A group called Boycott Moscow 2013 have called for the rejection of the 2013 World Championship in Athletics in Moscow.
The group has created the page in response to the anti-gay law that was passed by the Russian Government earlier this week, where 434 – 0 voted to pass the controversial bill that could see anyone marching in a pride or even talking about homosexuality to anyone under 18 receive hefty fines or even jail time.
Scenes of violence erupted against 20 gay and pro-gay campaigners,, when a group of 200-strong anti-gay protesters physically abused, threw rotten eggs and chanted ‘Russia Not Sodom.’
Photographer Ilya Varlamov captured the scenes, (view the pictures here) which included one of police standing on the neck, allegedly, of a pro-gay activist.
One bystander purportedly heard an unidentified Duma official from the Communist Party approached and shook hands with a policeman, and reportedly said: “So are you guys ramping up the pressure on these faggots? Beat them up well! Cut their balls off!”
In a statement on the official Facebook page the organisers wrote:
‘This TuesdayThe Russian Parliament, the Doma, Passed Two Fascist, Homophobic and anti LGBT Laws:
1. “Banning Propaganda of Non-Traditional Sexual relations”
2. “Offending Religious Feelings”
This [sic] two laws make it practically illegal to be openly gay in Russia.
We cannot remain silent while this horrible country receives postivies [sic] reviews during the 2013 Moscow Games. We must show Putin that LGBT Rights of Russian are not an “internal issue” that can be shadowed.
WE MUST BOYCOTT MOSCOW 2013’
AllOut.org have a petition for the Russian President, Putin. Nearly 125,000 people have already signed it.
The petition asks:
‘TO PRESIDENT PUTIN, RUSSIAN POLITICIANS AND ALL WORLD LEADERS:
We stand with citizens across Russia who are calling on their government to stop the crackdown against lesbian, gay, bi and trans people that is fuelling anti-gay violence.We urge leaders around the world and within Russia to work to eliminate all anti-gay laws and protect all citizens from violence and discrimination in Russia.’
Sign it it here www.allout.org/en/actions/russia-attacks
