Moscow’s Equivalent of Anti-Gay Chris Buttars

According to Pink News:

The mayor of Moscow has repeated his claims that gay Pride marches are “satanic”.

Yuri Luzhkov attacked gay-themed events in 2007 as “satanic” in 2007 and banned gay rights campaigners from holding such an event.

According to the Interfax news agency, he said last month: “For several years, Moscow has experience[d] unprecedented pressure to conduct a gay pride parade, which cannot be called anything but a Satanic act.

“We have prevented such a parade and we will not allow it in the future. Everyone needs to accept that as an axiom.”

More after the jump…

Now, perhaps it’s me, but does this guy look like he’s in the same family as Chris Buttars?

Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov

Chris Buttars

Russian Lesbian Activists Get Married in Canada

Two Moscow lesbian activists who were turned down for a marriage license in Russia got married in Toronto Oct. 23. Irina Fedotova-Fet and Irina Shipitko honeymooned in Niagara Falls, then returned home with their lawyer, gay activist Nikolai Alekseev, to demand that Russia recognize the Canadian marriage.

According to Alekseev, Russian law requires recognition of all foreign marriages except in cases of bigamy or incest. Homosexual unions are not among those prohibited, he said. “It’s sort of a loophole in the law,” Alekseev said.

Should Russia refuse to recognize the marriage, Alekseev and the couple will file a case with the European Court of Human Rights, he said.

“Even though it is not my marriage, this is a day I will hardly forget,” Alekseev said in Toronto. “Many in Russia, including in the LGBT community, think that same-sex marriage is impossible but the fight for marriage equality in Russia today is an investment in a democratic and free future of the country. We know that we will get it one day and this is the reason why we have to start now. I salute the courage of Irina and Irina who are showing today that there are no barriers to love. They give a great message of hope”.

More at: San Francisco Bay Times!

Hillary Attends Unveiling Of Statue Honoring Gay Poet Walt Whitman

Today Secretary of State Hillary Clinton attended the unveiling of a statue of gay poet Walt Whitman at Moscow State University. But local Russian LGBT activists are disappointed the Clinton did not use the opportunity to denounce the homophobia of the Russian government.

Read more at: Joe My God!

Russia’s Own Cold War on Gay Marriage

Yesterday, as the debate over whether or not a lesbian couple would be allowed to marry in Russia took place in side a Moscow courtroom, things heated up outside as  the two women, Irina Fedotova-Fet and Irina Shipitko, decided to have their own kissing demonstration to protest the case being held up in court.

Although homosexuality was officially decriminalized in Russia in 1993, but remains very little support for LGBT rights in the former Communist state.

The women were upset that the court had postponed the hearing of a case stemming from refusal to let them marry.  But Judge Natalya Zhuravlyova stated the reason for delay was the women’s “disrespectful” failure to appear in court.

The two women did arrived 10 minutes after the hearing ended and kissed for the cameras, stating they had been held up in traffic.

The couple’s lawyer, Nikolai Alexeyev who is a Russian gay rights activist, protested the postponement and told the judge, “the way you conduct a hearing is a disgrace.” Alexiyev also noted that he will not be able to be present on the date set for the new trial, which is September 9th, as he has other obligations.

The couple has decided to marry in Toronto, Canada, where same-sex marriage is legal on Oct. 23.

From what I gather, there appears to be a lack of seriousness from all sides.  If you want to get married, and you have a court date, you should be waiting at the courtroom door as it opens…not be late for being stuck in traffic.  And if you’re a real gay rights activist lawyer, it seems you’d clear your schedule until the case was decided, perhaps anticipating in advance there may be delays.

And I though there was apathy in the U.S. LGBT community!

Remember the USSR & the Cold War?

I ran across a post by Natalya Krainova at The Moscow Times that talks about how the Religious zealots in Russia are attempting to build a wall of separation between the LGBT community and other citizens.

The following is an excerpt:

A nationwide Christian association has called on authorities to move gay clubs away from residential areas, schools, and cultural, sports and medical facilities.

“Everything that is connected to the propaganda of gay culture must be moved away to limit the impact on ordinary people, because it leads to degradation,” Konstantin Bendas, spokesman for the Russian Church of Christians of Evangelical Faith, told The Moscow Times.

Bendas also serves as an expert adviser to the State Duma on ties with social and religions organizations.

In an open letter published Friday, the association also said authorities had to endorse “strict control” of gay clubs to remove minors, drugs, prostitutes and porn distribution.

So, remember the Cold War?  Perhaps not, but either way I’m sure you’ve heard of it.

The U.S. was so worried about Soviet aggression…and why?  The spread of communism.  Well, even though the U.S.S.R. no longer exist, and Russia is no longer categorized as a “Communist” nation, there is still a great deal of leftover Communist thought.

I find it amazing how what was once the U.S. Christian Right’s worst fear has become, in a sense, an ally.  This is the same rhetoric being spewed from the likes of Julaine Appling, Pat Robertson, James Dobson, Sally Kern…the list goes on and on, who I might add are members of the Republican party.

So I would point out, the next time someone from the GOP spouts off about the LGBT community, same sex marriage, President Obama, or the ever growing liberal monster, they check themselves.

Afterall, we don’t need another Cold war over “Communist aggression”, especially a civil war.

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