New York, NY - Despite months of sustained international protests led by global gay rights organization AllOut.org and their partners in Russia - ComingOut, SidebySide and the Russian LGBT Federation - St. Petersburg Governor Georgiy Poltavchenko signed a law yesterday that would criminalize reading, writing, speaking or reporting on anything related to gay, lesbian bi or trans (LGBT) people.
Andre Banks, co-founder and executive director for AllOut.org responded:
"By validating a new regime of censorship and intolerance, Governor Poltavchenko has diminished the reputation of his city with the stroke of a pen. 100,000 people have promised not to visit the "new" St. Petersburg after this law goes into effect. Travel companies are considering revising their scheduled trips to the city. St. Petersburg's sister cities have even begun to put pressure on the Governor to reject this law. Together, we have sent a very clear message to Poltavchenko and leaders around the world: there will be a high price to pay for advancing the cause of bigotry and intolerance. AllOut.org continues to stand with our partners in Russia and will work through diplomatic channels, creative online campaigns and offline events to ensure that this law is repealed and that others like it never see the light of day."
Polina Savchenko, general manager for ComingOut, a St. Petersburg-based LGBT organization issued the following statement:
"Today it became known that the governor of St. Petersburg Georgiy Poltavchenko signed the homophobic law, imposing administrative fines on the so-called 'propaganda of sodomy, lesbianism, bisexuality, transgenderism.'
Authorities project "traditional values" and clerical rhetoric onto politics, and prioritize "interests of majority" over the value of human individuality. We realize that today, fascist-like rhetoric in Russia is becoming basis for legislative activity.
In fact, this law has little to do with protecting minors. Today, neither homosexual people, nor human rights defenders, nor lawyers can answer the question of how this law is going to be applied in practice, due to its vague nature and non-legal terminology. To talk about existence of homosexuality, to publicly denounce homophobic violence, to develop sense of self-awareness and dignity in homosexual people, to promote tolerance — all of these acts can fall under the "propaganda" law. This law will serve directly to further isolate and marginalize the gay community and encourage hate towards a social group.
We are convinced that no authority can deprive people of their right to dignity, to respect of private and family life, to freedom of expression and to protection from discrimination and violence. We are offended and outraged by this act by city authorities and will continue fighting for the rights of LGBT citizens until the barbaric law is repealed."
BACKGROUND:
In December and January, AllOut.org was one of the first international organizations to bring critical attention to the issue with a petition of over 270,000 worldwide that encouraged Vice President of the European Commission Catherine Ashton to formally discussed the issue in a meeting with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in January.
For more information: http://allout.org/russia_silenced.
AllOut.org members then hit the phones and organized a call-in campaign that pushed 6 countries to make official statements condemning the law.
For more information: http://allout.org/russia_call
In February, AllOut.org members were joined by dozens of human rights organizations around the world in demonstrations at Russian embassies in Argentina (Buenos Aires), USA (New York), France (Paris), Germany (Berlin and Hamburg), Italy (Milan), Portugal (Lisbon), Belgium (Antwerp) and Brazil (Rio de Janeiro). At the Embassies, AllOut.org hand-delivered 300,000+ signatures condemning the law.
Photos: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.377889628905236.99154.169042736456594&type=1
AllOut.org also produced a viral video that had over 300,000+ views on YouTube that expressed a simple message urging Governor Poltavchenko to veto the law: "Pass the law, and we won't go there."
Video: http://allout.org/actions/stpetersburg-dont-go/
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AllOut.org is a global campaign organization of over 800,000 people from 190 countries around the world dedicated to LGBT equality. A movement working online and on the ground to build a world in which everyone can live freely and be embraced for who they are, All Out is adding global people power to the historic fight for LGBT equality.
