Gay Prides in Eastern Europe: The Bitter Taste of the Police Batons

Commentary by Nikolai Alekseev

Millions of people around the world, no matter whether they are gay or straight, will once again celebrate Prides this year.  Some were lucky enough to be born in most recent times, in countries which have already achieved much on equality for LGBT people. But others have been part of Stonewall, worked with [Harvey] Milk and remember about the origins of Pride.

While most participants will enjoy peaceful and colourful events throughout the Pride season, some will feel the bitter taste of the batons.

The excellent Canadian documentary Beyond Gays, the Politics of Pride, directed by Bob Christie, reminds us that for many around the world, Prides are still not a celebration, but a way to come out in the society and launch the campaign for equality.

In that way, Pride organisers convey a political message but also sign up for a painful visibility which cost them to be insulted, beaten, and often arrested.  Some of you watched this documentary at the InterPride annual conference.  Other will have a chance to watch it at various Prides.

This year, Eastern Europe have new Prides.  St Petersburg (Russia), Minsk (Belarus), Vilnius (Lithuania) and Bratislava (Slovakia) will for the first time join the Pride movement.  The EuroPride will also be organised in Warsaw, Poland's capital city.

The movement has never been so dynamic in the region.

As I write, several Eastern European Prides have been targeted by religious leaders, politicians and extremists and it is not certain that the authorities will grant permission to rally in St Petersburg, and Moscow.

Organisers of Prides in St Petersburg and Minsk vowed to ignore any threats and march despite a ban ,as in Moscow these past five years.

Ironically, Eastern European Pride organisers have the law on their side – but not those who apply the law. T he European Convention of Human Rights, which applies to most of the European continent, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, a UN treaty, both guarantee freedom of assembly for all citizens.

In 2005, the Mayor of Warsaw banned the first Pride.  In 2007, the European Court of Human Rights handed down a decision against Poland in this matter and, thus, made an important precedent for Eastern European Pride organisers.

And already in 2010, – three years later – EuroPride is being staged in Warsaw in July.  How historic!

The origins of Pride in one country usually depend on the existence of a small group of individuals ready to endorse this uneasy and not very rewarding campaign.

Pride is often a dilemma in some countries where activists are most at risk.  Shall we march despite homophobia?  Shall we endorse a more discreet approach?

In this respect, Milk drew a line 30 years ago.  “We are coming out to fight the lies, the myths, and the distortions,”  he said.

Visibility is how Milk and his team defeated the bigotry of Prop 6, simply by showing who that law would hurt. 

Like Eastern European Pride organisers today, Milk used the media to convey his message to the society.  He understood that he was running out of time to knock every other Californian door to convince them.  Instead, he entered their home via TV and radio.

Because Pride initiatives generate a lot of media attention, they are a unique chance for activists to make it into the mainstream media, especially since the internet has multiplied the channels.  Once you managed to put the topic in the society, you can start driving your own agenda. 

For instance, Moscow Pride regularly brings 100 journalists at its annual press conference, it helps making the agenda of the community visible, and pushes campaigns on marriage equality, anti-discrimination legislation and MSM blood ban.  Pride is just the platform which allows us to be heard.

Pride is the first step of a long way to equality.  And long before it can be a joyful carnival, Pride is first of all a battle against bigotry, homophobia, religious extremism, populist politicians and skinheads.

No society is ever ready for anything.  By making the community visible, Pride organisers are putting the first step of the campaign for LGBT rights in their country.

They fight stereotypes that the media – especially the tabloids – paint of LGBT people.

So, what is the best message that Pride organizers can deliver to the society?

That LGBT people are not going to surrender and that they are ready to stand up firmly for their rights.

Time changes.  Strategies remain.

■ Nikolai Alekseev is the chief organiser of Moscow Pride and is the Region 8 director of InterPride.  He also heads the LGBT advocacy group, GayRussia.  The article was originally written for the InterPride annual publication Pride 10.

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