1 May 2012

Coming Out

Today 17 activists were arrested for displaying rainbow flags and other rainbow insignia during the Russian May Day march. LGBT activists made up part of the democratic section of the march, which included over 400 people and represented a number of democratic and human rights groups of St. Petersburg. Activists displaying rainbow insignia (flags, pins, suspenders), and those carrying signs against homophobia were selectively pulled out of the march and taken to the closest police stations. Claimed reason for detention: propaganda of homosexuality. After 7 hours of detention, activists were not charged with "propaganda", but with articles of St. Petersburg administrative code 19.3 (non-compliance with police requests) and 20.2 (participation in illegal demonstration) and released. [Read more]