Solidarity with Gays and Lesbians in Russia

This is what happened today:

Russia’s image suffered a major blow today when riot police violently broke up a rally by gay activists in Moscow ahead of tonight’s Eurovision song contest and arrested the veteran campaigner Peter Tatchell. [...] Riot police carrying truncheons dragged off about 30 demonstrators and chased gay rights activists through the university’s scenic gardens and privet hedges before arresting them. Nikolai Alexseev, the Russian organiser of the Slavic Pride rally, was forcibly carried off by five policeman.

Therefore:

EDIT: May 17 is the International Day against Homophobia!. Why this date? On 17 May in 1990 (that late!) the World Health Organisation removed homosexuality from its list of mental diseases.

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• Moscow police break up gay pride rally (guardian.co.uk)
• Tatchell arrested at rally in Moscow (guardian.co.uk)
• Eurovision contestants threaten walkout of Russian finale (bilerico.com)
• ‘You’re not safe in Moscow’, gay Eurovision fans told (guardian.co.uk)

Pictures: Karola Riegler, Coe Leta Finke