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On February 15, Berlin held a mass demonstration of protest against the homophobic policies of the authorities of Russia.
The rally in front of the Russian Embassy on Unter den Linden, has collected more than 200 participants - LGBT citizens, members of the Bundestag, human rights activists. After the action the column of demonstrators went to Potsdamer Platz, where the International Berlin Film Festival shows its films. It was welcomed by the citizens and guests of Berlin.
"We have come to express solidarity with the LGBT community in Russia, - said Mariyaluiza Beck, head of the Commission on Eastern European politics in the German Bundestag, the "Green Party". - No one forced Russia to join the Council of Europe, it was its own decision. Thus, Russia signed the European Convention on Human Rights, which includes the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. "
Tom Schreiber, a member of parliament in Berlin, the Social-Democrat, said: "I'm going to insist that issues of discrimination against the LGBT community in Russia be regularly raised in Berlin and will make every effort to find the continuation of these discussions into concrete actions, concrete support."
During the demonstration participants signed a petition to the deputies of the Legislative Assembly and the Governor of St. Petersburg Georgy Poltavchenko, that will be soon handed over to Russian authorities.
According to the project "Side by Side", the procession ended at Potsdamer Platz - right at the heart of the Berlin Film Festival. The head of the Berlinale section "Panorama" and the creator of the LGBT Message Boards "Teddy" Wieland Speck spoke to the participants. "Public representation of gays and lesbians in the arts and culture can not be forbidden - he said. - Each year there appear more and more LGBT films in those countries where there the subject have been completely tabooed...". Speck added that the Berlinale film festival will provide all support it can for the "Side by Side" in St. Petersburg, which the authorities are willing to outlaw.
"We can not ignore the political homophobia in Russia, because we know perfectly well what it led to in Germany at the time of National Socialism" - said activists of the "Qvartira" group.
In addition to "Qvartira" (Union of Russian-speaking gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and friends in Germany), the initiative group includes the "Rainbow Association" (Moscow), LGBT film festival "Side by Side" (St. Petersburg), the Union of Lesbians and Gay Germany (LSVD), Hirschfeld's Fund - Eddie (Hirschfeld-Eddy-Stiftung), and others.
The rally in front of the Russian Embassy on Unter den Linden, has collected more than 200 participants - LGBT citizens, members of the Bundestag, human rights activists. After the action the column of demonstrators went to Potsdamer Platz, where the International Berlin Film Festival shows its films. It was welcomed by the citizens and guests of Berlin.
Tom Schreiber, a member of parliament in Berlin, the Social-Democrat, said: "I'm going to insist that issues of discrimination against the LGBT community in Russia be regularly raised in Berlin and will make every effort to find the continuation of these discussions into concrete actions, concrete support."
During the demonstration participants signed a petition to the deputies of the Legislative Assembly and the Governor of St. Petersburg Georgy Poltavchenko, that will be soon handed over to Russian authorities.
According to the project "Side by Side", the procession ended at Potsdamer Platz - right at the heart of the Berlin Film Festival. The head of the Berlinale section "Panorama" and the creator of the LGBT Message Boards "Teddy" Wieland Speck spoke to the participants. "Public representation of gays and lesbians in the arts and culture can not be forbidden - he said. - Each year there appear more and more LGBT films in those countries where there the subject have been completely tabooed...". Speck added that the Berlinale film festival will provide all support it can for the "Side by Side" in St. Petersburg, which the authorities are willing to outlaw.
In addition to "Qvartira" (Union of Russian-speaking gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and friends in Germany), the initiative group includes the "Rainbow Association" (Moscow), LGBT film festival "Side by Side" (St. Petersburg), the Union of Lesbians and Gay Germany (LSVD), Hirschfeld's Fund - Eddie (Hirschfeld-Eddy-Stiftung), and others.
Gay.Ru
After "Side by Side"
Photo courtesy of Dasha Zorkin
After "Side by Side"
Photo courtesy of Dasha Zorkin
See Also
Traveller's Guide Russia
Personal Gay & Lesbian Guides - Moscow and Saint Petersburg
Politics
Rainbow Revolutions in the x-USSR
Russia
Moscow, St.Petersburg or Kiev are big cities where commuting from one sight or museum to another takes considerable time. If you are mostly travelling on your own, getting around could become a real trouble unless you possess a fair grasp of the Russian language.
Life in Russia Politics
LGBT community in Eastern Europe is often faced with hostility. Nevertheless, Russian and from other former Soviet republics homosexuals continue to insist on equal rights.
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