Russian Gay leader makes first ever US visit |
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| Russian Gay leader makes first ever US visit | |
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Chicago's Gay Liberation Network to host Nikolai Alexeyev CHICAGO - Russia's foremost Gay leader, Nikolai Alexeyev, will be the keynote speaker at the 9th annual Matthew Shepard March on Saturday, October 6, organized by the Gay Liberation Network (GLN). For the past two years Alexeyev has led the efforts of Russian Lesbians and Gays to win the right to publicly organize, braving police arrests and physical attacks by neo-fascists and religious zealots (see http://youtube.com/watch?v=NwGrMxid8lc and http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=15&entry_id=17013).. As democratic freedoms deteriorate in Russia, leaders of every major religious denomination in Moscow have called for the "legal" banning of Gay Pride parades, and some of them have openly called for violence against Pride participants. Russian Orthodox priests have blessed neo-nazi thugs before sending them off to attack Gay clubs. Police have stood by while fascists (http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZJui7tWsSvo) have physically attacked Pride participants, and then arrested non-violent Gay rights activists on trumped-up charges (http://youtube.com/watch?v=29tC0GynknI) Besides facing criminal charges for organizing this year's Moscow Pride activities, on August 1st Alexeyev was charged with "slander" for outing Alexander Chuev, a powerful and notoriously anti-Gay member of Russia's parliament. According to Alexeyev's website, GayRussia.ru, Chuev is a member of a party "closely linked to Kremlin" and "known for his anti Gay statements and legislative initiatives. He was the author of the bill to forbid propaganda of homosexuality and supported recriminalization of male homosexual relations." Alexeyev made what is believed to be Russia's first outing while being interviewed live on the country's most popular television talk show. "The Gay Liberation Network is proud to host of Alexeyev because his example of tenacious organizing demonstrates how rights have always been won, regardless of country," said GLN co-founder Andy Thayer. "Our own Stonewall Rebellion, the organizing against the Anita Bryant wave of anti-Gay legislation, the dynamic protests of ACT-UP during the early years of the AIDS crisis - like Alexeyev's activities, all of these are examples of not being afraid to break some eggs in order to make the omlet." Alexeyev will be the keynote speaker at the Gay Liberation Network's 9th annual Matthew Shepard March for LGBT Freedom which will begin at 8 PM, Saturday, October 6th in the parking lot located on the corner of Halsted and Roscoe Streets, Chicago. On Wednesday, October 3, 7 PM to 9 PM, GLN will host a solidarity reception with Alexeyev at the Gerber Hart Library, at 1127 W. Granville Street (1/2 block west of the Red Line "Granville" el stop). Suggested donation is $25 (more if you can afford it!) and all proceeds will go to Alexeyev's organization, the Organizational Committee of Moscow Pride. For more information, please call GLN at 773-209-1187, email LGBTliberation@aol.com, or go to www.GayLiberation.net A GLN press release |
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