Gay activists' request for 102 parades rejected

A court in Moscow has ruled that the city was within its rights to reject a request for the holding of gay parades in the next 100 years. The request was submitted by gay activists, who used a legal possibility to ask for permission to organize a number of mass gatherings. Gay activists' request for 102 parades rejected The organization, Gay Russia, wished to hold 102 gatherings in the next 100 years at Bolotnaya Sq., where opposition groups also hold their rallies. Gay Russia leader Nikolay Alekseyev told reporters on Thursday that they did not expect the request to be granted, but that they now had a cause to take the case to the European Court of Human Rights, and announced the group would do so. Activists of the LGBT community attempted to hold several legal public gatherings in Moscow during previous years, but were usually attacked by opponents of gay parades, with the rallies ending in mass arrests. Last weekend, however, a gathering was held in the Russian capital, bringing together some 70 people, and went without incidents, with the police providing security without interfering. The rally heard from activist leaders condemning all types of discrimination. Meanwhile in St. Petersburg, the rights of the LGBT population were recently regulated by a controversial law that strictly prohibits promotion of homosexuality and pedophilia in front of minors - which effectively means in the streets and in public. A view of Moscow (file) Tanjug

Gay activists' request for 102 parades rejected

The organization, Gay Russia, wished to hold 102 gatherings in the next 100 years at Bolotnaya Sq., where opposition groups also hold their rallies.

Gay Russia leader Nikolay Alekseyev told reporters on Thursday that they did not expect the request to be granted, but that they now had a cause to take the case to the European Court of Human Rights, and announced the group would do so.

Activists of the LGBT community attempted to hold several legal public gatherings in Moscow during previous years, but were usually attacked by opponents of gay parades, with the rallies ending in mass arrests.

Last weekend, however, a gathering was held in the Russian capital, bringing together some 70 people, and went without incidents, with the police providing security without interfering. The rally heard from activist leaders condemning all types of discrimination.

Meanwhile in St. Petersburg, the rights of the LGBT population were recently regulated by a controversial law that strictly prohibits promotion of homosexuality and pedophilia in front of minors - which effectively means in the streets and in public.