Rudolph Nureev Street to be in the capital of Bashkortostan - Ufa

Deputies of the Ufa City Council have finally adopted a decision to call one of the streets of the capital of Bashkortostan in the name of the prominent ballet performer Rudolph Nureev.
The City authorities for the first time tabled such an initiative in spring 2006. Since then all the necessary procedures have been taken, including the discussion of the issue among Ufa's residents. This decision made especially happy Edward Murzin, a politician, fighter for the rights of LGBT people, former deputy of the National Assembly of Bashkortostan. In an interview for Gay.ru E.Murzin said that "it was remarkable that people had not forgotten a genius dancer Rudolph Nureev" and reminded about his last year's initiative to set up the Nureev statue. "This issue is being discussed for a long time and for certain reasons related to Nureev's homosexuality has been moved aside by City mayors. I can only welcome the fact that Pavel Kachkaev, the present mayor of Ufa is a man of broad views",- added E.Murzin.
It would be recalled that Rudolph Nureev who in 1962 made his famous "jump towards the freedom" was outlawed and deprived of the Soviet citizenship. He was fully exonerated only in the mid 90's.
Among the reasons for his "escape" probably was the homosexuality of the dancer. During his long term visit to Berlin festival Nureev had his first gay love-affair, that lasted for a short time, with "a very sweet and nice boy". "So, the aforementioned jump, made less than in a year, was aimed not only to get creative independence but also to have free love and sex", - tells Vladimir Kirsanov in his book "69. Russian LGBT people", printed in 2005.
Translated by Yerdna Bananes

http://english.gay.ru/news/rainbow/2008/08/10-13638.htm

Belarus Getting Better For Gays?

It is not a surprise that before elections of deputies of the House of Representatives of National assembly in Belarus politicians started to talk about rights of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transsexuals.
The Belarus party for enviroment(BPE) relies on serious cooperation with LGTB activists. Leaders of BPE plan to discuss with gay activists the idea of creating LGTB committee in the party, Gayby.org says. Discussions of the topic has just passed in Minsk.
Belarus remains the country where LGTB groups have serious problems (and sometimes even direct resistance of authorities) in their work. However in 2008 the situation started to change for better. New LGTB groups as well as gay media were created. Belorussians got access to Russian gay web sites.
One of Belorussian gay organisations proclaimed its plans to organise a gay festival in Minsk in Autumn of 2008. It should be reminded that such events were rigidly stopped by the authorities during last years.

Gay.ru,

http://english.gay.ru/news/rainbow/2008/08/06-13614.htm

The 6th Gay&lesbian Festival To Be Held In Omsk Under 'The Year Of The Family' Sign

The 6th Siberian Gay&lesbian Festival will start tomorrow near the city of Omsk.
Meetings with old and new friends, games, competitions, art and sport events, kebab-cooking, disco under the sky are to be organised for participants during two days of the festival.
The festival is traditionally held in tent camping with a picturesque view. The organisers of the festival are especially glad for same-sex-copuples participants because of The year of the family in Russia.
The organisers of the festival are LGTB association "Favorit", project "Pulsar" and gay night party "At Sergey's".

http://english.gay.ru/news/rainbow/2008/07/18-13515.htm

The 1st Rockin' Girlz Festival soon in Moscow

On July 31st in Moscow will be held the first "Rockin' Girlz" women rock festival in PLAN B Club. It's motto: "The Day of African Woman".

According to its organizers, this festival gathers together under its aegis different music bands that have more than once already performed in Moscow's clubs. Only the most talented and exciting girls are selected for the performance. Kaffein, MirT, Katya Chikvina (on foto) and many other performers have passed the casting. All of them will perform rock music, however every music team is very likely to add its unique individuality and spirit.
The motto "The Day of African Woman" is chosen not by an accident. Internationally, the 31st of July is a Day of African Woman. African theme will be heard in sounds of the drums and also girls from the music studio "The Voice of Africa" are scheduled to perform at this festival.
The organizers are saying that "there is still a scanty number of really popular and recognised women rock groups around the world" and have serious intention to shift this situation.
For any information please contact Elena Kalinichenko (e-mail: kalina__05@mail.ru, cell phone +7 926 563 9741).

http://english.gay.ru/news/rainbow/2008/07/15-13483.htm

Berlinale extends LGBT Film Festival in St. Petersburg

Gay.Ru was informed that The Berlin International Festival probably will support Russia's First International LGBT Film Festival "Bok-o-bok" in St. Petersburg.
Organizers of this film festival met with active resistance of religious homophobes in the film industry of St. Petersburg. As a result, the plan of the festival was subjected to the public dishonor in mass media. Nevertheless a new venue for the festival is already defined. It will be one of the best cinemas in the “Northern Palmyra”. Festival has got the first international sponsors who support gay cultural projects worldwide.
Contest program is defined. As it turned out, program can be well represented and it can even argue with Moscow International Film festival. All films have already been marked by major film festivals of Class A. Even Oscar holders are in the list. Several directors crowned with laurels have confirmed their participation in the festival.
The festival "Bok-o-bok" is still needed the support of patrons. Serious sponsorship could be discussed with its organizers and volunteers can write volunteers@bok-o-bok.ru .

http://english.gay.ru/news/rainbow/2008/07/14-13485.htm

Chairman of the Union of journalists of Russia: television advertieses homosexual marriages

Chairman of the Union of journalists of Russia Vsevolod Bogdanov believes that TV "advertises homosexual marriages". He declared it during an interview for conservative "Literarurnaya gazeta" while answering a question regarding the attitude to family values in Russia.
"I think that family values must not be changed just as Bible trues cannot be changed...", said Bogdanov. "Although we try to overtake it sometimes which is for example what now TV does, advertising homosexual marriages, showing how envy or evil can be attractive..."
It is remarkable that it was only Bogdanov (out of six known scientists and artists) who attacked homosexuals in his speech. It is easy to find homophoby - slightly softened by using conditional sentence - in Bogdanov's line: homosexual marrige, envy, evil.. As easy as in the formula of "propaganda" of clericals and nazis that are so miserable in their hate to people of different sexual orientation.
The embarassing point is that this opinion belongs to the leader of a big public organisation - The union of journalists while such a profession is about destroying myths - not establishing them.
Homosexuals in Russia lack the right to create family, to give birth to children and grow them. But it does not prevent homophobic and clerical groups of accusing LGTB society in hardly all the problems of demography.

English.gay.ru

Celebrating 5 years behind. Kvir magazine prints the 60th issue.

The 60th (jubilee) number of the most popular Russian LGBT periodical "Kvir" ("Queer") has been published early this month. In September 2008 "Kvir" celebrates its fifth anniversary!
We would like to remind you that the pilot issue of "Kvir" came out in August 2003, while the next issue was on sale in all Moscow's gay clubs only one month later.
The charity foundation "Together" was the publisher. According to the data obtained from the Russian Union of the Press Distributors, in just a year, being freely distributed via general distribution networks, in 2005 and 2007 the magazine succeeded to outrun several times in sales such glossy press brands as "The GQ" and others. Entire pages of the British "The Times", "The Independent" and Italian "La Repubblica" were dedicated to the first Russian gay glossy magazine.
"Had I known what difficulties I were to face, I would have never published "Kvir", says Ed Mishin, its publisher. "It was a huge scope of work, finance and other hardships. I had to be up against a blank wall... Just imagine, we bring the magazine to distributors, but they say: "We won't put it on sale". Even incentives were not accepted". On the Russian market there's a number of companies, some of them are being known as the key players in this sector of the market, declaring that they do not want to deal with gay-related editions". "It is of no importance for us that your magazine is not an erotic one and that you have for every edition of your periodical the official resolution of the Experts Council stating that "Kvir" is a good, correct periodical and can be distributed freely."
Later Ed Mishin was in general satisfied how things were going with the "Kvir". "New authors want to work with us. Well known journalists, not only gay, quite easily agree to work in our team. And I think that with the authors it would be somewhat easier (to work with). But from the general point of view on the project as a whole, certainly, it is still very difficult because even now we have to bend much effort to jump over hurdles...".
Gennady Trifonov, a writer and a poet from Saint-Petersburg, reflects, "It would be a serious mistake to consider that "Kvir" popularizes homosexuality in a meaning that homophobes and other people with evident mental deviations are used to know. I work with the "Kvir" since 2005 and I can confirm how seriously the articles, sent to the editorial from various authors that dream of being published in it, are selected and approved for printing. A serious barrier is given by the Editorial to any platitude, scabrousness, cheap sensations and demi-monde gossips. I think, the best publications of "Kvir" are subordinated to the Hellenic paedagogical Eros and published here verses, prose and pamphletes are permeated with the air of Antiquity - the Golden time of Humanity. That's why I refused the proposals to publish with from other russian magazines even for a good sum of money. Even in the "Kontinent" ("Continent") I do not show up for a long time. What for? The reader of the "Kvir" is my near, dear and understanding friend.
KVIR project page (in English) >>
Buy KVIR Magazine (in Russian) >>
Translation by Yerdna Bananes

http://english.gay.ru/news/rainbow/2008/07/02-13433.htm

Bishop would not admit same sex marriage in Russia

One of the high ranking officials of the Russian Orthodox Church promised not to allow same-sex marriages in Russia
During the Bishops' Council of the Russian Orthodox Church held on June 24th - 29th in Moscow the issue of the "human rights in orthodox understanding" is most likely to be on the agenda of the Council.

Today during the press-conference at Russian Information Agency RIA "Novosti" his Holiness Theophan - the bishop of Stavropol and Caucasus region, stated that the Russian Orthodox Church would speak in support of the understang of the human rights from religious point of view only. The Russian Church will affect the development of the legal institutes in Russia inscribing its understanding within the frameworks of the orthodox ideology.

In particular Rev. Theophan said that the Russian Orthodox Church "would never admit same-sex marriage". "It is the firm position of the Church and it can not be shifted or altered", - he stressed, saying that "the major right of the man, given to him by God, is the right not to admit morally the destruction of the personality and the society in general".

In recent years the Russian Orthodox Church's activities were one of the homophobia provoking factors. We would like to remind that the results of the polls taken by Gay.ru earlier this year showed: 30 per cent of the LGBT peolpe in Russia consider the Orthodox Church one of the major source of homophobia.

http://english.gay.ru/news/rainbow/2008/06/23-13366.htm

Give me a smile (action for helping children)

On June 15 activists of LGBT Rights visited again hospital with children who have oncology sickness. This time there were children at hospital who don't have an opportunity to leave for holidays home, and they have to stay in their wards for these days.


We were honoured to have the attention of the Moscow Regional State Theatre of Dolls. The honoured actress of Russia, Martyanova Lyudmila Ananevna, has brought and showed to children her remarkable doll performance "Princess on a pea". Children were delighted from it and from Lyudmila Ananevny, unfortunately, they infrequently manage to see such show. They joyfully clapped, their eyes shone with joy , and for children's mothers it is the most important thing when they see their children happy and smiling.

Our activists gave some presents to the children and a lot of balloons, children were glad, smiling they sung and play the guitar together with us.

Exhausted by constant treatment, chemotherapy and various medical preparations, new impressions and emotions are necessary to children, the attention and support of adults is necessary for them, finally, they need comprehension of the happy unlimited childhood, even for a moment. It was important to us to see pleasure in children's eyes and smiles on their faces.

It was our second visit, but, not the last, we will try to use any opportunity to come to this hospital and to give a maximum of time children who need it. We won't remain indifferent for the small patients. We express a big gratitude to Martjanova Lyudmila Ananevna for remarkable performance, and also we want to express gratitude to all our activists for the help in rendering all the preparations and for carrying out this action.

P.S.: If you have a wish to help children-join us! Children are happy from your attention. from toys and your sympathy. contact briest@lgbtrights.ru

http://lgbtrights.ru

15 years ago the prosecution of gay people was lifted in Russia

15 years ago, on May 27, 1993, The Criminal Code in Russia was adjusted. Voluntary homosexual relations between men were decriminalized. Criminal penalties for gay relations were abolished.

The fate of many thousands of people was affected according to the Article #121 - Igor Kon writes in his book "Moonlight at dawn. Faces and Masks same-love".

In the 1930s to the 1980s every year about 1000 men were condemned and sent to prison. In the end of 1980s the number of condemned was reduced. According to the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation, in 1989 under article 121 in Russia were sentenced 538 people, in 1990 – 497 men, in 1991 – 462 men, in the first half of 1992 - 227 people.

This event happened in Russia in early 1993 was described by Vladimir Kirsanov in his book "69 Russian gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender.": "When Russia abolished article # 121, it was a surprise for all who deal with criminal law in Russia. Article abolished in a large package ..."

There were so many corrections that they were approved in those days by experts, as they say, without looking at them. So the amendment about the repeal for the punishment of “sodomy” went through several instances and finally adopted by the Supreme Council of the Russian Federation, together with other amendments.

The adoption of this amendment was almost not noticed. The document has emerged among the others printed in small font in Russian newspaper "Rossiyskaya Gazeta."

In spring 1993, Masha Gessen received a small grant to travel to Russia and to address the issue of the release of these people. The large list of prisoners was received from Valery Klimov, a human rights defender from Nizhny Tagil. It was relevant to the rehabilitation of gay men who were imprisoned, as well as all those who have been subjected to homosexual abuse in detention.

In Russia Gessen immediately sent telegrams to all the colonies and prisons, where, according to that list, people were convicted on the Article 121. As a result, it became clear that much of that data was obsolete or not correct.

"Distribution of telegrams, where information had been consistent with reality, had had a positive effect ...", - remembers Gessen.

english.gay.ru

Announcement connecting Alekseev's attempts of proving his innocence

In connection with distributed information by Mr. Alekseev disconsidering me and movement LGTB rights I should declare the following.

The information I wrote in mass-media on June, 5th corresponds to the validity and there are available enough proofs and witnesses. We are ready for the hearing if it will take place.
It was interesting for me to hear about his application, that I and LGBT Rights cooperate with
"The extremely left and extremist organizations whose basis of activity are violent methods of struggle» To me it is not clear why if it so, he has not declared what are these organizations. I shall add that now I get phone calls with threats in my address from his "followers", and they threatened Revin Vyacheslav Revin through the Internet massager.

Also I wish to tell about events on February, 14th when according to Alekseev " the organization of Mrs. Nechaevoj has lost any support after she personally took part in beating opponents of gays on February, 14th this year in Kamergerskii lane in Moscow. As a result those who were beaten have received wounds and have been delivered to hospital. Besides during not authorized action organized by Mrs. Nechaevoj on February, 14th, one of active formers of antifascist movement has been wounded seriously ".

It is not in competence of Alekseev to reproach me with not authorized actions as I can remind him not any of his public action has not been authorized. As he declared before June, 1st «I act on the basis of the constitution”.

Probably Alekseev considers that only he can lead out people on public actions on the basis of the constitution, the others in his opinion are only participants of the "not authorized" harmful actions. I shall add that events in Kamergerskii lane, on February, 14th are just a provocation of fascists. They saw us, and in the end of procession tried to cry out nationalist slogans.

Naturally part of anti-fascists, unfortunately, has given on this provocation. And I can present more than 300 witnesses that personally I didn’t take part in this incident, moreover I insisted on stopping them, and I call for the doctor for the victim. I shall notice that movement of anti-fascists which has come to protect gays and lesbians from nationalists has neither to LGTB in general nor to movement of LGBT Rights, not to me personally any complaints in occasion of the wounded guy of the representative of antifa-movement.

Moreover our movement participated in gathering money for the victim. By the way that never will make Alekseev, and events of 2007 have shown that. Then has suffered more than ten gays and lesbians, and he has not helped them neither morally, nor material (some people could not work, and some people lost their house and work). Also he has not supported them in court.

That fact that mister Alekseev has decided to name me a transgender Nechaev Noir on his site and in mass-media as a female tells only about his inner bias to people similar to me and about his internal homophobia. It would be desirable to know, how after all this he will look in the face that transgenders and transsexuals who have supported him on pride 2007 including ex - deputy of the Italian parliament madam Luskurii. I am at loss of how can he name himself the defender for the rights of LGTB-community after all that his acts and words.

lgbtrights.ru

Gay activist accuses Moscow gay parade organizer in a series of provocations

Moscow, June 6, Interfax - One of the Russia's gay-movement activists accused organizer of Moscow gay parade organizer Nikolay Alexeyev in provocative actions.

"The GayRussia movement headed by Alexeyev turns from a human rights center to an extremist fanatic company," chief editor of the LGBT Rights website Nuar Nechayev writes in his article Nikolay Alexeyev: human rights advocate or extremists?

Nechayev gives a detailed description of Alexeyev's provocative, as he believes, behavior in the conflict with the former State Duma MP Alexander Chuyev kindled after K baryeru (To the Barrier) program broadcasted by NTV.

The author claims that Alexeyev's another "victim" is "a LGBT coryphaeus in Russia" and founder of the Gay.ru website Eduard Mishin who together with other representatives of sex minorities spoke against gay parade in 2006. According to Nechayev, in revenge Alexeyev tried to "discredit" Mishin all through year 2007 and once even decided to intimidate the latter and chocked the Indigo shop belonging to Mishin with homophobic slogans.

"Now Mr. Alexeyev has chosen a new victim, Boris Moiseyev, whom he accuses in all the LGBT troubles. This new chase may have unpredictable results, Nechayev said.

Both gay singer Moiseyev and Mishin don't approve of Moscow gay parade activists' insistence on conducting the action in the Russian capital despite the protests of society and authorities.

Finally, Nechayev asks Moscow mayor Yury Luzhkov not to consider Alexeyev's "personal dislike" as "absolute antagonism of multimillion representatives of this (LGBT - IF) community against Yury Luzhkov's personality."

In conclusion, he addresses mayors of London, Berlin, Paris and San Paolo and staff members of foreign embassies "who communicate with Nikolay Alexeyev," foreign LGBT organizations and deputies of the European Parliament.

"We don't doubt your sincerity when you back up the idea of gay emancipation in Russia. But please, believe me, end doesn't justify means and the person you trust is extremely promiscuous in his means. All the facts, I have cited, are not solitary. You have to think over the person you trust," Nechayev said.

www.interfax.com/

Ukraine. Gays and lesbians call to support children's homes

The idea to organize actions to support the children's homes by gays and lesbians was given and realized in Russia by writer Liya Kirgetova. This idea has found the support in Ukraine.

Lgbt.in.ua informs: On May, 17th, 2008 in the International day against homophobia, the initiative group of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgenders of Dnepropetrovsk is meant to give the help to pupils in children's homes, as well as to children's branches of hospitals.

Now the fund raising is going on to full output. All interested parties are invited to participate in this charitable. Details by e-mail: gay-bou@rambler.ru

english.gay.ru

Participants at the Gay Pride celebrations in Moldova were attacked by homophobes

Belorussian site Gay.By: At Noon participants in the gay pride celebrations in Moldova were subjected to numerous attack by homophones, Nazis, religuous fanatics and anarchists:

Hundreds of homphobes threatened participants in the gay pride celebrations with violence. They threw stones and bottles at the office of the Gay Pride organizaiton. The hotel where participants were staying was also surrounded by hundreds of people. Belorussian visitors participating in the Gay Pride celebrations said religious fanatics and members of neo-fascist groups carrying stones and bottles surrounded the bus carrying participants in the Gay Pride Celebrations.

The demonstrators started to rock and shake the bus - so that we couldn't get out - eyewitness Sergey Androsenko from Belorus said, - causing panic in the bus as the passengers were unprotected and the situation was getting out of control.

Thankfully the bus driver reached an agreement with the rioters which required our surrender of all symbolic flag, multi-colouored baloons etc. in exchange for a way to get off the bus. We were able to leave the bus, and I am now at the hotel and probably safe, but people are gathered near the office of the organizer of Gay Pride "GednerDok-M"

As a reminder the participants of Gay Pride celebrations which took place in the capital Chişinău on May 7th planned to organize a procession and political aciton. Russian poetess Marina Chen participated in the Gay Pride. She was also in the bus locked in by the homo haters and obscurantists.

english.gay.ru