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Loading ...Moscow mayor: Gay Pride parades spread AIDS
12.04.2008 2:34pm EST
(Moscow) LGBT rights advocates and AIDS workers are voicing shock at comments by Moscow’s mayor linking gay visibility to the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Speaking at an international AIDS conference in the Russian capital Mayor Yuri Luzhkov said he will continue to ban gay pride parades in the city to prevent spreading HIV/AIDS.“We have banned and will continue to forbid this propaganda by sexual minorities, as they could turn out to be one of the factors in the spread of HIV infections,” Luzhkov told the conference.
“Certain homegrown democrats believe that sexual minorities can be a primary indicator and symbol of democracy, but we will forbid the dissemination of these opinions in the future as well.”
Luzhkov also stunned conference attendees by saying condoms were not reliable in protecting against HIV.
“Certain manufacturers state that condoms are reliable protection against AIDS, but modern science has proven this is untrue.”
Luzhkov’s remarks came only days after the federal government’s own AIDS Czar said HIV/AIDS is growing by 10 percent a year and that about 1 million people are infected.
The 72-year old mayor’s assertions are the latest in a long running battle with gays in Moscow over his refusal to grant permits for pride celebrations.
Despite Luzhkov’s refusal to grant a parade permit earlier this year the third Moscow Pride took place on Sunday June 1. Gay activists picketed the monument to the Russian composer Peter Tchaikovsky and then hung a huge banner from an apartment in front of Moscow City Hall.
The banner read: “Rights to gays and lesbians! Homophobia of Moscow Mayor should be prosecuted.”
Last year the mayor refused a parade license citing security concerns. Gays, many of them from the Europen Union, marched anyway. About 20 people were arrested at the May 27 parade, including Alexeyev, two European parliamentarians and British gay advocate Peter Tatchell.
Charges against the foreigners were later dropped and Alexeyev was fined $1000 rubles – about $40.
Lawsuits against the city failed and pride organizers have taken their cases to the European Court of Human Rights.
Last year, in another case against the mayor a Moscow court tossed out a lawsuit accusing Lushkov of libel over claims he made that gay rights marches were “satanic.”
The court ruled that Moscow Pride leaders had failed to prove that the remarks were incendiary or intended to vilify gays in general.
In January, a Moscow judge acquitted 13 gay activists arrested last month for staging a protest outside a polling station during national elections. But last month a Moscow court said the mayor had not exceeded his authority in banning gay demonstrations including pride marches.
Is this about Moscow, RUSSIA or Birmingham, AL, USA ? The mayors must be twins or at least related….LOL!
Good Luck with “PRIDE” Moscow!
The B.S. that has come from political leaders in Russia the past few years have shown them to be a collective bunch of morons. Really, Mr. Luzhkove – S.T.F.U. – you are an embarassment to yur city and your country.
The irony of a Russian calling Gay Pride Parades “propaganda” is so thick you could cut it with a knife.
gay parades spread pride, unsafe sex has a possibility to spread AIDS, condoms dont work because they are either not used properly, or faulty and that is a very small percentage of that of which is used, like under 2 per cent… oh and according to my survey, the whole of the USSR gov’t have probably all been brainwashed by the USSR leader… its a wonder why they all seem braindead.
“Certain manufacturers state that condoms are reliable protection against AIDS, but modern science has proven this is untrue.” And That is when the 72 Year Old Man is asked to leave office…no I’m sorry, is thrown out of office.
the mossy mayor spreads hate.
gays need to be responsible to contain AIDS like other members of the population
In Vladamir’s Russia… AIDS spread YOU lol! sorry, I know it’s not a topic to really joke about, but tell me I’m the only one who thought that!
Seriously though, do we expect less from the Russians and their KGBista run government? When you look at the list of Putin’s government human rights abuses are we surprised that Moscow’s mayor spreads some B.S. about us?
Gays in Moscow should do what we in Kenya do. They should hold their parade alongside a permitted parade. That is what we do, we join an organization that has a permit to hold a street demonstration, but we go with our rainbow flags and Galck banners. We know we shall never get a permit in a long long time, but that no reason not to hold one in Nairobi
Is he just old and stupid, or did he swill a pint of vodka before his speech?
I also find this interesting because when I was in Moscow about two years ago the number of working prostitutes in Moscow was astounding. If there was any real concern about the spread of AIDS/disease, I would think they would address what I observed to be a more visible vector.
What a dumbass!
how does a leader of a city like moscow have so much power yet be so simple-minded when it comes to hiv/aids? we have come so far in our understanding of the disease and yet very powerful leaders still act like we know nothing, ie, george w. bush!
“Forbid the dissemination of [pro-gay rights] opinions”? Bravo, Yuri – you actually did us a favor with this remark. Namely, you painted in stark clarity a central political truth: that opposition to GLBTQ rights ALWAYS rides along with opposition to individual freedom in general.
The more we get this word out there, the more “on the fence” straights who will see that our fight is their fight as well.
As a proud member of the Leather nation,it saddens me to see that ignorance and stupidity know no nation nor boarder. Well, we have Fred Phelps…they have this bozo.
SirWolfr1@AOL.com