ILGA-Europe’s Statement on a law on prohibition of the so-called propaganda of 'sodomy, lesbianism, bisexualism and transgenderism, and paedophilia to minors' and introduction of administrative offense adopted by St. Petersburg’s Legislative Assembly in second reading on 8 February 2012

ILGA-Europe’s Statement on a draft law on prohibition of the so-called propaganda of 'sodomy, lesbianism, bisexualism and transgenderism, and paedophilia to minors' and introduction of administrative offense proposed by St. Petersburg’s Legislative Assembly on 11 November 2011.

During the 14th Annual Conference of ILGA-Europe in The Hague, the delegates adopted a declaration on a homophobic/transphobic attack in Russia.

Nikolai Alekseev, organiser of Moscow Pride and prominent Russian LGBTI human rights defender, is free

ILGA-Europe is seriously concerned with the ongoing harassment of LGBTI human rights defenders in Russia.

16-25 September 2010, the International Queer Culture Festival takes place in St. Petersburg, Russia, with the slogan The Art of Being Yourself in Russia. This year the festival got prominent international and national support, and the organisers are hoping for another successful festival.

Excerpts from the discussion relating directly to LBT Women.

The Russian Side-by-Side LGBT Festival (7th - 11th July) in Archenglsk was effectively banned as a result of pressure from regional and City administration. A Moscow District Court upheld the refusal to register an NGO advocating for marriage equality for same sex unions as this might call for a change in existing Russian legislation.

Statement from Commissioner for Human Rights, Thomas Hammarberg:

Gay pride events planned this spring have met with obstacles yet again. Meetings and marches to promote equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons have been banned or subject to threats and violence in Moscow, Bratislava, Vilnius and Chisinau.

Public debate on whether or not to allow gay prides in Russia is currently going on in newspapers, blogs and TV-channels.

More than 1000 people showed their solidarity with lesbians, gays, bisexual and transgender people in 34 Russian cities in as far as Vladivostok or Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky on the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO).

Reporting and monitoring are crucial to raise awareness within national and European institutions, among law enforcement officers and the public. Hence, developing a reporting and monitoring strategy is a prerequisite for an efficient advocacy to call on policy makers to adopt laws and implement policies against violence.

Detailed account of the events by ILGA-Europe and other relevant documents

Thirty nine people have been arrested in Moscow after protesting outside a gay nightclub on Monday.

MDAC successfully challenges Russian state denial of employment on basis of homosexuality classified as “mental disorder”