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

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

Head of Jews of Saint-Petersburg promised not to hunt gays and not to spit in their faces

"…We do not to spit in the faces and not hunting gays! We don’t think that homosexual is a disease, which comes apart from peoples will. Not without reason God punished Sodom, he wouldn’t punish people for having a disease" - said head of Jew community of Saint-Petersburg Mark Grubarg on press-conference in Synagogue of Saint-Petersburg.

It was his answer to students question Grubard and chief rabbi Menehem-Mendel Pevzner didn’t say a word about grooving reformation in the Judaism which doesn’t take gays as sinners. Many rabbis from different countries even marry gays and lesbians, including Moscow.

http://english.gay.ru/

Survey: sex is at the bottom of Russian priorities

2007/10/15. According to a survey conducted by 'Levada-Center', Russians rate sexual problems in 20th place. Sexual and relationship problems, fashion, theatre and classical music are low interest subjects at the end of a list of 23 important life questions. These statistics are provided from a survey conducted by 'Levada Analytical Centre' from 21st-25th Sepember 2007. That survey shows that Russians are mostly interested in cinema, nature and news. Finding 'sex' in last place on the list is questionable. In the middle of last week the Deputy of the Minister of Culture, Pavel Pazigailo, author of the 'sex and pornography law', said that out of every 1000 letters received by the Ministry 900 demand limits to eroticism in the media. It's strange that on one hand sex is not interesting for Russians but on the other hand they want it removed from public media.

english.gay.ru

Gay.Ru is the most quoted gay-site in Russia

Gay.ru is rated number 1 as the most quoted site by Russian gay blogs. According to search engine Yandex, Gay.ru is rated number 25 in all Russian blogs. In the last 6 months it has moved up the ratings and it is now behind Radio ‘Exo Moskvi’. Gay.ru is more popular than well known sites such as ‘Sport-express’ and ‘Strana.ru’. The next closest gay page is rated number 282.

Gay.ru is also rated number 1 by Russian gay pages with an extremely high quote rate.

This year we celebrated our 10th anniversary. In 1997 we were named the most informative gay page in Russia by ‘Planet Internet’ magazine. In 1998 we featured among the best internet projects by the same magazine. In 2000 Gay.ru was included in the list of best projects with sexual content and the same year we received the award for Best Website We have also been named in ratings done by KommersantMoney (2000), Afisha (2000,2001,2004), Om (2004) and others.

Gay.ru has been a member of IGLA-Europe since 2001, IGLIO (youth gay and lesbian organization) since 2003 and a member of International Forum HKO working on preventing AIDS in Russia since 2003.

english.gay.ru

Gay Pride in the capital of Russia: More questions than answers!

18/09/2005. Foreign gay press reports about the desire of some gay activists to conduct gay pride in Moscow in May of 2006. The idea, which was put forth by a private citizen on behalf of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transsexuals in Russia, caused aversion amongst gays across the country and especially in Moscow.


Immediately after the press conference with Nikolay Alekseev, who announced that he would conduct gay pride in the capital of Russia, 9 gay activists from the capital of Russia brought forth a letter in which they called this initiative "provocation from the authorities," and accused the organizers of the parade of conspiring with officials from the administration of the President. The majority of those signing the letter were editors of such sites as Gayclub.Ru, XsGay.Ru, Lesbi.Ru, Lesbiru.Com, Travesty.Ru and Qguys.Ru.

"We are turning to the gay and lesbian community and to everyone who supports our battle for equal rights and we are asking them not to give in to this provocation. The organizing of such a campaign for gay pride in Moscow is harmful and most of all it is harmful for gays and lesbians themselves. Nothing good will come out of this event. It will only lead to the stirring up of homophobic forces and to the sharpening of confrontation."

The authors of the appeal call the intentions of the "self-proclaimed organizers of gay pride" "irresponsible" and note: "Having not even handed in an application for conducting the parade, he already speaks as if it is a done deal and talks about inviting "politicians from Europe" and "foreign stars."

The bewilderment amongst Russian gay activists is setting the tone of the publications of the gay parade organizer. He calls any skepticism directed at his activity, "betrayal of interest in gay emancipation," and the schemes of "gay businessmen." A well-known activist from St. Petersburg, Alexander Kukharsky of the St. Petersburg Human Rights Center "Krilija", who was the first to sign the appeal against the parade, was accused of having put at stake his authority in the eyes of the international gay community with the aim to take revenge on those who stood at the cradle of the Russian gay movement in the beginning of the early 90's. These notorious accusations under the sauce of "battle for tolerance" are flowing only because people dare to say their opinion.

The All-Russian lesbian organization PinkStar (led by Olga Suvorova), the St. Petersburg lesbian organization "Labris," the site XsGay.Ru (led by Igor Pravdin) and LGBT center "Krilya" (led by Professor A. Kukharsky) participate in many projects of the Russian National GLBT Center "Together". Despite their participation, the director of "Together," Ed Mishin, did not sign the "Collective appeal of the representatives of gay and lesbian organizations and press of Russia" concerning plans to conduct a gay parade in Moscow. Mr. Mishin believes that the idea to conduct gay pride has the right to exist. Having said this, he does not plan to support or go against one person, who has placed himself against the gay society in Russia.

Ed Mishin, the Editor-in-chief of the gay magazine "Kvir" and the site Gay.Ru, said, "Gay pride is the symbol of the unity of society and the gay community. It's too bad that in our country there isn't even unity in the gay community, and therefore it is strange to speak about the possibility of such a carnival like "Pride". Gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transsexuals will be abused physically and be subjected to derogatory remarks. However, if someone wants to walk on Red Square with a rainbow flag, that is his right."

"In our country, the only sort of "carnival" was the May Day demonstration, - continued Ed Mishin. "I doubt that a parade, in the Western understanding, can take root in Russia. In Spain, Australia and America many parades take place with one of them being a gay parade. How many parades take place in Moscow? In democratic countries, governments look at gay carnivals as a way to make money on tourism. In Moscow, it seems to me, a procession under the watch of the militia and "special militia force", will look pitiful and ridiculous. You don't have to consider the opinion of the homophobic majority. I enjoy taking part in gay pride in places where the population relates to this type of event with understanding. I am not planning on taking part in gay pride just to prove something to someone. If someone really wants to take part - it's up to them."

"There is still one more very important moment that the initiator of gay pride, Nikolay Alekseev, needs to understand, continued Editor-in-Chief of the magazine "Kvir"," - There has already been a similar case in history and it is called "Pop Gapon (people were led into the Russian Revolution of 1905 and as a result, hundreds of children, teenagers and adults were shot down - Gay.Ru) leads the people to carry on a dialogue with the authorities."

"In my opinion, this is exactly the same situation. Alekseev does not seem to be the person who can regulate the relations between homosexuals and authorities. In my opinion, he can't even get a dialogue with himself right."

Gay.Ru, http://english.gay.ru/
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