The Bear that Tore the Rainbow.

Terrible things are happening in Russia

To our LGBT friends, and to gay people who visit the country.But how can we make our voices heard and hope to influence change for people in a place that is so different from Western Europe, where citizens face oppression everywhere they turn?

Truth is I don’t know but I do want to find out.

 

I visited St. Petersburg ten years ago which itself is a fascinating city but one that I didn’t feel entirely comfortable in if I’m honest, even as the most European of Russian cities (as the tourist brochures would tell you).

 

After seeing the amazing sights of the vast Palace Square, the famous Church of our Saviour of the Spilled Blood (sadly ironic given the current state of affairs), the statue of Peter the Great, the Winter Palace and much gilded history, you walk around the city and see life as it really is.The broken down trams were left to rust in the street, the suspicion on people’s faces unnerves you and you know you are no longer in Europe.

We were advised to carry our passports at all times and the soldiers posted throughout the city may be handsome but I wouldn’t want to stare at them for too long.

 

At the time I remember citizens in Russia wanting to form closer links to develop support for local LGBT people and it was hoped that this would develop as the situation for gay people improved over the coming decade. Although male homosexual acts were decriminalized in 1993,today there are still no laws protecting against discrimination or harassment on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Now we actually have anti-gay laws that in effect ban references to homosexuality in any way.

In 2009 that festival of the gays, Eurovision was held in Moscow on the same day as Moscow Pride which you would think would be a marketing dream for any city wanting to capitalise on its ‘European’ aspirations but alas this was not to be. Moscow police violently dispersed a gay pride rally that was banned by city authorities, leading to further bans for the next century. No cute bread baking singing grannies will ever undo this fact from my mind.

2012 marked the 50th anniversary of the Manchester/ St Petersburg sister city arrangement. Now some people may think we should cut our ties with the city but I don’t agree.

 Manchester Pride-goers were urged to send a message of solidarity to gay people in our sister city of St Petersburg. Leaflets and flags were given to the spectators at Saturday's Manchester Pride parade and a special banner, carrying a message of solidarity for LGBT people in St Petersburg, was carried through the city streets.

Meanwhile, one of Russia's leading LGBT activists attended Manchester Pride to share her experiences of living in St Petersburg. Polina Savchenko is one of the directors of Coming Out, a St Petersburg-based LGBT group  which provides vital support to gay people in the city and lobbies for LGBT rights. I was fortunate to meet her and ask how gay people here can help gay people there.

Now the situation in Russia is getting worse. An anti-gay 'propaganda' bill has just been signed into law. More murder and violent attacks of LGBT people are being reported.

With the Winter Olympics in Sochi fast approaching, Putin doesn’t seem to care about Russia's international reputation, merely stating that any gay athletes or tourists will be safe if they visit (during the Olympics).

Today Russian people struggling against the anti-gay crackdown are calling for help. They need a massive global outcry and media attention. I'm not seeing this on the mainstream news,are you?

I understand the reaction of people wanting to ban everything Russian and  not take part in any events that Russia hosts but could this really change anything?

Should we Boycott the 2014 Winter Olympics, or use the event as an opportunity to publicly shame Russia on a global scale?  Surely if there are less countries to take part in the Winter Olympics that’s less voices to be heard and more medals up for grabs by Russians!

And what about the rest of us that don’t want to visit Russia?

Ok so we avoid Russian exports such as Vodka but although that may make us feel like we are doing something, it doesn’t really hit the Russian lawmakers or Vladimir Putin  as much of the stuff isn’t even produced or manufactured in Russia although I admit it does get some publicity. 

I for one think it’s important to listen what LGBT Russians themselves want us to do and the message has come through loud and clear that we must use every opportunity to raise awareness of this issue.

 

I think we must all do our bit in whatever way we think will work, but we should think about what can have the greatest effect on the law makers and misguided politicians who feel that cracking down hard on the gay community will win them popular support (A 2013 survey found that 74% of Russians said homosexuality should not be accepted by society).Of course this was an effective policy in Nazi Germany but it didn’t mean that it was right.

We must challenge our elected officials to do everything they can to raise this matter and not let it go until the outcome is brighter for our Russian brothers and sisters.

The UK Government pledged 2 years ago to use political dialogue with other countries to push for the recognition of LGB&T rights and advocate for changes to discriminatory practices and laws which criminalise homosexuality and same sex behaviour. What is it doing about this situation in Russia?

The United Nations human rights office has launched its first global outreach campaign to promote tolerance and greater equality for lesbians, gays, transgender people and bisexuals.Called Free & Equal, it's an unprecedented effort by the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights to change public attitudes around the world on issues that have bitterly divided the U.N.'s own member states. Can this mean anything to Putin?

I have met and talked to several LGBT Russians in the last year and anyone calling Coming Out  St Petersburg would get exactly the same kind of warm friendly response you would receive at The Lesbian & Gay Foundation.

The difference is that they are trying to support their communities in incredibly difficult times. Surely if we are fortunate to live in a country that finally has awarded us many of the equal rights that we have so long fought for, now is the time to support those people who are just like us, but just so happen to live thousands of miles away in a vast country where an angry bear is flexing his ageing muscles once again. No-one should be impressed by him.But the fear still exists.

Checkout All Out’s petition: https://www.allout.org/en/actions/russia-attacks