Gay rights protest in St Petersburg (Russia) ends in clashes

[pampango]

Last edited Sat Oct 12, 2013, 09:25 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: Guardian

Police have arrested 67 people after a fight broke out between gay rights activists and their opponents at a demonstration in the Russian city of St Petersburg.

Gay rights campaigners in Russia have held several small protests since the adoption of a law in June banning "homosexual propaganda" directed at children. Critics say the law curtails gay people's rights to free speech and assembly.

The issue has attracted growing international attention before Russia's hosting of the Winter Olympics in Sochi next year. Gay rights activists have called for participants and sponsors to boycott the games in protest at the law.

The disturbance in central St Petersburg began after a group of around 15 gay rights activists tried to hold a demonstration to mark International Coming Out Day. They were far outnumbered by the anti-gay demonstrators, including several dressed as Cossacks and orthodox priests, who had occupied the site of the planned demo.

Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/oct/12/gay-rights-protest-st-petersburg-arrests

[Rebellious Republican]

1. Geez, I thought this was my home town in Florida!

Love my LGBT friends here at DU, any one planning to go to St. Petersburg, FLORIDA. ? You are very welcome here!

?a=1113914680108

[Cha]

5. I love St Pete, Florida.. my sister and I stayed at a condo on Treasure Island

back in 2002.. most fun days ever, RR!

[Rebellious Republican]

2. Guess there are not many LGBT athletic supporters here tonight.

Did I say Athletic Supporter, I did not mean jock strap, come on now.

[closeupready]

3. Do gays in repressive societies become priests?

I had a conversation today with a gay friend of mine from the middle east who said that while he lives in the US today, back home gays become priests because it's either that or else get married to a woman and have kids.

[psychopomp]

4. Plenty of gay/closeted priests in the good ol' USA, too

[nomorenomore08]

8. Well "repressive societies" would certainly include mid-20th-Century (and before) America...

[Cha]

6. thank you, pampango!

[dipsydoodle]

7. "since the adoption of a law in June"

That was when it became national / federal law in Russia.

St Petersburg had already introduced the law March last year :

St Petersburg bans 'homosexual propaganda.

Twenty years after homosexuality was decriminalised in Russia, anti-gay legislation is making a rapid comeback, with St Petersburg becoming the latest city to ban "homosexual propaganda".

12 March 2012 http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/mar/12/st-petersburg-bans-homosexual-propaganda

[Brickbat]

9. The article says some of the anti-protesters were arrested, too.

St. Petersburg always was a little more progressive.