London starts countdown to World Pride 2012!

With 150 days to go, London gets in gear to welcome the global LGBT community for World Pride 2012.

London, chosen to host this year’s WorldPride parade, has officially started its countdown to the largest un-ticketed event in Europe.
After having beaten stiff competition to win the title of host city for WorldPride 2012, the organization announced this year ‘the celebrations will be bigger, better and prouder than ever.’
Registration for walking groups and floats to take part in the parade opened yesterday and with the global LGBT community descending on the city for two weeks from 23 June to 8 July, spaces are expected to be filled quickly.
This year’s pride festivities markets itself as a festival of art, culture and campaigning culminating with the parade through central London on 7 July. On parade day itself a star-studded line-up will lead celebrations on the main stage while Soho will be taken over by a dance stage with an international DJ line up.
Aside from the usual program of events, Pride London is also focusing on issues facing the global LGBT community today. A conference at Senate House will discuss the central theme of the fortnight’s event, which is the call for global decriminalization of homosexuality, especially within the Commonwealth.
Speakers are already confirmed from countries including Jamaica, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Jamaica’s recently elected Prime Minister, Portia Simpson-Miller, has recently articulated her support for gay rights but many other Commonwealth countries are less supportive of gays.
In a press notice, chair of Pride London Patrick Williams said: ‘World Pride is much more than just a party. There are 41 countries in the Commonwealth where homosexuality is illegal and in some cases punishable by death. This summer we want to give the global LGBT community a safe place to celebrate and be proud regardless of who they love, but we will also be using our time in the spotlight to campaign for a safer environment for them to return to.’
As a charity run entirely by volunteers, the annual call for volunteers to help out in the run-up and throughout the festival is also now open. ‘I want to extend an invitation to everyone in London, the United Kingdom and around the world to join us for WorldPride,’ Williams concludes.
You can register a float, a walking group or sign up as a volunteer here. The deadline for entry to the parade is 4 May.
Gay Star News is proud to be the official news website of World Pride 2012.

 

Πηγή:www.gaystarnews.com

Aeroflot gay protesters arrested in terminal.

Day of action against airline which forced flight attendant into sham marriage and denies having gay staff.

 

Updated story: The small group of protestors who unveiled a 20-metre wide banner at the end of Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport runway today have now been arrested after taking their campaign into the terminal.
Once inside the demonstrators called for a boycott of not only Aeroflot, but its codeshare partners within the SkyTeam group, including Air France, KLM and US carrier Delta – because of the Russian airline’s anti-gay staffing practices.
They are angry about Aeroflot forcing a gay flight attendant Maxim Kupreev to marry after he tried to start a gay staff group in the airline. In an article in the leading Russian tabloid, MK, today the company has claimed an LGBT staff group is not needed as it has no gay employees.
As GSN reported earlier, they started their day of protest (9 February) by unveiling their banner at the end of the runway so passengers could see it as they came in to land.
In the terminal they called for the airline to be boycotted. They have also demanded a public apology by Aeroflot to its gay flight attendant Kupreev and that the airline set-up an LGBT employee group.
Other airlines in the SkyTeam group were asked to distance themselves from the action of Aeroflot in its insistence that Kupreev got married, or get fired.
One of the placards they had at Sheremetyevo Airport read: ‘Sensation! A pill against homosexuality is found! Aeroflot!’
Another demanded a ‘divorce’ of Aeroflot and SkyTeam: ‘Aeroflot - Sky Team. Sham marriage. Gays demand divorce’, it read.
Then at 5.05pm Moscow time the four protestors, who had been mingling with often bemused passengers in the terminal, were arrested.
In an SMS message, protester Nikolai Alekseev said: '15 minutes into our action in the terminal, the four of us have been arrested. The police did not know what to do.'

The four are Alekseev, Kirill Nepomnyashchiy, Alexey Kiselev and Alexander Hots.

Πηγή:www.gaystarnews.com

Northern Cyprus: No charges yet on gay sex arrests.

An advisor to the leader in Turkish-occupied Northern Cyprus has said today that no charges have yet been brought against two men arrested for committing gay sex acts.
Conservative MEP for London Marina Yannakoudakis MEP had written to Turkish Cypriot leader Dr. Derviş Eroğlu condemning the arrests, calling for charges to be dropped and asking for a moratorium on further arrests.
A challenge at the European Court of Human Rights of the anti-gay laws in the unrecognised state was announced yesterday.
Marina Yannakoudakis’s office said Dr. Hasan Güngör, an advisor to Dr. Eroğlu, had responded to her today saying the men had not yet been charged and the leader is not able to impose a moratorium on arrests.
In Dr. Güngör’s letter, the advisor states: “Contrary to what has been insinuated in the media, no charges have so far been brought against the two men with respect to same sexual relations.”
He continues: “The police investigation on that incident is ongoing and once the investigation is completed, the Attorney General’s Office will make the necessary legal evaluation and decide on the charges to be brought against the accused.”
On forbidding any future arrests under the law, Dr. Güngör wrote: “The legislation in force does not authorize (Dr. Eroğlu) to impose a moratorium on arrests under section 171 of the Criminal Code, or to ‘suspend’ the implementation of any law.”
However, Dr. Güngör stated that measures to repeal the anti-gay law were before the relevant committee and were awaiting assessment by the relevant authorities.
Dr. Güngör also made clear that “The European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) prevails over domestic law”.
The letter also says Dr. Eroğlu “stands by his promise that, once the legislative process is completed he will sign the amending law that will repeal the relevant sections of the Criminal Code to end the criminalization of unnatural offences”.
Northern Cyprus declared itself an independent state in 1983 but has not had international recognition.
Marina Yannakoudakis MEP said today: “I am pleased to receive such a speedy reply to my letter to Dr. Eroğlu’s office. Recognition by the authorities that the European Convention of Human Rights applies in the north part of Cyprus means that by prohibiting private consensual homosexual acts the north is in violation of Article 8.
“I am also pleased to note that Dr. Eroğlu intends to ‘stand by his promise’ to repeal the ban, although I am disappointed that an immediate moratorium has been rejected.
“Nevertheless I am concerned that, while no official charges have been brought against the two men detained on 29 January, that these men remain under investigation.
“Also I was informed by the north-based Initiative Against Homophobia that they are currently being held in punishment cells in Nicosia Central prison. I hope that if the north part of Cyprus is to demonstrate its commitment to human rights, that no further charges will be brought for homosexual acts.”

 

Πηγή:www.pinknews.co.uk

European diplomats try to prevent passing of St Petersburg’s ‘promotion of homosexuality’ bill.

Second reading of homophobic bill due in St Petersburg’s parliament today.

European diplomats met with the initiator of the ‘promotion of homosexuality’ bill due to have its second reading in parliament in St Petersburg today.
United Russia deputy Vitaly Milonov brought the bill to the city’s parliament last November, saying: ‘We do not infringe on civil rights and freedoms. We are only talking about propaganda as this information about sexual deviations affects our children.’
But LGBT rights groups around the world have described the bill as deeply homophobic. Campaign group AllOut.com say the bill will ‘make it illegal for any person to write a book, publish an article or speak in public about being gay, lesbian, bi or transgender’. They started a petition which now has over 250,000 signatures.
British Consul General in St Petersburg, Gareth Ward, and an un-named Swedish diplomat led a delegation of European Union diplomats to meet with Milonov yesterday. He is understood to have said that he has ‘very deep religious beliefs’.
St Petersburg’s parliament passed the first reading with a huge 27-1 majority and if it passes it’s second reading the law is in danger of spreading nationwide.
Following the passing of the first reading last November, the US State Department issued a statement saying: ‘We are deeply concerned by proposed local legislation in Russia that would severely restrict freedoms of expression and assembly for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals, and indeed all Russians.’
The Foreign Office in London said: ‘We share the concerns of LGBT organisations and others about the proposed St Petersburg legislation which aims to ban ‘propaganda of homosexuality’ and appears to link issues of sexual orientation with paedophilia’.
The bill’s second reading was postponed by a week, with Russian news agency RIA Novosti suggesting this was because politicians failed to agree on legal definitions. ‘We have decided to double-check all legal definitions related to this bill, ’ Milonov told reporters.
However, gay activists in St. Petersburg thought that the AllOut.org petition’s huge success might have had something to do with the postponement. If the second reading is passed today, activists say they will be protesting on the streets of St Petersburg and take the case to the European Court of Human Rights.
In the last couple of months there have been several protests against similar laws in different parts of Russia: in Kostroma, Moscow and Arkhangelsk.

 Πηγή:www.gaystarnews.com

Update: AllOut call for emergency international call-in over St Petersburg bill.

Campaign group urges bombardment of foreign ministries to prevent 'promotion of homosexuality' bill.

In an update to news that the parliament in St Petersburg is likely to pass the second reading of a bill that criminalises expressing support for LGBT equality, campaign group AllOut is calling for an emergency bombardment of foreign ministries. Those who support LGBT activists in Russia are urged to contact their foreign ministry to call on them to challenge the move in St Petersburg.
Yesterday a delegation of European diplomats met with Vitaly Milonov, the politician who initiated the bill last November. But Milonov’s response, that he has ‘very deep religious beliefs’ does not suggest they succeeded in changing his mind.
Co-founder of AllOut.org Andre Banks said: ‘This bill, which would violate Russia's own constitution as well as any number of international treaties, is an outrageous attack on the freedom of expression for all Russians - straight and gay. It must not be allowed to stand.’
ComingOut, a LGBT-organization based in St. Petersburg said: ‘This law would legalize discrimination against gays and lesbians in Russia. The history of Europe shows that all totalitarian regimes here began with similar repression of LGBT people. If this law is allowed to pass, it could signal that Russia is sliding towards a new totalitarianism.’
St Petersburg is Russia's most cosmopolitan city, with established LGBT rights organisations, clubs and Pride marches. If passed, this bill will make all that illegal and punishable with heavy fines. The publication of any leaflets, books or blogs related to LGBT rights will also be illegal.
On AllOut.org’s website they have the phone numbers for foreign ministries in 50 countries and a sample script to help those against this bill to call their representatives and urge them to place diplomatic pressure on Russia.

 Πηγή:www.gaystarnews.com

Gay activists will protest against Aeroflot in Moscow tomorrow!

Protest and petition against Russia’s main airline after they reportedly forced a gay flight attendant to marry a woman!

In Moscow tomorrow gay activists will protest outside the offices of Russian airline Aeroflot. As reported by Gay Star News on January 29, Aeroflot allegedly forced a gay flight attendant, Maxim Kupreev, to marry a woman after he set up an LGBT staff group.
One of the protesters Nikolai Alekseev told Gay Star News that he planned to have the largest-ever banner seen on a gay demonstration in Russia. He declined to give details, saying: ‘You will have to wait and see.’
In the meantime, Ruben Salcedo in New York has started a petition on Change.org to the airlines that are members of the Sky Team global alliance with Aeroflot - including KLM, Delta, and Air France - to: ‘condemn the actions of Aeroflot, and to remove Aeroflot from the alliance unless it apologizes for what it did to Maxim, and allows to register an LGBT group for employees'.
Gay activists in Russia have called for a boycott of the airline.

 

 

Πηγή:www.gaystarnews.com

Activists urge Uganda to reject 'insidious' anti-gay bill!

Rights groups have condemned Uganda's 'kill the gays' bill which returned to parliament yesterday.
Activists are urging Uganda's politicians to reject the 'kill the gays' bill which returned to parliament yesterday, warning it could have 'grave' consequences for all citizens in the African country.
The anti-homosexuality bill of 2009 includes the death penalty for ‘aggravated homosexuality’ and harsh prison terms for gay and lesbian sex.
Despite reports it was off the table, MPs applauded the bill when it was reintroduced in parliament yesterday (7 February), chanting 'our bill'.
Speaking last week in London, executive director of Sexual Minorities Uganda, Frank Mugisha, predicted that if it gets to the floor of the house, the bill will be passed.
A spokesman for international gay rights group The Kaleidoscope Trust condemned the bill and has written to Uganda's president and senate.
'It’s an insidious bill and an attack on basic rights,' he said.
'The problem with the bill is it’s so wide-ranging that it can penalise any human rights defenders who seek to stand up for the rights of LGBT people in Uganda, as well as their friends, family and colleagues.'
Under the bill ‘aggravated homosexuality’ includes sex by a person who is HIV positive, is a parent, authority figure, or who administers intoxicating substances. Sex involving minors and the disabled is also ‘aggravated’ and repeat ‘offenders’ would get the death penalty too.
Other same-sex acts, and involvement in a lesbian or gay marriage would attract life imprisonment. And Ugandans may be extradited back home by the authorities, even if they have same-sex relations outside of the country.
There are also penalties in the bill for people, media, organisations or companies who don’t report gay people they know or support LGBT rights. The intention is to prevent any kind of gay liberation movement in the country.
Amnesty International say the bill is a 'grave assault on human rights.'
Michelle Kagari, deputy Africa programme director at the global rights group, said the knock-on effect of passing the bill would reach far beyond gay and lesbian people in Uganda.
She said: 'This deplorable bill would not only violate the rights of Ugandans to life, to non-discrimination, to equality before the law, and to privacy, but would sanction hatred, violence and the persecution of a group of people based on whom they love alone.
'We strongly urge the Ugandan Parliament to reject this bill in its entirety. It must not legislate hate.'
Uganda has faced a lot of international pressure to axe the bill, leading to the country’s ambassador to the USA, Perezi Kamunanwire, claiming the bill was ‘dead’ last month.
It has also been condemned by former South African president Thabo Mbeki during a visit to Uganda. And the debate is continuing despite the UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon calling on African nations to respect LGBT rights.
UK-based gay rights charity Stonewall are lobbying the British government to put further pressure on Uganda.
‘Gay people in Uganda will once again feel threatened and terrified by this deeply homophobic bill,' said Sam Dick, Stonewall’s head of policy.
He said: 'We have always believed that strong words have to be backed by real action, so we’ll be pushing the government to do everything in its power to prevent what would be a major step backwards for the people of Uganda.’
The bill was originally tabled by MP David Bahati in 2009 as a private members bill. It stalled in 2010 but in October 2011, parliament voted to continue discussing it.
The reintroduced bill must once again pass the legal affairs committee for public hearings and discussion before debate in parliament can proceed, a process expected potentially to take at least several months.

Πηγή:www.gaystarnews.com