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April 17, 2013

Russians defy thugs to host LGBT film festival in Moscow

Russia’s Side by Side LGBT Film Festival goes ahead despite last year being picketed by thugs and against an increasingly homophobic political climate

Gay Russian film fans are defying thugs and politicians to host the Side by Side LGBT Film Festival in Moscow.

The festival will screen 17 films from tomorrow (18 April) until 21 April.

Last April, when Side by Side made its debut in Moscow 1,200 people attended.

They were picketed by Orthodox Christian activists wearing t-shirts with the slogan ‘Orthodoxy or death’ and shouting ‘Perverts get out of Russia.’

Police protected the festival-goers however – and they are hoping that will continue this year.

February 29, 2012

St Petersburg votes for gay hate law

Local Russian politicians ignore massive European, US and global pressure to press ahead with gay gag law

St Petersburg politicians have today (29 February) voted in favor of a new law which makes people criminals if they discuss homosexuality in public.

The law prohibiting public discussion of LGBT issues is similar to rules already introduced in the country's Ryazan, Arkhangelsk and Kostroma regions.

Currently, the bill has fines of up to 1 million roubles ($34,400 €25,000) for organisations and up to 5,000 roubles (€172 €125) for individuals.