Violence, arrests greet protest against Russian anti-gay bill

Gay rights activists in Moscow were pelted with eggs today by supporters of a proposed Russian law against discussions of homosexuality in the presence of minors.

Police made several arrests.

The proposal is scheduled for consideration next month in the lower house of the Russian parliament, the Duma.  Laws against “gay propaganda” are on the books in Saint Petersburg, Ryazan, Arkangelsk Kostroma, Magadansk, Samar, Bashkortostan, Krasnodar and Novosibirsk.

Nikolai Alekseev of Gay Russia told Gay Star News:

There was about 15 people there. They were picketing the entrance to the Duma with placards and they decided to make this kissing protest in front of the entrance. There were about four or five couples, male and female, kissing. Then this radical Orthodox activist attacked them physically and with eggs.

Activists reported that protests against the bill were also held today in Saint Petersburg, Tomsk, Samara and Arkhangelsk.

One activist said police made 18 arrests in Moscow, including 11 protesters, five Orthodox activists and two journalists.

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Sky News reported:

Several activists on both sides were detained by police amid the protest against a controversial new bill banning “gay propaganda.” ….

Police also arrested 15 demonstrators protesting against a proposal to ban foreign adoptions of Russian orphans, according to activists.

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