Doug PollardRainbow Report - Moscow Special
May 14th 2009 22:25
Russian gay leader Nikolai Alexeyev under attack by far right anti-gay extremists and police in Moscow
Interview with Nikolai Alexeyev, leader of Slavic Pride, speaking from Moscow on the eve of IDAHO and Eurovision.
Thousands of lesbians and gays around the world will be celebrating the Eurovision Song Contest final in Moscow this weekend.
But for Moscows gay community it’s an opportunity to demand their rights before the worlds media. Although it isn’t illegal to be gay in Russia, there is endemic homophobia, and gay-bashing by far-right extremists, skinheads and religious fanatics of the Orthodox Church. Gay life is only possible at all in the major cities, and deeply closeted.
Slavic Pride will take place this year to coincide with the song contest (and the International Day Against Homophobia), with a parade through Moscow on Saturday. Organiser Nikolai Alexeev is inviting all gays and lesbians, their friends and supporters visiting Moscow for Eurovision, to join the locals in the parade. Activists from the USA and Britain have already said they will be there.
Participating is not without risk. Officially, the march has been banned. The British Foreign Office is warning gay and lesbian tourists of potential violence.
This will be the fourth year that a pride march in Moscow will go ahead in spite of a ban. It will probably also be the fourth year that participants are attacked by violent thugs and priests. An anti-gay protest has been given official approval.
The police will, as usual, be present in large numbers, but will probably once again do nothing to protect the marchers. Except that this time there will probably be many members of the world press there, too.
Nikolai is also asking audience members and artists appearing in the Song Contest to wear gay pride symbols in support. The Dutch entry has threatened to boycott the contest if there is anti-gay violence on the streets of Moscow and the authorities fail to protect the marchers.
Listen to Nikolai on the Rainbow Report tonight May 14.
ASK EUROVISION TO HELP
You can do your part: contact Eurovision and ask them to cancel the broadcast if the authorities fail to protect gays and lesbians at the Slavic Pride parade. Ask them to allow demonstrations of support for gay rights by song contest participants.
Eurovision Director General - Jean Reveillon - ebu@ebu.ch
Stefan Kuerten - Eurovision Operations Department - kuerten@eurovision.net
Jeff Dubin - News & events - dubin@eurovision.net
Svante Stockselius - Song contests unit - stockselius@ebu.ch
ALSO TONIGHT
Also on tonights show: Melbourne gets its first gay rugby union club, and the census starts counting married gay couples.
UPDATE: Melbourne Gay Rugby is looking for players, a coach, fundraisers, marketers, administrators and supporters - and a name!
Email melbournegayrugby@gmail.com, SMS 0424 108 708 or check out Melbourne Gay Rugby on Facebook.
The Rainbow Report, Joy 94.9 FM in Melbourne and streaming worldwide www.joy.org.au, 1900 – 2000 hrs Australian Eastern Standard Time. Podcasts available at the website or via iTunes.
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