Gay Rainbow Flags In Moscow’s Famous Lubyanka Square
19/12/2005
Submitted by
Nikolay Alekseev, Human Rights LGBT Project GayRussia.ru
Russian Gays Join Anti-Fascist Demonstration
Photo gallery : http://www.gayrussia.ru/lgbt/gallery/section.php?&SECTION_ID=320
MOSCOW, December 18, 2005 (GayRussia.ru wire) – Twenty years ago it would have been an absurd dream: a thousand protesting activists on the streets of Moscow and then congregating in Lubyanka Square, which is dominated by the building that once held the KGB.
And among the demonstrators, who were protesting the growing spread of fascist ideology and practice in contemporary Russia, were two dozen gay activists.
One of the participants of the march was Nikolai Alekseev who expressed his delight with the courage and unification of gays and lesbians who came in this cold and slushy weather to the very heart of Moscow.
“I can only say thanks to those 20 gays and lesbians who were not afraid to come on the streets and express their protest against the spread of nationalism, xenophobia, fascism and homophobia”.
During all the march, other participants expressed only positive and happy emotions towards representatives of LGBT community. There were no incidents.
The collective action of Russian gays during the anti fascist march was, in many ways, a rehearsal for the first ever gay pride parade in Moscow to be held in May next year.
“I am convinced that our unity on Sunday will inspire many people and will demonstrate that sexual minorities can fight for their rights and express their views in the public form,” commented gay activist Nikolai Baev, a member of the organising group of Moscow International LGBT festival.
“The era of closets and fear came to an end. There starts a new stage of openness and gathering together of the Russian gay community”.
And it was symbolic that the end of the Russian ‘gay closet’ was marked in Lubyanka Square.
“It showed that LGBT people are an equal part of the Russian society and we also react to the events happening in the society,” said Alekseev.
“I must admit that today I felt proud of Russia, showed it is tolerant towards diversity. I was proud to be part of this march and part of this society”.
Prior to the march, some gay sites in Russia were questioning whether gays would take part in an anti fascist march in the Russian capital. But many Moscow gays and lesbians could not miss this event and they came this day to express their active civil position.
None of the gays and lesbians present during the march in Moscow concealed his or her face. Everyone was ready to be on the photos and demonstrate their solidarity.
“Who would have thought that one day a gay rainbow flag would be waving in Lubyanka Square?
http://www.gayrussia.ru/en
Nikolai Alekseev, Human Rights LGBT Project GayRussia.ru
Photo gallery : http://www.gayrussia.ru/lgbt/gallery/section.php?&SECTION_ID=320
MOSCOW, December 18, 2005 (GayRussia.ru wire) – Twenty years ago it would have been an absurd dream: a thousand protesting activists on the streets of Moscow and then congregating in Lubyanka Square, which is dominated by the building that once held the KGB.
And among the demonstrators, who were protesting the growing spread of fascist ideology and practice in contemporary Russia, were two dozen gay activists.
One of the participants of the march was Nikolai Alekseev who expressed his delight with the courage and unification of gays and lesbians who came in this cold and slushy weather to the very heart of Moscow.
“I can only say thanks to those 20 gays and lesbians who were not afraid to come on the streets and express their protest against the spread of nationalism, xenophobia, fascism and homophobia”.
During all the march, other participants expressed only positive and happy emotions towards representatives of LGBT community. There were no incidents.
The collective action of Russian gays during the anti fascist march was, in many ways, a rehearsal for the first ever gay pride parade in Moscow to be held in May next year.
“I am convinced that our unity on Sunday will inspire many people and will demonstrate that sexual minorities can fight for their rights and express their views in the public form,” commented gay activist Nikolai Baev, a member of the organising group of Moscow International LGBT festival.
“The era of closets and fear came to an end. There starts a new stage of openness and gathering together of the Russian gay community”.
And it was symbolic that the end of the Russian ‘gay closet’ was marked in Lubyanka Square.
“It showed that LGBT people are an equal part of the Russian society and we also react to the events happening in the society,” said Alekseev.
“I must admit that today I felt proud of Russia, showed it is tolerant towards diversity. I was proud to be part of this march and part of this society”.
Prior to the march, some gay sites in Russia were questioning whether gays would take part in an anti fascist march in the Russian capital. But many Moscow gays and lesbians could not miss this event and they came this day to express their active civil position.
None of the gays and lesbians present during the march in Moscow concealed his or her face. Everyone was ready to be on the photos and demonstrate their solidarity.
“Who would have thought that one day a gay rainbow flag would be waving in Lubyanka Square?
http://www.gayrussia.ru/en
Nikolai Alekseev, Human Rights LGBT Project GayRussia.ru
