Love Russia, Hate Homophobia protest called for 3rd September outside Downing Street.
Over a thousand people have signified that they are going to attend a ‘day of action’ outside Downing Street on the 3rd September 2013 to protest the Russian government’s treatment of LGBT people.
The protest is due to take place just days before the world’s leaders meet in St. Petersburg, Russia for the G20, which President Putin hosts this year.
The protest organisers are calling all participants to meet outside Downing Street from 5pm – 8pm.
Peter Tatchell, the veteran human rights campaigner said in a statement,
“There can be no normal sporting relations with an abnormal authoritarian regime like Putin’s Russia. The attack on the LGBT community is one fragment of a much wider attack on human rights. It is important to encourage an alliance between LGBT and straight Russians to defend freedom of expression for all the people of Russia. LGBT people need allies to win and all Russians who love democracy and human rights deserve our support.
“The anti-gay legislation will prevent LGBT teens from being told that it’s okay to be gay and from receiving HIV prevention information about how to have gay sex safely.
“Long before this law was passed, I was beaten up with police collusion and arrested in Moscow for holding a sign saying “Gay Rights”. I still live with the brain and eye injuries incurred. Many Russian LGBT campaigners and other human rights defenders have also been bashed and arrested. They are heroes of the LGBT freedom struggle. They stand and fight. Their courage is awesome. We have a duty to support them.”
Meanwhile LGBT organisations across the world are planning their own protests on the 3rd September, which is hoped will bring visibility to the violations against the LGBT community in Russia.
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