GAY.CAT
web personal de gay.catארכב עבורMOSCOW
SPASIBA!
22:31 – Alexander was born in the old Soviet Union and he has won Eurovision in the capital of the old Soviet Union. Congratulations, Norway! Congratulations, Alexander!
The show from Moscow has been magnificent and to be honest I am proud that on the other side of Europe there are people who can give to the whole of Europe such a wonderful show.
Let's hope that just in some years Moscow can become a friendly site for gays too. Alexander Rybak, the organizers of Eurovision in Moscow and Alexeyev and her woman in white had been great and I want to thank all of them. I end with the word that I have learned today through Eurovision and that it is now also the name of this post: SPASIBA!
(Who knows, I may begin to learn Russian. I just visited russianlessons.net)
18:45 ENG – Well in 15 minuts Eurovision begins! It is almost 21 pm where I am and I think it is almost 11 pm in Moscow. I wonder how they agree at what time to start Eurovision! OK, I leave this post and I go to watch the TV. I hope that Sweden wins although I am quite sure that the winner will be Alexander from Norway. The song is pretty, the voice is pretty and he is an angel!
15:49 ENG – HOMOPHOBIC BUS
It is terrible because the people on that bus at the end of this video are just in that bus because they fight for their rights!:
In the video there is a man from Chicago, from GAY LIBERATION. All these scenes remember me of Franco times.
14:50 CAS – En elmundo.es he leido el artículo más detallado sobre la protesta.
14:09 CAT – A es.euronews.net es por veure
la manifestacio d'avui. Clrament aqui tenim herois. No som molts per una ciutat com Moscou pero donades les circumstancies hostils son tot un simbol.
14:00 CAS – En eurofanscontralahomofobia.tk hay una lista donde se puede ver saber el grado de tolerancia hacia la cominuidad lgtb en los paises que participaran esta noche en Eurovision. Creo que esta muy bien saberlo pero creo que a la hora de votar podria ser un error tenerlo en cuenta porque los participantes son personas y estas personas pueden tener ideas diferentes a su pais. Asi, Masiel gano con LA, LA, LA, LA siendo España un regimen franquista pero no asi la ganadora. Lo digo porque parece que Grecia no sale bien parada en esta lista pero personalmente el representante de Grecia es un gay icon, segun he leido. Curiosamente Suecia sale muy bien parada o sea que una razon mas para votar a mi favorita! Por otra parte en www.adn.es leo que COLEGAS querria que Soraya hiciera algun gesto a la comunidad lgtb. A ver que pasa!
13: 52 ENG – I have found this video:
13:50 CAT – Ara hi ha un article a LA VANGUARDIA que parla sobre la protesta a Moscou i els detinguts. Sembla ser que al camarada Alexeyev ho han detingut per anar al costat d'un travesti. Intentare saber quin es aquest travesti, ocasional potser, perque em sembla tot un heroi. Anar vestit de dona en un lloc tan hostil te merit. Al telenoticies de TV3 no s'ha dit res sobre aquesta protesta.
11:36 ENG – Reuter Photos:
11:15 CAS – Acabo de dar con el email de la embajada española en Moscu: embespru@mail.mae.es Voy a escribirles para saber si España piensa protestar de alguna manera o si Soraya hara algun gesto a favor de los derechos de la comunidad lgtb
11:11 ENG – I just have visited pinknews.co.uk where I have left this comment: "I wonder what will happen this evening in Eurovision but maybe with just little gestures would be enough to show to the homophobes that gay people in Russia enjoy sympathy from the rest of Europe. Maybe it would be enough to dress with rainbow flags or wear flourescent rainbow collars, etc. JUST SOME DETAIL. If this does not happen then the rest of Europe will be justifying homophobia by just remaining silent! Greetings to the UK. Let homophobia not win EUROVISON!"
10:57 CAT – GAY.CAT se sent doblement discriminat a EUROVISIO. Per una banda la ciutat on es fa el festival tracta amb violencia als gais. I en segon lloc EUROVISIO nomes representa els estats. Per cert, es vergonyos el que ha fet TVE no nomes amb la censura de la copa del rei sino amb eurovisio aquests dies. Si tve hagues actuat d'una altra manera potser ara tiendriem a Andorra entre els finalistes. Pero es clar a TVE no li interessa que a Catalunya veiem a ANDORRA perque llavors ens adonem que TVE no ens representa.
10:54 CAS – Es increible pero en LA VANGUARDIA y en EL PERIODICO todavia no se hacen eco de lo que ha pasado en Moscu. Curioso es esto cuando Barcelona es la segunda ciudad mas gay de Europa segun no se que revista. Pero claro, que mas da que los gays no puedan pedir sus derechos por las calles de Moscu. En EL PERIODICO y LA VANGUARDIA debe pasar como en casi todo occidente: La homosexualidad no es un crimen pero esta escondida. Si no estuviera escondida es evidente que la noticia saldria en estos diarios.
10:43 ENG – In sky.com you can see a video of the protest and also this photo with Alexeyev and the white dressed friend:
10:18 ENG – WWW.GAYRUSSIA.RU
cannot be accessed at this moment I am afraid. I know that its hero, NIKOLAI ALEXEYEV was one of those detained. This could be read in http://thestar.com.my :
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Dozens of riot police broke up a gay rights demonstration on Saturday before the Eurovision Song Contest final in Moscow, grabbing protesters and throwing them into police cars and a waiting bus.
Those arrested for taking part in the small demonstration, which had been banned by city authorities, included British and Russian campaigners.
Police detain Russian gay rights leader Nikolai Alexeyev after he arrived with a man dressed in a bridal gown at an unsanctioned gay rights protest in Moscow May 16, 2009. (REUTERS/Thomas Peter)
"There is no freedom for gays in Russia," British gay rights activist Peter Tatchell shouted as police bundled him away. "We call on President (Dmitry) Medvedev to meet with us."
Police pushed waiting reporters away as they arrested the gay and lesbian participants but there were no beatings.
Among those detained was Nikolai Alexeyev, a Russian gay rights leader. Alexeyev was walking with a person wearing women's clothes, whom he described as a friend. Police said they were arresting him for walking with a transvestite.
Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov has taken a hard line against homosexual protesters, once describing a gay rights parade as "satanic".
10:12 CAS – La prensa internacional se hace eco de que la manifestacion gay de Moscu ha sido dispersada con violencia. Aqui hay una foto de la bbc:
10:07 ENG – This could be read in AP:
MOSCOW (AP) — Moscow police violently broke up gay rights demonstrations Saturday, detaining more than 20 protesters who denounced what they called Russian homophobia hours before the finals of a major international pop music competition.
About 30 activists gathered near a university in southwestern Moscow to protest discrimination against gays and lesbians in Russia. The group, which included British gay rights advocate Peter Tatchell, waved flags and chanted slogans, including: "Homophobia is a disgrace of this country!" and "We are demanding equal rights!"
About a minute after the protest began, riot police charged into the group and began to grab demonstrators, dragging them to waiting buses. Tatchell was talking with reporters when police hauled him away.
"This shows the Russian people are not free," he said.
Moscow is hosting the Eurovision song contest finals later Saturday. Europe's most prestigious pop music contest has drawn attention to gay rights in Russia, with some singers threatening to boycott the event if the gay pride parade was not allowed to happen.
Russian gay rights movement leader Nikolai Alexeyev was among those detained Saturday.
After the protest was over, riot police seized other gay activists who started to speak with reporters. Police ripped the shirt and bra off one woman, who identified herself as Ksenia Prilebskaya, and roughly pushed her into a police bus.
Eduard Murdin, 40, a human rights activist from the Russian city of Ufa, was flanked by two officers who pinned his arms behind him and marched him, head bent over, to a waiting bus. "All we wanted was a legal protest," he said as he was led away. "But we were blocked. What else could we do?"
"Freedom of expression for homosexuals," shouted Nikolai Bayev, 34, a gay rights activist from Moscow, as police took him away. Among those detained was Andy Thayer of Chicago, co-founder of the Gay Liberation Network.
Police detained about six other gay rights activists at a separate demonstration across town and several anti-gay protesters rallying nearby.
City authorities had barred Saturday's rally saying it was morally wrong. Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov has described homosexuality as "satanic."
Luzhkov's spokesman Sergei Tsoi was quoted by the ITAR-Tass news agency as saying Saturday that gay pride events "not only destroy moral foundations of our society, but also purposefully provoke disturbances that will threaten the lives and safety of Moscow residents and guests."
At an earlier rally close to the center of Moscow, about 50 demonstrators from nationalist and Orthodox Christian organizations denounced homosexuality. One man was detained when he accused officials in the Kremlin of being gay.
10:03 CAT – S'ha usat violecia contra els manifestants. GAY.CAT demana o be que es boicotegi EUROVISIO o almenys que es demani als cantants de paisos no homofobs que mostrin d'alguna manera el seu suport als drets dels gais que no ho obliden no deixen de ser drets humans. Us recordo que a eurofanscontralahomofobia.tk hi ha les adreces de l'embaixada i el consolat rus.
09:51 ENG – I read this breking bbc news:
Police break up Moscow gay march
Police in Russia have broken up a march by gay rights activists in Moscow, staged to coincide with the final of the Eurovision Song Contest. Several dozen campaigners had gathered near a university in defiance of a ban and several were dragged away by police when they tried to shout slogans.
The city authorities had outlawed the parade saying it was morally wrong.
Permission has been given for a counter-demonstration by nationalist and religious groups.
09:37 CAS – GAY.CAT empieza a escribir sobre el SLAVIC PRIDE '09 en MOSCU y sobre la final de hoy en EUROVISION. Habra mensajes cortos en castellano (CAS), catalan (CAT) o ingles (ENG). Tiempos GMT, o sea que hay que sumar dos horas para saber el tiempo que es Barcelona, por ejemplo.
09:37 CAT – Començo a escriure sobre la marxa gai a Moscou i Eurovisio. Seran missatges curts que poden ser en catala (CAT), castella (CAS) o angles (ENG). Temps GMT, o sigui que em de sumar dues hores per saber eltemps a Barcelona, per exemple.
09:37 ENG – Gay.cat begins to write about Slavic Gay Pride'09 and Eurovision through short messages here. The messages will begin with ENG, CAS or CAT depending on the language. Time GMT so that two hours have to be added to know the time in Venice, Berlin, Paris, Barcelona, etc.
In the video there is a man from Chicago, from GAY LIBERATION. All these scenes remember me of Franco times.
cannot be accessed at this moment I am afraid. I know that its hero, NIKOLAI ALEXEYEV was one of those detained. This could be read in http://thestar.com.my :
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Dozens of riot police broke up a gay rights demonstration on Saturday before the Eurovision Song Contest final in Moscow, grabbing protesters and throwing them into police cars and a waiting bus.
Those arrested for taking part in the small demonstration, which had been banned by city authorities, included British and Russian campaigners.
Police detain Russian gay rights leader Nikolai Alexeyev after he arrived with a man dressed in a bridal gown at an unsanctioned gay rights protest in Moscow May 16, 2009. (REUTERS/Thomas Peter)
"There is no freedom for gays in Russia," British gay rights activist Peter Tatchell shouted as police bundled him away. "We call on President (Dmitry) Medvedev to meet with us."
Police pushed waiting reporters away as they arrested the gay and lesbian participants but there were no beatings.
Among those detained was Nikolai Alexeyev, a Russian gay rights leader. Alexeyev was walking with a person wearing women's clothes, whom he described as a friend. Police said they were arresting him for walking with a transvestite.
Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov has taken a hard line against homosexual protesters, once describing a gay rights parade as "satanic".
MOSCOW (AP) — Moscow police violently broke up gay rights demonstrations Saturday, detaining more than 20 protesters who denounced what they called Russian homophobia hours before the finals of a major international pop music competition.
About 30 activists gathered near a university in southwestern Moscow to protest discrimination against gays and lesbians in Russia. The group, which included British gay rights advocate Peter Tatchell, waved flags and chanted slogans, including: "Homophobia is a disgrace of this country!" and "We are demanding equal rights!"
About a minute after the protest began, riot police charged into the group and began to grab demonstrators, dragging them to waiting buses. Tatchell was talking with reporters when police hauled him away.
"This shows the Russian people are not free," he said.
Moscow is hosting the Eurovision song contest finals later Saturday. Europe's most prestigious pop music contest has drawn attention to gay rights in Russia, with some singers threatening to boycott the event if the gay pride parade was not allowed to happen.
Russian gay rights movement leader Nikolai Alexeyev was among those detained Saturday.
After the protest was over, riot police seized other gay activists who started to speak with reporters. Police ripped the shirt and bra off one woman, who identified herself as Ksenia Prilebskaya, and roughly pushed her into a police bus.
Eduard Murdin, 40, a human rights activist from the Russian city of Ufa, was flanked by two officers who pinned his arms behind him and marched him, head bent over, to a waiting bus. "All we wanted was a legal protest," he said as he was led away. "But we were blocked. What else could we do?"
"Freedom of expression for homosexuals," shouted Nikolai Bayev, 34, a gay rights activist from Moscow, as police took him away. Among those detained was Andy Thayer of Chicago, co-founder of the Gay Liberation Network.
Police detained about six other gay rights activists at a separate demonstration across town and several anti-gay protesters rallying nearby.
City authorities had barred Saturday's rally saying it was morally wrong. Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov has described homosexuality as "satanic."
Luzhkov's spokesman Sergei Tsoi was quoted by the ITAR-Tass news agency as saying Saturday that gay pride events "not only destroy moral foundations of our society, but also purposefully provoke disturbances that will threaten the lives and safety of Moscow residents and guests."
At an earlier rally close to the center of Moscow, about 50 demonstrators from nationalist and Orthodox Christian organizations denounced homosexuality. One man was detained when he accused officials in the Kremlin of being gay.
Police break up Moscow gay march
Police in Russia have broken up a march by gay rights activists in Moscow, staged to coincide with the final of the Eurovision Song Contest. Several dozen campaigners had gathered near a university in defiance of a ban and several were dragged away by police when they tried to shout slogans.
The city authorities had outlawed the parade saying it was morally wrong.
Permission has been given for a counter-demonstration by nationalist and religious groups.
TODAY IS THE DAY, MY FRIENDS, TODAY IS THE DAY, OUR DAY. TODAY IS THE DAY WHEN GAY RUSSIANS WILL SHOW TO THE WORLD THAT WE ARE PROUD. WE ARE PROUD OF OSCAR WILDE, WE ARE PROUD OF GARCIA LORCA, WE ARE PROUD OF TCHAIKOVKSY, WE ARE PROUD OF NUREYEV, WE ARE PROUD OF OURSELVES. IT IS OUR LIFE MY FRIENDS, WE, THE GAY, WE ARE NO MORE THAN NO GAY PEOPLE. BUT WE ARE NO LESS. WE ONLY LIVE ONCE AND WE HAVE TO LIVE. WE JUST HAVE TO LIVE. THERE WILL BE A TIME WHEN GAY PEOPLE WON'T BE BANNED FROM SOME COUNTRIES. TO BEGIN, LET'S BEGIN WITH EUROPE. FROM ONE SIDE OF EUROPE, I SEND YOU THIS MESSAGE OF FRATERNITY, YOU SPEAK RUSSIAN AND I DO NOT SPEAK RUSSIAN. BUT WHEREVER WE LIVE THE FACT THAT WE ARE GAY MEANS DISCRIMINTATION. SINCE HOMOPHOBIA IS EVERYWHERE WE GROW UP WITHIN HOMOPHOBIA. EVEN OUR FAMILIES CAN REJECT US. BUT WE ARE NOT ALONE. WE HAVE ALWAYS EXISTED AND WE WILL ALWAYS EXIST. AND IT IS OUR DUTY TO DEFEND OUR RIGHTS. MAY 16TH 2009 WILL BE NOT JUST A HISTORIC DAY FOR RUSSIA AND MOSCOW. IT WILL BE A GLORIOUS DAY FOR EUROPE, BECAUSE MAY 16TH 2009, EUROVISION DAY WILL BE A DAY REMEMBERED BECAUSE IT WAS THE START OF GAY RIGHTS TO ALL EUROPEANS. REAL RIGHTS. EUROPE, WEST, EAST, NORTH AND SOUTH MUST BE A PLACE WHERE ANY GAY CAN MOVE FREELY. DISCRIMINITION IS EVERYWHERE SO THE FIGHT FOR OUR RIGHTS MUST GO ON. LET'S STONEWALL AGAIN! IT IS OUR TIME! MOSCOW EUROVISION 2009, THE START OF A NEW ERA.
Let the music inspire us!
Anyway, if this Saturday there is violence against gay people I hope the singers show their support to the gay people by just showing the rainbow colours. This is a suggestion for the Swedish song, my favourite song. I wonder what Malena Ernman would think about it …:
Well, thanks to Eurovision GAY.CAT was able to know the existence of Malena. Here you can see her singing THE BARBER OF SEVILLE:
And here and interview!:
EUROVISION SECOND SEMIFINAL
PASS 2ND SEMIFINAL: AZERBAIJAN, CROATIA, UKRAINE, LITHUANIA, ALBANIA, MOLDOVA, DENMARK, ESTONIA, NORWAY AND GREECE!
IRELAND, LATVIA, SERBIA, POLAND, CYPRUS, SLOVAKIA, SLOVENIA ,HUNGARY AND THE NETHERLANDS DIN'T PASS SECOND SEMIFINAL. I liked the song from Hungary!
Watch all at www.eurovision.tv !
Des de fa uns quants anys a Eurovision hi ha semifinals. Com Espanya va ser membre fundador d'Eurovision no cal que Espanya passi per aquestes semifinals i TVE no ho transmet desgraciadamnet. Pero GAY.CAT ha trobat que es possible seguir-ho a traves d'Internet. De fet ara estic veient la segona semifinal en directe a www.eurovision.tv . He vist Dinamarca i ara surt Eslovenia. L'espectacle es fa en viu des de el Moscow's Olympiyski Indoor Arena. El cantant hongares era molt atractiu i al final surt la paraula HOPE …! M'ha agradat molt el muntatge de Moldova ja que surtien dibuixos com arabs. De Grecia em va agrada mes el video de youtube. D'Ucraina em sembla massa exagerat.
Aixo es el que m'han semblat les cançons de 1 a 10:
CROATIA 5, IRELAND 6, LATVIA 3, SERBIA 3, POLAND 5, NORWAY 8, CYPRUS 5, SLOVAKIA 3, DENMARK 7, SLOVENIA 5, HUNGARY 7, AZERBAIJAN 4, GREECE 7, LITHUANIA 6, MOLDOVA 6, ALBANIA 6, UKRAINE 5, ESTONIA 5, THE NETHERLANDS ?
Sobre Holanda no puc dir res. La canço no esta malament pero no m'agrada massa. Pero son els unics que s'han mullat pels drets dels gais! No estaria malament veure'ls a la final!
Ara diran quins passen a la final … HO HE PSAT A DALT. aL FINAL hOLANDA NO ANIRA
Vaja, ara hi ha dances tradicionals . Han sortit uns nois i me'n recordat de Nureyev …
EUROVISION SWEDISH SINGER WILL PARTICIPATE IN SLAVIC GAY PRIDE IN MOSCOW!
GAY.CAT cannot believe it but something incredible is going to happen this Saturday and it may change history, at least for the gay and lesbian people all around Europe and maybe abroad! I just have read something unbelievable. Some Eurovision singers have decided to take advantage that they are in Moscow and on Saturday morning, just some hours before Eurovision, they will join Slavic Pride! Yeah, Yeah! Can yoo believe that? I never thought that Europe was so tolerant, my God. I have heard that the singers who will join the Slavic Pride are the ones from Sweden, Norway and Greece at least, The Spanish may also join it but nothing has been said yet! The authorities in Moscow are in shock but it is obvoius that this time the police will defend the protesters as the singers will be there too. I imagine the Slavic Pride and hearing "LA VOIX" as background. If this happen I am sure that Sweden would win Eurovision and the song "LA VOIX" would become an iconic gay song! But who knows, maybe is the Greek song … I wish I was in Moscow to be able to join the singers in the Slavic Pride. I am very proud of these wonderful singers.
———————————————
Note: All this above was a dream and it is not true, unfortunately. I just wish gay.cat's dream could reach Malena Ernman as I love her song and I think it will become part of the gay iconic sons whether or not she goes to the Slavic Pride! Since I heard it some days ago I cannot bring it out of my mind!Anyway this is what you could read in www.gayrussia.ru :
12.05.2009 09:14:30
Tatchell Determined to Support Russian and Belarusian Activists at Slavic Gay Pride
“These men and women are absolute heroes”
Despite threats to bash and arrest the marchers, British gay human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell will attend this Saturday’s Moscow Gay Pride parade – this year renamed Slavic Gay Pride to support the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality struggles in all Slavic countries, Russian and non-Russian.
The parade is scheduled to take place at lunchtime on Saturday May 16, and coincides with the final of the Eurovision song contest which is being held later that night, also in Moscow.
The Moscow authorities have said the parade is banned and have threatened “tough measures” against anyone who tries to march.
In addition, there is the likelihood of mob violence against the marchers by neo-Nazis, skinheads, ultra-nationalists and Christian fundamentalists – as happened in 2006 and 2007.
“I am joining the parade to show my support for the courageous Russian gay campaigners,” said Mr. Tatchell who is the human rights spokesperson for the Green Party of England and Wales and the Green Party parliamentary candidate for the university constituency of Oxford East in south-east England.
“All year round they risk arrest, imprisonment and queer-bashing attacks. These men and women are absolute heroes. I salute them.
“International solidarity is hugely important. My presence is one way to show that gay people around the world support the right of gay people in Russia to live their lives without homophobic prejudice, ostracism, discrimination and violence.
“This parade is in defence of human rights. We are defending the often violated human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Russians. They want legal protection against discrimination and hate crimes. I support their cause.
“Not all Russians are homophobic, but many are. Gay Russians suffer queer-bashing attacks, blackmail, verbal abuse and discrimination in education, housing and employment,. This shames the great Russian nation.
“Saturday's Slavic Gay Pride is about more than gay human rights. It is about the right of all Russian people to freely express their opinions and to protest peacefully. The ban on gay parades is just one example of the systematic suppression of civil liberties in Russia.
“I appeal to President Medvedev, Prime Minister Putin and Mayor Luzhkov: gay people are no threat to Russian society. Be magnanimous. Uphold democratic rights and freedoms. Allow the Slavic Gay Pride parade.
“Although I am determined to support our Russian and Belarusian comrades, like them I am anxious about what may happen to us. But we have to take some risks; otherwise the homophobes and authoritarians will win.
“I don't have much confidence that the Moscow police will accept our right to protest or that they will protect us against neo-Nazi violence.
“At Moscow Pride in 2007 I was beaten almost unconscious by right-wing extremists, while the police stood by and watched. They then arrested me. I spent several hours in police detention before being released without charge. My attackers have never been arrested, even though they were clearly identified in photos and film footage," said Mr Tatchell.
■ Also attending Slavic Pride will be American gay human rights advocate Andy Thayer from Chicago.
(UkGayNews.Org.Uk, GayRussia.Ru)
“These men and women are absolute heroes”
Despite threats to bash and arrest the marchers, British gay human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell will attend this Saturday’s Moscow Gay Pride parade – this year renamed Slavic Gay Pride to support the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality struggles in all Slavic countries, Russian and non-Russian.
The parade is scheduled to take place at lunchtime on Saturday May 16, and coincides with the final of the Eurovision song contest which is being held later that night, also in Moscow.
The Moscow authorities have said the parade is banned and have threatened “tough measures” against anyone who tries to march.
In addition, there is the likelihood of mob violence against the marchers by neo-Nazis, skinheads, ultra-nationalists and Christian fundamentalists – as happened in 2006 and 2007.
“I am joining the parade to show my support for the courageous Russian gay campaigners,” said Mr. Tatchell who is the human rights spokesperson for the Green Party of England and Wales and the Green Party parliamentary candidate for the university constituency of Oxford East in south-east England.
“All year round they risk arrest, imprisonment and queer-bashing attacks. These men and women are absolute heroes. I salute them.
“International solidarity is hugely important. My presence is one way to show that gay people around the world support the right of gay people in Russia to live their lives without homophobic prejudice, ostracism, discrimination and violence.
“This parade is in defence of human rights. We are defending the often violated human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Russians. They want legal protection against discrimination and hate crimes. I support their cause.
“Not all Russians are homophobic, but many are. Gay Russians suffer queer-bashing attacks, blackmail, verbal abuse and discrimination in education, housing and employment,. This shames the great Russian nation.
“Saturday's Slavic Gay Pride is about more than gay human rights. It is about the right of all Russian people to freely express their opinions and to protest peacefully. The ban on gay parades is just one example of the systematic suppression of civil liberties in Russia.
“I appeal to President Medvedev, Prime Minister Putin and Mayor Luzhkov: gay people are no threat to Russian society. Be magnanimous. Uphold democratic rights and freedoms. Allow the Slavic Gay Pride parade.
“Although I am determined to support our Russian and Belarusian comrades, like them I am anxious about what may happen to us. But we have to take some risks; otherwise the homophobes and authoritarians will win.
“I don't have much confidence that the Moscow police will accept our right to protest or that they will protect us against neo-Nazi violence.
“At Moscow Pride in 2007 I was beaten almost unconscious by right-wing extremists, while the police stood by and watched. They then arrested me. I spent several hours in police detention before being released without charge. My attackers have never been arrested, even though they were clearly identified in photos and film footage," said Mr Tatchell.
■ Also attending Slavic Pride will be American gay human rights advocate Andy Thayer from Chicago.
(UkGayNews.Org.Uk, GayRussia.Ru)
MOSCOW GAY PRIDE BRUTALLY REPRESSED
… THAT HAPPENED TWO YEARS AGO … IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN, WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN EUROVISION? WILL THE SINGERS SING AS IF NOTHING HAD HAPPENED? WILL THEY LEAVE MOSCOW IN PROTEST? WHAT WILL THEY DO? WHAT WILL THEY DO?
THIS IS A SUBJECT OF HUMAN RIGHTS. THIS IS NOT A JOKE.
1969 STONEWALL, NEW YORK – 2009 EUROVISION, MOSCOW
SLAVIC PRIDE'09
LET'S STONEWALL AGAIN: LET'S MAKE OF EUROVISION IN MOSCOW 2009 A NEW STONEWALL 40 YEARS LATER:
1. Try to find your own idea and tell everybody.
2. LET'S SHOW THE RAINBOW FLAG AT EUROVISION
Let's try that the people from our countries, besides bringing the national flag they also bring the rainbow flag! It is 40 years of Stonewall and the gay Russians cannot demonstrate in their own city? If they cannot do that then show the rainbow flag in Eurovision.
3. WHEN EUROVISION ON MOSCOW CONNECTS TO OUR COUNTRIES LET'S SHOW NOT THE TYPICAL UGLY OLD MAN O BEAUTIFUL WOMAN: LET'S SHOW GAY, LESBIAN, TRANSSEXUAL, BISEXUAL, ETC PEOPLE TOO.
Examples: The one giving the points from the UK cannot be other than … ELTON JOHN. The ones giving the points from Spain: BORIS IZAGUIRRE or BIBI ANDERSON. From France and Germany: the mayors of Paris and Berlin.
4. LET ICELAND GO THERE WITH HER PRESIDENT, THE FIRST OPEN LESBIAN TO BE A PRESIDENT OF A STATE. Maybe it won't be so crazy that the president of Iceland gives the points! This is a unique opportunity for the lesbian and for Iceland to shine in Europe!
5. LET THE MUSICIANS OR DANCERS WEAR DRESSES WITH THE RAINBOW FLAGS.
6. LET'S DEMONSTRATE OUTSIDE RUSSIAN EMBASSIES AROUND THE WORLD FOR GAY RIGHTS IN MOSCOW.
7. LET AMERICA JOIN EUROVISION IN A VERY SOPHISTICATED WAY: LET ADAM LAMBERT JUST GO TO MOSCOW AS ONE MORE SPECTATOR.
I do not have more ideas, please send a comment. I just think it would be a shame that Moscow hosts Eurovision and the gay people in Moscow continue without being able to demonstrate. Europe should let its voice get loud and clear to the not at all homophobic Mayor of Moscow. And to all its not at all homophobic friends. In Moscow and around the planet.
LET'S STONEWALL AGAIN. JUST FOR THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF ALL. OF ALL. NOT JUST THAT OF THE NOT AT ALL HOMOPHOBES.
By the way, you can read a Russian Website talking about Eurovision and the Gay Pride at http://www.gayrussia.ru/en/news/detail.php?ID=13394
VLADIMIR PRONIN, SACKED
GAY.CAT has just read that Vladimir Pronin is no longer Moscow Police Chief. One of his senior officers opened fire in a supermarket killing three people and the Russian government has decided to sack VLADIMIR PRONIN (you can know more at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8023837.stm )
The reason why GAY.CAT is writing about this sacking is because this sacking may change things for the gay demonstration on May 16th in Moscow. As you may read at http://www.gayrussia.ru/en/news/detail.php?ID=13093 Vladimir Pronin was not precisely a gay-friendly person. It is true that the mayor is still the same, I imagine, Mayor Luzhkov, but as long as I know the new Moscow Police Chief has to report to the Ministry of Internal Affairs so who knows, maybe a more conciliatory approach could be found towards the wishes of the Moscow LGBT community. Let's see and wait if the next Moscow Police Chief is less unfriendly with a part of his commnunity.
Here there is a link to a page were I think they write about the sacking … in Russian: http://www.gayrussia.ru/events/detail.php?ID=13356
MOSCOW EUROVISION?: GAY DEMONSTRATION!
Gays rusos se manifestarán el día de final de Eurovisión, incluso sin permiso
Los homosexuales rusos se manifestarán el 16 de mayo, coincidiendo con la final de Eurovisión en Moscú, incluso aunque no cuenten con la autorización por parte de las autoridades locales, anunció hoy la organización de este evento.
'Saldremos a las calles de Moscú para ejercer nuestro derecho constitucional a congregarnos de forma pacífica, independientemente de la decisión de las autoridades de la capital', declaró el organizador de la marcha gay, Nikolái Alexéyev, citado por la agencia Interfax.
FONT: http://actualidad.terra.es/sociedad/articulo/gays-eurovision-rusos-manifestaran-dia-3203370.htm
Alexéyev explicó que remitirán una notificación al alcalde de Moscú, Yuri Luzhkov, sobre la celebración, el 16 de marzo, de una marcha a favor de la tolerancia y del respeto a los derechos y libertades de los homosexuales en Rusia.
Agregó, además, que la organización presentará una petición para llevar a cabo estas actividades en los jardines de Alejandro, junto al Kremlin, y reveló que el lema principal de la marcha llamará a la 'igualdad de derechos para los gays, sin concesiones'.
'Tenemos intención de invitar a que se sumen a nuestra acción el máximo de gays, lesbianas, bisexuales y también visitantes y participantes de Eurovisión', añadió.
El pasado mes de diciembre, el alcalde de Moscú afirmó que no impondrá limitaciones a los representantes de las minorías sexuales, que podrán viajar a la capital con toda libertad con motivo de la celebración del festival de la canción, aunque advirtió que no permitirá ninguna acción pública de este colectivo.
Representantes de las minorías sexuales en Rusia ya intentaron en más de una ocasión celebrar una marcha del orgullo gay similar a las que se llevan a cabo en otros países, pero no recibieron nunca el permiso de las autoridades.
'Tenemos una ley aprobada en 1993 según la cual las minorías sexuales no son perseguidas, son libres. Las manifestaciones públicas son inadmisibles. Diviértanse, no veo el problema, pero no en las calles y plazas', señaló Luzhkov entonces.
Agregó que las autoridades no imponen restricciones, únicamente la prohibición de marchas gays que, hace más de dos años y durante un encuentro con sus homólogos de Berlín, Londres, París y Pekín, calificó de 'acto satánico'.
Alexéyev informó recientemente de que los organizadores de la marcha gay en Moscú presentaron el pasado mes de marzo ante el Tribunal Europeo de Derechos Humanos en Estrasburgo una demanda contra las autoridades de la capital rusa.
Al mismo tiempo exigieron una compensación por valor de 1,7 millones de euros por las 155 actividades de este colectivo prohibidas por el Ayuntamiento de Moscú.
Alexéyev subrayó que en los últimos tres años ningún país europeo ha prohibido la celebración de marchas homosexuales.
EUROVISION 2009 AND TCHAIKOVSKY
May 16th 2009 will be the day when Eurovision 2009 will take place in Moscow. As it seems that this same day there can be trouble in Moscow as gay activists and major of Moscow are not in very good terms GAY.CAT has a proposal that may put some peace between them and give a good example towards the whole continent.
GAY.CAT has just written the following proposal at http://www.gayrussia.ru/en/news/detail.php?ID=13093 :
"Maybe, if Pride Moscow is forbidden you could try another thing … Eurovision is a contest for music, isn't it? Then, the same day of Eurovision you could march through Moscow to give homage to a musician … to Peter Tchaikovsky. I cannot imagine the major of Moscow forbidding a homage to one of the best symbols of All Russians."
I know that GAY.CAT proposal is a concession BUT is a concession from BOTH parts. I hope the music of Tchaikovsky may soften hearts in both sides.
Greetings to Moscow. GAY.CAT
RUSSIAN GAS DEPENDENCE IN EUROPE
I just read that in Europe is freezing, like in Barcelona …, and at the same time the Russian gas is not reaching some European homes where is much needed. I find that quite embarrassing and I wish that Europe, in general, was less dependent from Russia.
Let's hope that when Eurovision arrives to Moscow in some months the problem has been solved. So we will be able to concentrate on how the mayor of Moscow acts as such a gay venue takes place in his city.
