Saint-Petersburg: European March's "No to Homophobia" Motto Banned by Authorities
Straight Alliance for LGBT Equality
Saint-Petersburg's Authorities have banned the motto "No to Homophobia" on the "European March". They found it was supporting homopropaganda but, on the other hand, banners with the word "Ass" were authorized for usage.
The officials of Saint-Petersburg City Hall demanded to remove every gay friendly motto and LGBT symbols during the rally. The "Straight Alliance for LGBT Equality" reports that the Vasileostrovsky district authorities did not permit the organization to participate freely in the action" that took place on Piazza d' Europa near "Pribaltijskaya" Hotel. Representatives from different public and political movements gathered there, all of them brought their own symbols, flags and banners. The "Straight Alliance" also brought its banner. "Just before the opening of the rally we faced with counteraction of the local municipality's official. He demanded to remove our banner without giving any clear legal grounds for his request", informs the Alliance's press-statement. Few minutes after the same request was addressed to the "Coming out" activist - the official demanded to remove the bill-board with "No to Propaganda of Homophobia!". We tried to find out the legal motives for such strange requests. In response he said that "Alliance"'s banner did not comply with previously declared and concerted idea of the public action".
The speech of the "Alliance"'s representative took place despite the "arrest" of the banner. His statement turned to the rights of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transsexuals. During the rally its participants chanted anti-homophobic slogans.
"For every wise and politically clever man it is clear that calls for equality and tolerance, rallies against homophobia as well as against every kind of intolerance, totally fit in with the main idea of the European March - to defend the European trend of development of Russia and Saint-Petersburg. Ideas of supremacy of human rights, tolerance and respect to minorities are making up the core of European civilization and its values. It is well-known to every school student. Regretfully, we have to admit that the official of Vasileostrovsky district municipality has big laps in education and lack of professional competence", says the Alliance.
For the record: The law that bans homopropaganda and violates the rights of openly gay people is in effect in Saint-Petersburg. LGBT actions' activists are fined on the grounds of the "Don't Say Gay" law that is being used also for ousting of dissidents from social life and for establishing of intolerance and censure around LGBT community.
English translation presented by Yerdna Bananes
Straight Alliance for LGBT Equality
The officials of Saint-Petersburg City Hall demanded to remove every gay friendly motto and LGBT symbols during the rally. The "Straight Alliance for LGBT Equality" reports that the Vasileostrovsky district authorities did not permit the organization to participate freely in the action" that took place on Piazza d' Europa near "Pribaltijskaya" Hotel. Representatives from different public and political movements gathered there, all of them brought their own symbols, flags and banners. The "Straight Alliance" also brought its banner. "Just before the opening of the rally we faced with counteraction of the local municipality's official. He demanded to remove our banner without giving any clear legal grounds for his request", informs the Alliance's press-statement. Few minutes after the same request was addressed to the "Coming out" activist - the official demanded to remove the bill-board with "No to Propaganda of Homophobia!". We tried to find out the legal motives for such strange requests. In response he said that "Alliance"'s banner did not comply with previously declared and concerted idea of the public action".
The speech of the "Alliance"'s representative took place despite the "arrest" of the banner. His statement turned to the rights of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transsexuals. During the rally its participants chanted anti-homophobic slogans.
"For every wise and politically clever man it is clear that calls for equality and tolerance, rallies against homophobia as well as against every kind of intolerance, totally fit in with the main idea of the European March - to defend the European trend of development of Russia and Saint-Petersburg. Ideas of supremacy of human rights, tolerance and respect to minorities are making up the core of European civilization and its values. It is well-known to every school student. Regretfully, we have to admit that the official of Vasileostrovsky district municipality has big laps in education and lack of professional competence", says the Alliance.
For the record: The law that bans homopropaganda and violates the rights of openly gay people is in effect in Saint-Petersburg. LGBT actions' activists are fined on the grounds of the "Don't Say Gay" law that is being used also for ousting of dissidents from social life and for establishing of intolerance and censure around LGBT community.
English translation presented by Yerdna Bananes
