Agrees the necessity to eliminate discrimination, then bans Pride
 

■ The Mayors of (left to right) Berlin, London, Moscow and Paris.

BERLIN, February 22, 2006  —  Minutes after signing the “Berlin Declaration” which included a clause recognising “the necessity of eliminating all forms of discrimination and intolerance”, the Mayor of Moscow, Juri Lushkov, said this afternoon that he would not give permission for the Moscow Gay Pride march and festival to go ahead at the end of May.

“A parade like this is not going to take place,” he vowed.

Meeting this morning in Berlin, the mayors of Paris, London, Moscow and Berlin issued a joint declaration that covered covering all aspects of the quality of life in the four capital cities — the largest in Europe.

“We recognise the necessity of eliminating all forms of discrimination and intolerance,” the declaration said.  “As a foundation of the cities’ stability, we want to promote a culture of peaceful coexistence between the various ethnic and social groups in European metropolises.”

Most of the post-signing press conference was taken up with the question of Moscow Gay Pride.

Lushkov said that his personal philosophy was “a negative opinion on homosexuality — it’s an unnatural act”.

But he said that his personal opinion did not matter and that he based his thinking solely on what was good for the city of Moscow.

“I have not been approached by the organisers of the gay Pride parade,” he said.  “And if I had, I would have banned it.  I don’t want to go against public opinion.

“Most people in Moscow — and throughout the Russian Federation — are opposed to the parade. Most religious organisations are also against it.

“I am very concerned an event like this might cause serious problems,” he said.

Bertrand Delanoë, the Mayor of Paris who like Mayor Klaus Wowereit of Berlin, is openly gay, said that “we are all friends here so I’m going to talk frankly” — and he added that he was a champion of equality in all its forms.

“Nothing is unnatural,” he insisted.  “The principle here is of equality — at this is non-negotiable.

“The equality of human beings is important.  I tolerate all types of religions and faiths.”

Turning to the Moscow Mayor, Delanoë explained that Pride was a celebration of freedom.  He pointed out that the Pride held in Paris, Berlin and London were probably enjoyed by more heterosexuals than homosexuals.

Prides, he said, were for everyone.

“There has been no violence whatsoever in Paris,” he said, adding that it was the same in Berlin and London.

Lushkov then admitted that all people were different.

“I am not going to persecute homosexuals,” he said.  But [Moscow Pride] is going to be impossible to hold.

“The question is not important,” he insisted, wanting to move on to other topics.

The Mayor of Berlin pointed out that Prides were not welcome in the early days.  But they were now accepted in most of Europe.

“There are places where it is difficult to hold a gay pride,” he admitted, pointing to Warsaw.

“But we can work on this,” he promised.  “And we can pass on and information to Moscow.”

The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, made no comment on the subject, though earlier in the week he did issues a statement in support of Moscow Pride.

See Also:

Deputies Line Up to Back Moscow Mayor on Gay Pride.  Russian politicians have today been virtually queuing up to give statements to the media in support of the Mayor of Moscow who last week said he would ban a gay pride parade in the city.  (UK Gay News - February 20, 2006)

World Shows Solidarity with Russian Gays.  Gay men and women in Russia are tonight very encouraged at the world-wide response to the homophobic outbursts of religious leaders and the Mayor of Moscow during the week, with the Mayor proclaiming that Moscow Pride in May was a non-starter.  Condemnation of the outbursts, coupled with messages of solidarity with Russian gays, has come from across Europe – and as far a field as New Zealand.  (UK Gay News - February 17, 2006)

Mayor of London Asked to Intervene in Moscow Gay Pride “Ban”.  The Gay and Lesbian Humanist Association (GALHA) has called on the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, to appeal to his counterpart in Moscow to lift the threat of a ban on a gay pride parade in the city scheduled for the end of May.  (UK Gay News - February 17, 2006)

Moscow Authorities Will Not Allow Gay Pride In Any Form – Mayor’s Office.   The row over the planned Gay Pride in Moscow, highlighted over the past two days by religious leaders, went squarely into the local political arena today when the Moscow city authorities said they will not permit “under any circumstances” the first-ever Gay Pride parade, scheduled for the end of May in the city.  (UK Gay News - February 16, 2006)

Russian Muslim Leader Calls For Gays to be “Thrashed”.  Russian Muslims could arrange serious protest actions if representatives of “sexual minorities” try to stage a Gay Pride parade later in Moscow in May, according to Interfax news agency following an outburst from an extremist religious leader. (UK Gay News - February 15, 2006)

Putin Gets Protest Letter Over Anti-Gay Russian TV News Broadcast.  The grandson of British gay literary giant Oscar Wilde has written personally to the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, following a biased and homophobic television programme screened in Russia last weekend. (UK Gay News - February 8, 2006)

Russian Web Sites Claim Moscow Gay Pride Is On Religious Holiday ... But they get dates wrong as they try to whip-up objections.  A number of news internet sites in Russia have started what appears to be a campaign against Moscow’s LGBT Festival and Gay Pride.  Some reports suggest that the festival and Pride Parade will take place on May 24, a day considered as a ‘religious holiday’ in Russia.  (UK Gay News - January 31, 2006)

Gay Pride March in Moscow Will Be Under Watchful Eye of International Community.  Commentary.  The Russian gay and lesbian community are convinced that 2006 will be a watershed year.  Some have said that the projected Moscow Pride – the first-ever in the city – is doomed to failure.  Russia, they say, is just not ready for a “Pride” event, let alone the accompanying “cultural” festival. (UK Gay News - January 3, 2006)

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