Earlier Today, an LGBTI-conference could not go through. (This article has a copyright disclaimer, see bellow)
Tonight, two volunteers of an LGBTI-conference on family, organized by Resource in Moscow were attacked. They’re having first aid now. “Several people have seen the attacker.”, according to Misha Tumasov (chairperson of the Russian LGBT-Network).
Earlier Today, representatives of the venue where the conference was supposed to take place, refused the organisers of the event to go through. There were a lot of threats coming from homophobes. “The threats were reported to the police, however, no action was taken.”
Last year
This is not the first time an attack related to this conference happened. Last year, 4 activists who went to the event were attacked by unknown persons. “The perpetrators sprayed acetone-containing liquid into their faces.”, according to Tumasov.
Not just an attack against gays
“What happened is a problem not only for the LGBTI-community, and this is a challenge to the whole community psychological issues.”, according to Kir Federov (a Russian LGBTI-activist)
Not being silenced
Misha Tumasov: “We don’t know what to do to get the authorities to protect us, but we wont be silent.”
Russia’s homophobia
According to Rémy Bonny, the LGBT-community got outlawed in Russia since 2013. He is a political scientist specialised in LGBTI-issues in Eastern Europe.
“Since Russia introduced an anti-propaganda law, gay people get attacked on a regular basis. Fascist groups like -Occupy Pedophilia- lure teenagers via apps like Grindr and Hornet to remoted areas to beat them up or even kill them.”, according to Bonny.
“Reports from Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch about the harsh conditions for LGBTI people in Russia are piling up. In 2016, Equal Rights Trust counted more than 200 lawsuits on homophobia in Russia. None of them led to persecution. This proves that LGBT+ people are outlawed in the Russian Federation.”, Bonny continues.
“By spreading hate against the LGBT-community, the government of Vladimir Putin created an internal enemy. This is literally a core strategy of their consolidation of power.”
Chechnya
In 2017, Reports from the Russian LGBT-Network revealed that gay people were tortured and murdered in Chechnya, a member state of the Russian Federation. An international outcry asked for an investigation by the Russian Federal Authorities. The administration of Vladimir Putin concluded that “nothing was going on” in Chechnya.
Bonny: “The Kremlin is directly responsible for the crimes against the LGBT-community in Chechnya. Their approval and policies of hatred literally outlawed the LGBT-community.”
(COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER)
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