Russia: The New Gay Activism

It may be the Day of Silence, but the two hundred or so people in Valery Sozaev’s office are anything but. There is a buzz of nervous excitement. We’re about to march down Nevsky Prospect, St Petersburg’s main street, with tape over our mouths, handing out flyers calling for an end to homophobia. “It’s important to show people that activism exists,” says Irina, a marcher who didn’t give her last name. “But it’s a risk in Russia. I think people are very nervous.” As it turns out, they have reason to be. Our rally permit has been denied, allegedly due to construction in our path. “Cunning, very cunning,” mutters Anton Smolev, a social studies teacher. Full Story from Capital Xtra: http://www.xtra.ca/public/Ottawa/The_new_Russian_queer_activism-7921.aspx

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