Moscow gay pride
organizers submit official permit request

Gay pride organizers in Moscow on Monday submitted an official request to hold a parade, despite promises from the Russian capital's mayor that he would deny such a request. At a news conference, organizers behind the attempted pride parade say they've turned in their paperwork and are now awaiting a response from Mayor Yury Luzhkov, whose administration has earlier said it would refuse to grant permission for the parade. The organizers will also face some heavy resistance from outside City Hall, as local religious leaders have sided with the mayor. The head of Russia's Muslims called for a "violent mass protest" if pride celebrations take place, and earlier this month dozens of antigay protesters were arrested for a violent demonstration outside Moscow's most famous gay nightclub. Still, gay community leaders in Moscow say there will be a parade, with or without official approval. At the news conference, Moscow pride organizer Nikolai Alekseev said the request submitted "does not at all refer to a gay parade because it is a human rights event." (Sirius OutQ News)