Rainbow flag is illegal in Belarus
02/07/2011
Submitted by
Viachaslau Bortnik, Volunteers without Borders
On May 4, 2011 an activist from IDAHO Belarus, Sergey Pradzed, sent a written application to the Belarusian Ministry of Justice asking for official permission to use the rainbow flag as an International symbol of the LGBT community at public actions.
Recently, Pradzed received a 3-page response which didn't comment specifically on the use of the rainbow flag but asserted that no unregistered symbols could be used at public actions.
The major portion of the response is structured as a guide for political parties, NGOs and associations on registering official heraldic symbols. In the initial application, Pradzed pointed out that the rainbow flag is an International symbol but that fact was ignored. This serves as an additional reminder about the unwillingness of te government to engage in dialogue or to provide any support to the LGBT movement.
Recently, Pradzed received a 3-page response which didn't comment specifically on the use of the rainbow flag but asserted that no unregistered symbols could be used at public actions.
The major portion of the response is structured as a guide for political parties, NGOs and associations on registering official heraldic symbols. In the initial application, Pradzed pointed out that the rainbow flag is an International symbol but that fact was ignored. This serves as an additional reminder about the unwillingness of te government to engage in dialogue or to provide any support to the LGBT movement.
