protest against homophobic statements from Moscow mayor

GREENS BACK PROTEST AGAINST MAYOR OF MOSCOW VISIT TO CITY HALL, IN LIGHT OF HOMOPHOBIC STATEMENTS

Green Party Principal Speaker Derek Wall today hit out at the Mayor of Moscow's comments denouncing same-sex relationships and gay pride events as “satanic”, “unnatural”, “deviations”, “blasphemy” and “deadly moral poison” and called on a show of defiance at a protest against the Mayor planned today in London (Wednesday).

The Mayor of Moscow, Yuri Luzhkov recently announced that he was banning this year’s Moscow Gay Pride march (last year’s march was also banned and some marchers were beaten and arrested).

Dr. Wall blasted Mr Luzhkov: “I am shocked and utterly appalled by the Mayor of Moscow's homophobia. Human Rights for gays and lesbian's are under attack in Russia and we must defend them."

Wednesday’s protest in London is timed to coincide with the Moscow Mayor’s photo call and press conference at City Hall in London.

Nikolai Alekseev, Organiser of Moscow Gay Pride, is flying to London to join the protest and has issued an appeal for LGBTs (London Gay, Bi-Sexual and Transvestite) to join him at City Hall:

“Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov routinely breaches Russia’s constitution and laws, and the European Convention, by depriving gay people of their right to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly.

“The real reason behind the ban of the first ever Moscow Gay Pride, held in May 2006, is not because the Mayor is concerned for the security of the participants, as he claims. The ban is motivated by his deep-rooted hatred toward homosexual people.

“We appeal to the Mayors of London, Paris and Berlin to protest to Luzhkov against his ban on Moscow Gay Pride. Whatever the stance of the Moscow Mayor, we are going ahead with plans for a second Moscow Gay Pride on 27th May,” concluded Mr Alekseev.

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

Assemble: 11am, Wednesday 28 February 2007

Place: City Hall, Queens Walk, London SE1 (South Bank of Thames, near
Tower Bridge)

Duration: 11am to 1.30pm (if you cannot come at 11am, please join us
at 12 noon or 1pm)

City Hall
http://www.london.gov.uk/gla/city_hall/index..jsp

Map:
http://www.london.gov.uk/gla/locationmap.jsp

Green Party Press Office
020 7561 0282
http://www.greenparty.org.uk

Published and promoted by Jim Killock for the Green Party, both at
1a Waterlow Road, London N19 5NJ.