Police break up unsanctioned gay rally in central Moscow

[GGJohn]

Police broke up an unsanctioned gay rights rally in central Moscow on Saturday, detaining around 20 people, including anti-gay campaigners who attacked the activists.

The campaigners had requested permission to hold a gay pride parade today, but Moscow authorities blocked the request for the tenth year in a row - an annual ritual that has come to symbolize Russian authorities' hostility to public expressions of support for gay rights.

A 2013 law against gay "propaganda" also sparked an outcry among Russian rights activists and in the West. But partly reflecting the influence of the Orthodox church, many Russians back the law or have negative feelings toward gays.

Activists at Saturday's meeting on Tverskaya Square near the city center were heavily outnumbered by black-clad riot police who had lined the square in advance.

Ugh, this is horrible.

[onehandle]

1. Who is defending 'Putin's Russia' at DU? nt

[GGJohn]

2. You damned well know that posting names is considered a call out,

and will get a post hidden, but nice try.

All you have to do is read various threads about Russia, try it.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

3. K&R

[countryjake]

4. Kick & Recommend

[romanic]

5. Riot police

for a gay rights rally? What were they afraid of, feather boas and glitter? Russia is such a pathetic country.

[GGJohn]

6. Yup,

apparently in Putin's Russia, being gay is tantamount to being a threat to national security.

[Behind the Aegis]

7. At least they are just breaking up parades, right?

I have seen similar sentiments expressed by so-called "progressives/liberals" and definitely from conservatives (this is NOT directed at the OP). I know several gay groups are watching the horrors in Russia. It is like slow-motion pogrom. The Duma keep testing the waters...how far can they go?...will anyone do anything?...what will take for more than disapproving clucks from other governments?

[Cha]

8. Putin's is a creepy homophobe. Is there a link? thank you.

[GGJohn]

9. Doh!!!!

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/05/30/us-russia-gays-idUSKBN0OF0MP20150530

Sorry about that.