PRESSURE ON RUSSIA

London demonstrates against homophobia in Russia

Hundreds of people participated in a colourful protest against Russia’s homophobic censorship laws last weekend close to the gates of Downing Street.

Those who attended included gay broadcaster, actor and writer Stephen Fry, former London mayoral candidate and retired police officer Brian Paddick, and veteran human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell.

Activists from Moscow and places such as Uganda were also present along with entertainers and club DJs from London’s gay scene.

Hours earlier Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted to say it would not be appropriate to boycott the 2014 Russian Winter Olympics – but that he had great sympathy for the plight of the country’s LGBT community.

The PM was responding to last week’s open letter by Stephen Fry, who had warned that Russia’s President Vladimir Putin was making “scapegoats” of gay people in a similar way to Hitler’s treatment of Jews.

Protest organisers Eddie Jardine and Scott Weiss were extremely happy with the turnout on Saturday. “I hope Mr Cameron and members of the G20 are now aware that the LGBT community in the UK are extremely concerned about what is happening in Russia,” Jardine told QX after the event. “We will not give up protesting. You haven’t seen the end of this. Can I also say ‘thank you’ to all the people who turned out to be a steward on the day.”

Stephen Fry: ‘The way to stop a tyrant like Putin is to inconvenience him’

Speaking to PinkNews.co.uk in the hustle and bustle of last Saturday’s protest, Stephen Fry said greater pressure needed to be placed on Russia.

When asked if world leaders were doing enough, Fry replied: “Not at the moment no. No, I think they could try more. I think basically the way to stop a tyrant like Putin is to inconvenience him – to do the things he least wants you to do and to mock him – to have contempt for him and not to talk to him directly [and] not to recognise him as the legitimate voice of Russia because I don’t think he is.”

Fry’s open letter to David Cameron generated significant interest in the UK mainstream media.

“I’m glad that it did get some publicity,” Fry said to PinkNews.co.uk of the letter, before adding: “And naturally of course a vicious backlash from the Daily Mail – there would have been something wrong if it hadn’t been disliked by the Daily Mail.”

Peter Tatchell: ‘I want to know what David Cameron is going to do to challenge homophobia in Russia’

Speaking to PinkNews.co.uk at the demonstration Peter Tatchell condemned the lack of action taken against Russia from both David Cameron and the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

He told PinkNews.co.uk that “David Cameron says he opposes a boycott of the Sochi Winter Olympics, I want to know what he is going to do to challenge homophobia in Russia. So far he hasn’t given any answers and if he doesn’t come up with a plan he will in affect be colluding with the Putin regime.”

When asked about the effectiveness of the protests against Russia and the call for boycotts Tatchell said: “This protest and the boycott of Russian vodka have been really effective at raising awareness of the homophobic persecution in Russia. They’ve put it into the headlines and got the message out to millions of people worldwide.”

He added: “We now have to think about new stages in the campaign including tackling the main sponsors of the Sochi Winter Olympics, corporations such as McDonalds, Visa and Coca-Cola.”

Kaleidoscope Trust: Hate attacks have increased in Russia since the passing of anti-gay laws

The Kaleidoscope Trust says there’s been an increase in violence against LGBT people in Russia following the passing of anti-gay legislation.

Speaking to PinkNews.co.uk at last Saturday’s central London demonstration against the laws, Alistair Stewart, the assistant director of the Kaleidoscope Trust, said: “Certainly our feeling and the feeling of our [Russian] partners seems to be that it’s getting worse in the sense these laws add to a climate of fear and also work to justify a range of abuses against LGBT people. Our partners in Russia are recording an increase level of violence: both spontaneous violence but also quite disturbingly premeditated and arranged violence.”

Along with several other international LGBT campaign groups, the Kaleidoscope Trust opposes a boycott of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. “The calls for a boycott I think are inevitably placing pressure on the International Olympic Committee to make a stronger stand than they have already, and also I think its placing pressure on the Russian Government as well,” Mr Stewart added.

• The LGBT media in London with the support of the Kaleidoscope Trust and the Peter Tatchell Foundation are proposing a worldwide ‘International Day of Action Against Russian Homophobia’ ahead of the G20 summit in St Petersburg, Russia. Check www.facebook.com/QXmagazine for updates and event info.