Gay and lesbian
partygoers trying to attend a gay event in Moscow were
attacked by far-right Russian nationalists outside a
nightclub early Monday morning. The antigay protesters
set up a blockade along with a group of Russian
Orthodox women, reports Agence France-Presse.
According to the
news agency, three young people exiting the club had to
hold up their arms to shield themselves as bottles were
thrown by a crowd of about 100 people who chanted,
"Russia without gays!" About 30 police officers were
sent to evacuate the gay partyers via two buses. but
they did not try to break up the antigay demonstration.
"It was meant to
be the most important event of the year. We were
expecting 1,000 people," said Alexei Golusenko, an organizer
of the lavish Black and White Party, who was trapped
for several hours inside the club. "Friends who were
coming to the party called me to say they were being
attacked by skinheads and they didn't know what to do."
Homosexuality was
considered a crime in Russia until 1993 and was
classified as a form of mental illness until 1999. Gay
rights activists have expressed concern that attitudes
may be slipping back toward increased discrimination.
"We are
protesting peacefully against this sin that should not
spread, against their orgies, against these sodomites who
crawl like cockroaches," Igor Artyumov, head of the
Union of All Russians group, told AFP outside the
club. Golusenko said at least 250 "skinheads" were
outside the club at the height of the picket, but the
police told him they were not able to deploy more than 30
officers, unless people were injured, because of
preparations for May Day celebrations in central
Moscow.
Police formed a
human chain to escort the partygoers from the club later
Monday. Gay rights activists are planning to hold a gay
pride march in Moscow in May even though the city
administration has refused to give authorization for
the event, following pressure from religious groups.
(The Advocate)