Androsenka.
Wide press conference about the life of homosexuals in Belarus, film screenings, seminars, workshops, parties, exhibitions, 6th national LGBT conference, final of Mr. Gay Belarus contest will be held as a part of the Minsk Gay Pride 2011.
The organizers of the Minsk Gay Pride are a human rights project GayBelarus, almost all LGBT organizations in Belarus - The Gay Alliance of Belarus, Labrys, Volunteers Without Borders. Festival organizers expect NGO sector and political parties will be more active in organizing activities against homophobia and xenophobia in the Belarusian capital before the conduction of the Minsk Gay Pride.
It is worth noting that the Minsk Gay Pride 2011 will take place against the background when the United Nations recommended the Republic of Belarus to include representatives of the LGBT community in the decision making process at the state level and improve the visibility of LGBT people in Belarus.
The Organizing Committee of the Minsk Pride is already working on organizing activities of the Minsk Pride and registration of foreign participants. Minsk Pride is planning to visit the guests from Europe, CIS, and America.
"Undoubtedly, the Minsk Gay Pride will be a major human rights activities in Belarus and effect of it also depends on the Belarusians themselves, and the Belarusian authorities. We urge the authorities to protect and preserve the activities of the Minsk Pride from the radical fascists and religious groups," said a press release from the organizing committee of the Minsk Gay Pride.
Recall that the activities of the Slavic Pride 2010 was held in Minsk from 14 to 17 of May, and some activities are faced homophobic resistance from football fans and right-wing radicals, a public action on May 15 was dispersed by riot police, as a result 12 people were arrested, five of them for three hours and seven for two days.
Minsk Gay Pride 2011 will take place under the slogan "Love! Freedom!Change!", ridiculing the homophobia of the youth organization "Young Front", that disallowed gay activists to participate in "Young Front" action at the St. Valentine's day.
"Our festival has no political overtones, we advocate for equal rights and opportunities for all people, we stand for tolerance and diversity," said the organizer of the Minsk Pride Siarhei Androsenka.
