A major demonstration is to be held outside the Embassy of the
Russian Federation in Berlin over support of LGBT rights,
tomorrow.
The protest has been organized by Qvartira (an organization that
brings together Russian speaking gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgender people and friends in Germany) and Saint
Petersburg-based Side by Side LGBT International Film festival
LSVD.
Organisers will deliver a statement addressed to both the
Parliament and Governor of Saint Petersburg and to the Government
of Germany.
The demonstration has been organized on the very same day that the
Legislative Assembly in Saint Petersburg will hold the third and
final reading of the bill which seeks to prohibit so-called
"propaganda of sodomy, lesbianism, bisexuality and transgender
among minors."
The two previous readings were backed by the majority of
politicians and it is highly likely that the law will be
passed.
The legislation, which has been forced through without any public
discussion and has no scientific or medical grounding, contributes
directly to spread of hatred and increase of xenophobia in
society.
The bill is a direct violation of the rights and freedoms of not
only LGBT people but all Russian citizens, including the rights to
freedom of expression and dissemination of information - all of
which are enshrined both in the Constitution of the Russian
Federation, as well as European Convention of Human Rights.
Since November, 2011 when the bill first became an issue of
parliamentary debate in Saint Petersburg numerous organizations,
both Russian and international, as well as governments of various
countries from around the world have demanded the bill be
withdrawn, calling for the observance of rights of LGBT people in
Russia.
