Protest At Russian embassy- anti-gay laws and abuse cannot go unchallenged

dublin | gender and sexuality | event notice Tuesday August 13, 2013 20:09 by NLGF pers cap

We here have come together as a way of supporting the Russian LGBT community, in light of recent attacks on many LGBT people. We aim to pressure the Irish and other European authorities to convince Russia to repeal their recent anti-gay legislation. We are deeply concerned about the abuse of gay people in Russia but we can challenge prejudice.

Russian Embassy,184-186 Orwell Road, Rathgar, Dublin 14, Friday 16/8/2013 18:00.

This is a protest solely about LGBT rights. Obama has tried to jump on the bandwagon but he hasn't shown much respect for the rights of US citizens that he spies on. Nor has he respected the gay man Bradley Manning who has exposed the realities of the National Security State. Putins granting of asylum to Snowden should be applauded.

Statement for Protest.

"We are at Russian Embassy in Dublin today because we are outraged by Russia’s anti-gay laws, and by the abuse occurring there. People gay, straight, bisexual, trans, queer are horrified by the stories and pictures they see coming out of Russia. We cannot stand by silently and allow them to continue in their persecution of the LGBT community.

The Irish people know only too well what happens when people remain silent on issues of abuse – it feeds the power of the oppressor, it creates a sense that society supports and condones such abuse, and a sense that what they are doing is normal and acceptable. What is happening in Russia is Not acceptable. Being gay is not a choice, it is not a problem, it is normal and common. Hate and persecution are the problem. We do not, and we will not support Russia in this matter.

Vitaly Milonov says homosexuality is a perversion, what is perverse is Russia’s lack of respect for people’s human rights and equality. We must do something, today we are protesting.

We may individually continue in various ways to fight for the Russian LGBT community; by contacting politicians, the media, boycotting Russian products and/or the Sochi Winter Olympics 2014 and associated sponsors. We are committed to pushing for change in Russia. Whatever we can do to end this ludicrous situation we will do it.

The kidnap torture violence and murder of LGBT people in Russia is going unchallenged by authorities. Hate crimes are on the rise, and not being investigated – victims do not go to the police. The laws have made criminals of the LGBT community; we must repeal these laws which are barbaric. Alexei Davydov, a Moscow based activist says; “To be gay and Russian is to live in fear, we are being harassed, arrested, jailed, attacked, and murdered merely for being gay”.

Gay Russian teens faced with hatred and violence now communicate in secret, in a closed internet forum, to support each other. Deti-404 is one of the few supports for young gay people in Russia. “When they passed the law, all the teens I know were in despair. You know, in reality, the law is aimed at them” Lena Klimova says “Sportsmen can go to the opening ceremony with a rainbow flag in support of Russian LGBT. It would be very valuable”.