Gay protest broken up in Moscow
Police in Russia have broken up a protest by gay rights activists in Moscow, staged to coincide with the final of the Eurovision Song Contest.
Some 30 campaigners had gathered near a university in defiance of a ban on their march and many were dragged away by police when they shouted slogans.
British gay rights activist, Peter Tatchell, was among those detained.
A counter-demonstration by nationalist and religious groups was allowed to go ahead elsewhere in the Russian capital.
Equal rights
The gay rights group had been waving flags and chanting slogans demanding equal rights and condemning the treatment of gays and lesbians in Russia.
At least 20 were arrested as police moved in to disperse the protest.
As he was being taken away by police, Mr Tatchell shouted: “This shows the Russian people are not free.”
Speaking from a police station, he later told the BBC: “The way the police violently broke up our peaceful protest is an indication of a drift toward authoritarianism that is affecting all Russians.”
‘Satanic’
The organiser of the gathering and leading campaigner, Nikolai Alexeyev, was also detained at the event, which took place in the south-west of the city.
See Gay protest broken up in Moscow
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Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2009/05/gay-protest-b…
Out-of-staters protest Maine gay marriage bill
Nine men who said they were with a Pennsylvania-based group were in Bangor over the weekend protesting a gay marriage bill that has been proposed in the Maine Legislature. The men stood at a busy intersection near the Bangor Mall on Saturday carrying signs and chanting slogans in support of traditional family values. The men told the Bangor Daily news they were members of the group American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property. The group travels to states where same-sex marriage legislation is being considered, and made stops in Maine in Portland, Augusta and Bangor. During its two hours at its Bangor location, the group got both honks from supporters and hoots from opponents. See Out-of-staters protest Maine gay marriage bill WBZ
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Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2009/04/out-of-stater…
Wyoming to recognize out-of-state gay marriages
Wyoming has elected to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states–but, so far, Colorado does not. Our conservative neighbor-to-the-north is suddenly more liberal than we are? I never thought I’d say it, but we need to catch up with Wyoming.
And here’s an amazing factoid that I wasn’t aware of until I looked it up: In addition to being “The Cowboy State,” Wyoming is nicknamed “The Equality State,” and the state motto is “Equal Rights.” Umm, I know some gay and lesbian Wyomingites who might not agree, but the decision to recognize same-sex marriages from other states goes a long way toward making that slogan a reality.
See Wyoming to recognize out-of-state gay marriages
Examiner.com
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Original source : http://gay_blog.blogspot.com/2009/02/wyoming-to-re…
