Russian Orthodox Church embraces gays

The head of the Russian Orthodox Church says that, although the church views homosexuality as a sin, homosexuality is a personal choice.

Patriarch Kirill says gays and lesbians must not be persecuted or discriminated against in any way, though the church still opposes same-sex marriages.

The patriarch’s statements, a breakthrough for the …

UN panel alarmed by Russian killings of gays and lesbians, others

(Geneva) Russia fails to protect journalists, activists, prison inmates, gays and lesbians and others at odds with authorities from a wide range of abuses, including torture and murder, the U.N. Human Rights Committee said Friday.

The findings came in a report by an 18-member panel of independent experts who urged the …

Russian gays express disappointment in Clinton

(Moscow) Russia’s leading gay activist said Wednesday that he was disappointed that Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton met with an outspoken foe of gay rights during her two-day trip to Russia and did not decry homophobia in the country.

Clinton attended a ceremony unveiling a statue of Walt Whitman at …

Russian TV calls gays "abomination"

Russian TV calls gays “abomination”

Russian gays convicted of promoting homosexuality

(Moscow) Two Russian gay activists Monday were convicted of promoting homosexuality in Ryazan, southeast of Moscow.

The Ryazan region is the only area in Russia with a law barring discussion of homosexuality to minors. The law is used to bar schools from any discussion of gay issues.

Nikolai Baev and Irina Fet, …