Stubborn As (Moscow) Mules

International News, By Joal, 23rd July, 2008

Moscow pride march organisers have announced that next year they’ll be protesting at the same time Moscow hosts the Eurovision Song Contest.

In 2006 Moscow’s pride march turned violent, in 2007 it was banned by the city completely, and this year their numerous applications to host a pride march this year were rejected by Moscow municipal council on the grounds that they would “endanger public order and cause negative reaction of the majority of the population”.

Despite the negativity of the last few years, organisers say that they’ll be notifying Moscow authorities about their plans.

“We hope that the many gays and lesbians who usually attend Eurovision finals from different countries will join our Pride,” gay rights activist and organiser Nikolai Alekseev told UK Gay News.

Moscow’s Mayor has in the past called the marches “satanic” – so organisers intend to invite Mayors of Berlin and Paris, both of whom are gay, as well as the Mayor of London. They’re hoping the more progressive Mayors will also stick around for an international conference to co-incide with International Day Against Homophobia which takes place May 17.

“Russia must show that it is part of the civilised world, of the European family, that it is tolerant and that it is possible to conduct public actions of sexual minorities in Moscow,” Mr Alekseev said.

Activists in Russia are tenacious, and have on separate occasions attempted to take both the Mayor of Moscow and the President of Russia to court for homophobic comments and laws against gatherings of homosexuals.

The Eurovision Song Contest is known for its over-the-top performances and has a huge gay following. There’s often safety in numbers, so let’s hope the influx of gay tourism can help Moscow get its pride festivities back.

Good luck Moscow, we’ll be watching.

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