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May 17, 2012
Protestors march on Turkish embassy for IDAHO

Montenegro sees rally for LGBT rights as French Caribbean island holds first LGBT march

Activists in Montenegro marked the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) by marching on the Turkish embassy in protest at the country's treatment of LGBT people.

Members from rights group, the LGBT Forum Progress, carried banners reading in English, Montenegrin and Turkish, 'Never hush, never share a crime' and other messages of love and tolerance.

April 25, 2012
Russian gay teen sprung from rehab after activist 'siege'

Family tried to exorcize gay teenager in Moscow after he came out to them on his 16th birthday

A gay teenager in Russia who was put into a drug rehab center after coming out to his father has been released following a 'seige' by activists.

Ivan Kharchenko spent 12 days in Moscow's Marshak facility for alleged drug abuse and alcoholism, but was last night sprung from the clinic by campaigners including activist Dmitry Aleshkovsky, who tweeted that his supporters staged an improvised seige.

April 23, 2012
Man cleared of gay propaganda charge in Russia

Judge cites lack of evidence in charges against straight attorney Sergey Kondrashov

Sergey Kondrashov is a straight attorney who was arrested for holding up a gay rights banner in Saint Petersburg, Russia, two weeks ago.

He was charged with the promotion and propaganda of homosexuality under a new law that officially prevents the ‘propaganda of homosexuality to minors.’ Kondrashov was also charged with disobeying a police officer.

On Monday (23 April), he was found guilty only of the latter charge with the judge in the case citing a lack of evidence, and protocols.

April 16, 2012
Deputy Foreign Minister says Russia disagree with G8 stance on gay rights

Russian ministers contradict G8 line on LGBT rights

Russia's deputy foreign minister said on Friday that his country disagrees with the other G8 countries about protecting LGBT rights and his foreign minister Sergei Lavrov expressed this view at a G8 meeting in Washington last week.

April 16, 2012
St Petersburg 'gay censor' court case delayed

Men have trial for 'promotion and propaganda of homosexuality' in St Petersburg, Russia delayed for a week due to missing papers

The chairman of the Russian LGBT Network and an independent attorney faced a judge in a hearing under St Petersburg’s new anti-gay censorship law today (16 April).

However, papers related to the charge of the promotion and propaganda of homosexuality were found to be missing.

The judge has postponed the hearing until next Monday (23 April).

Attorney Sergey Kondrashov and Igor Kochetkov, chairman of the Russian LGBT Network, are charged with the promotion and propaganda of homosexuality as well as disobeying a police officer.

April 7, 2012
Court throws out first case for St Petersburg gay hate law

Police evidence that two gay activists ‘promoted homosexuality to minors’ was insufficient

The two gay activists arrested in St Petersburg on Thursday (5 April) have been released by a court.

They were the first two people arrested in the Russian city under its new legislation which bans ‘the promotion of homosexuality to minors’ and had faced fines of 5,000 roubles ($172 €125) each and 15 days imprisonment if found guilty.

April 6, 2012
Two arrested under new St Petersburg gay law

First use of new anti-gay ‘propaganda’ legislation in Russian city of St Petersburg

Two gay activists from Moscow Pride were arrested in St Petersburg yesterday (5 April) under the new ‘gay propaganda’ law.

The law, similar to legislation in other Russian states, officially prevents the ‘propaganda of homosexuality to minors’ but campaigners warn it will be used to gag any public discussion of lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender issues or events targeted at gay and trans people.

April 1, 2012
Olympics adds gay pink ring to flag

International Olympic Committee will unveil new flag at London closing ceremony for Russia and Brazil games to push LGBT sport

UPDATE: This was our 2012 April Fool's Day story. Whether we fooled you or not, we hope you enjoyed it.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is to alter the Olympic flag for four years in a global drive to tackle homophobia and transphobia in sport.

Gay Star News can exclusively reveal today (1 April) that a pink ring will be added to the Olympic flag to symbolize lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex sportspeople.

March 29, 2012
National anti-gay bill submitted to Russian parliament

Proposed law calls for fines of up to half a million rubles for 'spreading homosexual propaganda'

An anti-gay 'propaganda' bill, similar to the one passed in St Petersburg, has been submitted to the Russian parliament.

The proposed law calls for fines of up to 500,000 rubles ($16,500 €12,400) for 'spreading homosexual propaganda' among minors.

Lawmakers from the Novosibirsk region submitted the legislation to the State Duma today (29 March) and is similar to the law passed in St Petersburg earlier this month.

March 23, 2012
Protests planned during Madonna's Russia concerts

'Freedom fighter' Madge faces backlash from Russia's gay community after the superstar defied calls to cancel gigs over country's gay hate laws

Russian activists plan to protest during Madonna's concerts in St Petersburg after the superstar refused to cancel her shows over the city's 'gay gag' law.

The singer last week defied calls to boycott the city, saying she was a 'freedom fighter' and would use the concert to speak out against the new legislation which bans 'homosexual propoganda'.

March 21, 2012
Madonna sticks to plans to perform in Russia, but with a purpose

'I will come to St. Petersburg to speak up for the gay community'

Madonna has no plans to cancel a concert in St Petersburg this summer because of the ‘homosexual propaganda’ law in the city which went into effect on last Saturday.

Instead, the superstar plans to use the occasion to sing - and to speak out.

March 20, 2012
Canada warns tourists visiting anti-gay Russia

Canadian foreign minister John Baird says St Petersburg gay gag law is contrary to country's 'core values'

The Canadian government is warning gay tourists visiting Russia after St Petersburg passed a gay hate bill.

Earlier this month, the governor of St Petersburg, Georgiy Poltavchenko, signed a bill into law which is designed to gag the local gay and transgender population.

Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs is now warning gay travelers to Russia to 'avoid displaying affection in public, as homosexuals can be targets of violence.'

March 20, 2012
Olympic bosses comment on gay games event ban

International Olympic Committee says discrimination is banned but fail to slap down Russian authorities who have outlawed Pride House from the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi

Olympic bosses have backed equality at the 2014 Winter games but avoided criticizing Russian authorities who have banned a gay Pride House from the event.

The first Pride House was held at the Winter Olympics in 2010 in Vancouver, Canada and it set to be repeated at the 2012 games in London this summer.

March 16, 2012
No Pride in Eastern Europe

We interview Australian filmmaker Logan Mucha about his  gay rights in Eastern Europe documentary, showing at the Melbourne Queer Film Festival tomorrow

The ‘dire’ plight of gay activists in Belarus, where there is no protection of LGBT rights at all, is the subject of a documentary, East Bloc Love, showing at the Melbourne Queer Film Festival tomorrow.

Gay Star News speaks to Australian filmmaker Logan Mucha about why he decided gay rights in Eastern Europe should be the focus of his first feature film, what happened when activists tried to hold a Pride march in Belarus and how the KGB are trying, unconvincingly, to infiltrate gay rights groups.

March 15, 2012
Judge bans Winter Olympics gay Pride House

Russian court rules that Pride House at 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics is ‘extremist’ and could provoke ‘social-religious hatred’

A judge in Russia has backed the ban imposed by the authorities on organising a ‘gay Pride House’ for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi.

Plans for the Pride House were formulated by Russian gay activists following the 2010 Games in Vancouver, which featured a very successful Pride House.

But the dreams of repeating the success of Vancouver were scuppered last year when the Russian Ministry of Justice refused the registration of the NGO set-up to organize Pride House.

March 15, 2012
Judge bans Winter Olympics gay Pride House

Russian court rules that Pride House at 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics is ‘extremist’ and could provoke ‘social-religious hatred’

A judge in Russia has backed the ban imposed by the authorities on organising a ‘gay Pride House’ for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi.

Plans for the Pride House were formulated by Russian gay activists following the 2010 Games in Vancouver, which featured a very successful Pride House.

But the dreams of repeating the success of Vancouver were scuppered last year when the Russian Ministry of Justice refused the registration of the NGO set-up to organize Pride House.

March 12, 2012
Russian gay activist sues politician for million roubles

Leading activist Nikolai Alekseev in lawsuit against St Petersburg homophobe Vitaly Milonov for Europe jibe

Russia’s leading gay activist has filed a lawsuit against a St. Petersburg politician who has accused him of accepting financing from overseas for gay rights campaigns.

Nikolai Alekseev is claiming a million roubles (€25,800, $33,800) in a defamation lawsuit against Vitaly Milonov, the United Russia party deputy and author of the controversial St Petersburg act that prohibits ‘the promotion of homosexuality to minors’ which has now been signed into law.

March 12, 2012
Russia’s Kostroma gay gag law faces challenge

Moscow activist Nikolai Alekseev has traveled to Kostroma to ask for permission to hold a gay march, and spark a legal challenge to their gag law

Russia’s most famous gay activist traveled to the city of Kostroma today (12 March) to challenge the region’s ban on ‘promoting’ homosexuality to minors.

The homophobic Kostroma law was introduced at the end of the last month and its introduction was overshadowed by the passing of a similar law in St Petersburg, which attracted global criticism and protests.

March 11, 2012
St Petersburg governor signs gay hate law

Georgiy Poltavchenko signs law against gay ‘propaganda to minors’ despite international pressure – now four Russian regions have similar laws

The governor of St Petersburg in Russia has signed a bill into law which is designed to gag the local gay and transgender population.

The law officially prevents the ‘propaganda of homosexuality to minors’ but campaigners warn it will be used to gag any public discussion of lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender issues or events targeted at gay and trans people.

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.

February 28, 2012
Protests outside Russian embassies today against homophobic law

Campaign group calls for protests against bill that will criminalise the work of gay rights groups in St Petersburg

Condemnation from law-makers around the world and hundreds of thousands of signatures on a position has not stopped St Petersburg from pushing a bill through the legislature that will criminalise LGBT rights groups in the city.

Campaign group AllOut.org are calling on people all around the world to support LGBT Russians by gathering outside embassies and consulates to protest against the law today. AllOut.org are calling the protest ‘a last ditch effort to stop this bill in its tracks’ before the final vote on the bill tomorrow (Wednesday 29 February).

February 17, 2012
Berlin joins protest against St Petersburg censorship law

German parliament members join activists to protest new and established anti-gay Russian laws

About 200 protestors gathered outside the Russian embassy in Berlin to demonstrate against homophobic laws in Russia.

Members of the Bundestag, the German parliament, joined with LGBT activists and trade unionists for the protest. It was held on Wednesday (15 February) but pictures have only now become available.

February 16, 2012
European Parliament blasts Russia’s anti-gay laws

EU resolution strongly denounces Russian LGBT censorship laws

The European Parliament has adopted a resolution today, as predicted, strongly condemning Russia’s new anti-gay censorship laws.

Critics say the homophobic laws are due to the upcoming presidential election in Russia. They forbid the public mention of homosexuality or gender identity to minors.

February 14, 2012
Berlin protest against St Petersburg anti-gay bill

Campaigners will protest outside the Russian embassy in Berlin against city’s plan for anti-gay censorship law

Demonstrators will gather outside the Russian embassy in Berlin tomorrow (15 February) in protest against a proposed anti-gay law in St. Petersburg.

February 14, 2012
MEPs slam Russia anti-gay laws

MEPs have spoken out against Russia's anti-gay laws as St. Petersburg perpares to pass a bill banning 'promotion of homosexuality'

MEPs have slammed Russia for its anti-gay censorship laws on the eve a bill which bans the 'promotion of homosexuality' in St. Petersburg reaches its final stages.

Last Wednesday (8 February) politicians in the Russian city voted 31 in favour and six against the new anti-gay law, which will go before the Legislative Assembly in St. Petersburg for its the third and final reading.