Controversy Over New Gay Shop Opposite Moscow Duma
09/02/2006
Submitted by
Nikolay Alekseev, Human Rights LGBT Project GayRussia.ru
Controversy Over New Gay Shop Opposite Moscow Duma
Moscow Duma deputy said shops for gays and lesbians are needed in the city but not in front of official buildings
Moscow Duma deputy Evgeniy Bunimovich started controversy over new gay shop in Moscow
MOSCOW, November 9, 2005 – A Russian politician has publicly criticised the opening of a gay and lesbian shop in Moscow. Not because it is a shop catering to the gay community, but because it is situated opposite the Duma (Parliament) building.
Eugeniy Bunimovich, a member of the Duma, replying to a question at a press conference yesterday said that “shops for gays and lesbians are needed in such a big city as Moscow”. But he questioned if they should be “in front of official buildings” such as the Duma.
The shop, Indigo, opened last week and is an offshoot of a highly successful on-line shop that has been operating for seven year.
Moscow has a number of gay businesses, including bars, clubs and saunas which have been operating without problems for many years.
Indigo is operated by gay entrepreneur Ed Mishin, who came to the attention of the world when he applied at a Moscow marriage registration office to marry another man. The registration was rejected.
As Pravda reported at the time, this was not to be a gay marriage, but a marriage of two persons of the same sex – the other partner was a heterosexual man, politician Edward Murzin, who told Pravda: “Ed Mishin and I have different sexual orientations, but the goal of our action is to amend the Russian law for the benefit of those people who are referred to as sexual minorities.”
In addition to running his retail business, Mishin is the editor in chief of the Russian Queer Magazine and runs the website Gay.ru.
Yet when six months ago a Gay Pride was announced for Moscow next year, Mishin attacked the move as “a provocation”.
Nikolai Alekseev, one of the organizers of the LGBT Pride festival and head of Project GayRussia.Ru, questioned yesterday whether the opening of a gay shop opposite the Duma was an even bigger provocation.
“We denounce the statements by the Moscow Duma deputy concerning the location of the shop for gays and lesbians,” Alekseev said. “It clearly suggests creating special ghettos for sexual minorities.
“But at the same time we are surprised by the controversies in Ed Mishin’s position. Calling the Pride a provocation, he is now doing something which can be perceived by the authorities as a much bigger provocation.”
Alekseev added that the main aim of Project GayRussia.Ru was to fight for LGBT rights in Russia.
“From the very first day we announced plans for Moscow Pride we have been convinced that it will help to promote tolerance towards gays and lesbians in this country,” he said.
While Yuri Luzhkov, the Mayor of Moscow, vowed in July that he would ban the Pride parade, it appears that he might be having second thoughts. By mid-September, following the trouble Prides in Warsaw and Riga which attracted considerable support from the European Union politicians, the Mayor’s office showed signs of a shift in opinion.
Position of Russian President Vladimir Putin on the situation of gays and lesbian has not been reported in the media. The Kremlin remains discreet on this question
But at the same time Russian leader has never made any remarks that can be considered as homophobic.
Russia, being a member of the Council of Europe is obliged to respect the rights of sexual minorities.
But the opening of what might be considered a gay sex shop on Petrovka Street opposite the Duma – and a stone’s throw from the Moscow Criminal Investigation Department building is perhaps something of a provocation.
What would be the reaction of British MPs if such shop was open in front of the Houses of Parliament in London? Or of American senators with a similar retail outlet opposite Capitol Hill in Washington?
www.gayrussia.ru/en
Moscow Duma deputy said shops for gays and lesbians are needed in the city but not in front of official buildings
Moscow Duma deputy Evgeniy Bunimovich started controversy over new gay shop in Moscow
MOSCOW, November 9, 2005 – A Russian politician has publicly criticised the opening of a gay and lesbian shop in Moscow. Not because it is a shop catering to the gay community, but because it is situated opposite the Duma (Parliament) building.
Eugeniy Bunimovich, a member of the Duma, replying to a question at a press conference yesterday said that “shops for gays and lesbians are needed in such a big city as Moscow”. But he questioned if they should be “in front of official buildings” such as the Duma.
The shop, Indigo, opened last week and is an offshoot of a highly successful on-line shop that has been operating for seven year.
Moscow has a number of gay businesses, including bars, clubs and saunas which have been operating without problems for many years.
Indigo is operated by gay entrepreneur Ed Mishin, who came to the attention of the world when he applied at a Moscow marriage registration office to marry another man. The registration was rejected.
As Pravda reported at the time, this was not to be a gay marriage, but a marriage of two persons of the same sex – the other partner was a heterosexual man, politician Edward Murzin, who told Pravda: “Ed Mishin and I have different sexual orientations, but the goal of our action is to amend the Russian law for the benefit of those people who are referred to as sexual minorities.”
In addition to running his retail business, Mishin is the editor in chief of the Russian Queer Magazine and runs the website Gay.ru.
Yet when six months ago a Gay Pride was announced for Moscow next year, Mishin attacked the move as “a provocation”.
Nikolai Alekseev, one of the organizers of the LGBT Pride festival and head of Project GayRussia.Ru, questioned yesterday whether the opening of a gay shop opposite the Duma was an even bigger provocation.
“We denounce the statements by the Moscow Duma deputy concerning the location of the shop for gays and lesbians,” Alekseev said. “It clearly suggests creating special ghettos for sexual minorities.
“But at the same time we are surprised by the controversies in Ed Mishin’s position. Calling the Pride a provocation, he is now doing something which can be perceived by the authorities as a much bigger provocation.”
Alekseev added that the main aim of Project GayRussia.Ru was to fight for LGBT rights in Russia.
“From the very first day we announced plans for Moscow Pride we have been convinced that it will help to promote tolerance towards gays and lesbians in this country,” he said.
While Yuri Luzhkov, the Mayor of Moscow, vowed in July that he would ban the Pride parade, it appears that he might be having second thoughts. By mid-September, following the trouble Prides in Warsaw and Riga which attracted considerable support from the European Union politicians, the Mayor’s office showed signs of a shift in opinion.
Position of Russian President Vladimir Putin on the situation of gays and lesbian has not been reported in the media. The Kremlin remains discreet on this question
But at the same time Russian leader has never made any remarks that can be considered as homophobic.
Russia, being a member of the Council of Europe is obliged to respect the rights of sexual minorities.
But the opening of what might be considered a gay sex shop on Petrovka Street opposite the Duma – and a stone’s throw from the Moscow Criminal Investigation Department building is perhaps something of a provocation.
What would be the reaction of British MPs if such shop was open in front of the Houses of Parliament in London? Or of American senators with a similar retail outlet opposite Capitol Hill in Washington?
www.gayrussia.ru/en
