Moscow police claim most of the 36 people arrested at yesterday's gay pride rally were opponents of the event and of gay rights but have not said how many gay people were arrested. Gay Russians waving placards and rainbow flags gathered in central Moscow, defying a city ban on gay pride events and attracting abuse from far-right opponents. Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov has dubbed gay pride events "Satan's work." Russian Orthodox and far-right opponents hurled eggs at gay activists and, in one instance, were seen punching a gay man to the ground. The Sunday event was timed to mark the 27 May anniversary of a 1993 change in the law that decriminalized homosexuality in Russia.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News Staff
First published: Monday, 2nd June 2008 - 6:44am