Russia: Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev Sees No Need In Regulating Homosexuality 

The Moscow New reports:

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said at a press conference Friday that he sees no reason to limit homosexuality by law.
“Not every moral issue, behavioral habit or communication issue between people should be regulated. This is why not all relationships between people are subject to a legal interpretation,” Medvedev said in response to a question on banning homosexuality.
The prime minister said that there was too much fuss about the issue and that in Russia the issue concerns few people.
“Probably this issue does not concern too many people in the country, and it’s not discussed at all levels,” Medvedev said.
At the same time he admitted that State Duma lawmakers have the right to submit any proposals or bills to the parliament.
Medvedev’s statements come at the end of a year that has seen its share of controversy with regard to laws involving homosexuality in Russia.
A law imposing fines for “gay propaganda” took effect in St. Petersburg on March 30.
It has faced heavy criticism from the LGBT community and rights activists in Russia and abroad, but it has also been proposed that it should be made into a federal law. Any citizen who breaks the law in St. Petersburg may be subject to pay a fine for an administrative violation.
Claiming that Madonna violated the law during her St. Petersburg concert over the summer, nine plaintiffs sought upwards of $10 million in compensation for “moral damages.”
During the concert, the star handed out pink bracelets to the crowd in a show of solidarity with the city’s gay and lesbian community.
But the Russian court ruled US pop star Madonna did not break the law on the promotion of homosexual lifestyles among minors during her concert in St. Petersburg earlier this year.
Russia’s lower house may begin talks of a bill stipulating fines of up to 500,000 rubles ($16,220) for promoting homosexuality among minors on December 19.

And Lady Gaga thanks him, on behalf of all of us. 

RUSSIA: Legislature To Consider National Ban On “Propaganda Of Homosexualism”

Joe.My.God. reports:

Next month Russia’s legislature will consider adopting a national ban on “gay propaganda” similar to the ones already existing in St. Petersburg and nine other regions. Via press release from the Russia LGBT Network (their English is slightly fractured):

The Russian State Duma will consider the first reading of a federal level bill banning so-called “propaganda of homosexualism” on December 19th, 2012. This information was received from Russian State Duma calendar to address issues in the second ten days of December, which was recently approved by the Duma.Igor Kochetkov, Chairman of Russian LGBT Network: ”Today we would like to address to the deputies of State Duma with a call. Don’t discredit yourselves and Russia by adoption this absolutely senseless ith common sense and the right of law. One year of application of such laws in the regions have shown that, in practice, they are used to persecute dissidents, not to protect the children. Under the pretext of protecting the family the author of the bill actually destroy it, identifying a family as “biological union of a man and a woman.” In reality this “farm” approach to people shows how some deputies look to us, their constituents.”

The Russia LGBT Network has a blog (in Russian.)

RUSSIA: Court Acquits Madonna Of Threatening National Birth Rate By Promoting Homosexuality

The Guardian reports:

It is the country that has sent members of the punk band Pussy Riot to crumbling prison colonies and its richest man to an isolated northern jail. But Russia met its match on Thursday when it attempted to silence the world’s biggest pop star.
Madonna was widely criticised in Russia this summer for voicing support for Pussy Riot during a Moscow concert and speaking out for gay rightsduring a performance in St Petersburg. A senior official called her a “moralising slut” for the former, and nine claimants brought a $10.7m lawsuit against her for the latter.
On Thursday a court St Petersburg ruled against the plaintiffs, members of various conservative groups who argued that Madonna’s comments violated a new law banning the promotion of “homosexual propaganda” to minors and would lead to the destruction of the nation. Violation of the law is punishable by fines of up to 500,000 roubles (£10,000).
During a day-long hearing, the court examined YouTube footage and was shown screenshots of Madonna’s Facebook page as proof that the material girl was crazy for gay rights. “I am here to say that the gay community and gay people here and all around the world have the same rights – to be treated with dignity, with respect, with tolerance, with compassion, with love,” Madonna said during the performance in August, as concert-goers waved gay pride flags and flashed pink wristbands the pop star had handed out as symbols of support.
The claimants argued that Madonna’s performance would adversely affect Russia’s birthrate and therefore its ability to maintain a proper army. They cited posts on the Facebook page condemning the law as proof she had prior knowledge of the potential criminality of expressing herself.
Madonna ignored repeated requests to attend the hearing, held in a tiny courtroom in Russia’s second city. “St Petersburg’s laws were brutally violated,” one of the claimants, Marina Yakovlyeva, told the court, news agencies reported. “In the coming years, this type of violation could become the norm. But we have created a precedent – any artist coming to our city will know now what laws exist.”
Russia has been harshly criticised over the law, which has also been adopted in eight other regions. Some MPs have floated introducing it on a federal level. Adoption of the law in St Petersburg, long seen as Russia’s most westernised city and its cultural capital, has led to a global outcry. All Out, a gay rights group, as called on travellers to boycott St Petersburg. The Canadian government has issued advisories to gay citizens planning to take a holiday there.
The judge in the case, Vitaly Barkovsky, deliberated for more than an hour before delivering his verdict, but appeared to treat the case with scepticism from the start. After one claimant, Vitaly Orlovsky, said Madonna’s concert would prompt the divorce rate to skyrocket, Barkovsky asked him why he was suing no alcoholics, since alcoholism was a well-known cause of divorce in the heavy-drinking country.
Vitaly Milonov, a local MP who has led St Petersburg’s anti-gay campaign, accused Madonna of showing no respect for the court and said the star’s actions answered the question “who’s that girl”. “You can see what kind of person she is – for her, Russia is a cow from whom she can come and get milk – that is, money – and then leave, while not following our laws,” he told the Guardian.

Russia: Madonna To Face Trial In Saint Petersburg For Promoting Gay Rights

NME reports:

A Russian court has ruled that there is sufficient evidence to sue Madonna for promoting gay rights during her ‘MDNA’ tour, according to reports. 
In August of this year, it was reported that the singer had enraged some citizens byhanding out pink anti-homophobia wristbands to crowd members during a show in St Petersburg and telling them to “fight for the right to be free”. Her stunt was in response to a new regulation adopted in St Petersburg in March of this year, which saw the city’s yearly gay pride parade banned as it promoted “gay lifestyles” and the “propagation of homosexuality” - both of which have now been outlawed. 
A lawsuit was subsequently submitted by members of the Union of Russian Citizens, the People’s Assembly and the New Great Russia party against the singer, with a lawyer for the group claiming that her actions caused “psychological stress and emotional shock” amongst the audience. 
Now, according to The Times, a court in St Petersburg has given the go-ahead for the £6.5 million lawsuit to continue as the singer “crossed a line” by handing out the bracelets to “children as young as 12”. Madonna did not attend the hearing and is not expected to be present at future court dates relating to the trial, either. 
Madonna courted controversy throughout her tour of Russia. Previously, she used the Moscow-leg of the jaunt to express support for the jailed members of Russian punk collective Pussy Riot. In a speech to the 20,000 strong crowd, Madonna said: “I think they have paid the price for this act and I pray for their freedom,” before stripping to her bra to reveal the words ‘Pussy Riot’ written on her back. For ‘Like A Virgin’ she donned a balaclava similar to those worn by the band. She was later dubbed a “moralising slut”

Madonna was recently named as the biggest-selling female singles artist in UK chart history. New data from the Official Charts Company showed that she has shifted over 17.8 million singles in the UK since releasing her first track, ‘Holiday’, in 1984.

NEW YORK CITY: Madonna Served Summons To Appear On Gay Propaganda Charges In Russia

Joe.My.God. reports:

Russian anti-gay activists yesterday served a summons at Madonna’s New York City home, demanding that she appear in St. Petersburg for trial on charges that she violated that city’s ban on public utterances of support for LGBT people.Russia Today reports: 

The pro-Kremlin group Trade Union of Russian Citizens wants the Material Girl in court for blasphemy and for damaging the cultural foundations of St. Petersburg. Nine activists filed a suit against the pop star after her concert on August 9. They are seeking 333 million rubles (around US$10 million) from Madonna and from the company that organized her show. All the fuss is because of Madonna’s actions on the stage. The pop diva started her show asking fans to raise their hands with pink bracelets, which they were given on the entrance, in support of homosexual rights. It is, however, illegal to promote homosexuality in St. Petersburg. The local law, which bans so-called “propaganda of sodomy, lesbianism, bisexualism and transgenderism, and pedophilia to minors,” was passed in March this year. “She insulted believers’ feelings, she promoted homosexuality when there were children at the concert and this is forbidden in St Petersburg. We, the residents of the cultural capital, suffered a colossal moral damage,” union spokesperson Darya Dedova was quoted as saying.

In the event that Madonna is found guilty, much less even appears for trial, an additional 50% of the $10M suit would, by law, be levied in order to further protect St. Petersburg from “homosexuals and pedophiles.” 

NOTE: The lawsuit appears to be a civil action from local crackpots and not an official action of the government, although the plaintiffs surely have their support.  The above-linked article does not mention if Madonna was home when the summons was served.

VIDEO:  Here’s Madonna speech from that show.

Hackers Use Gay Bulgarian Pop Singer Azis To Attack Russian Court Website

Pink News UK reports:

Unidentified hackers attacked the website of the Moscow-based court who sentenced Pussy Riot last week by posting on it a video by Azis, a gay Bulgarian Romani pop singer.
Along with anti-government slogans, the hackers posted a provocative video clip for the song “Мrazish” by Azis on the website of Moscow’s Khamovnichesky District Court, as reported by Russian news agency Interfax.
The platinum-haired Azis, who is of Roma origin, is widely known in his country as the openly gay king of Bulgaria’s popfolk, a genre which has generated much controversy and combines Bulgarian sounds and culture with oriental motifs.
The themes around the genre are generally sex, money and luxury, similar to much contemporary mainstream American hip-hop. The video depicts him sprawled on a bed with men in various states of undress.
It’s by no means clear why the hackers chose the video, as Azis has no direct connection to Pussy Riot, nor is his music punk rock. However, his tendency toward provocative behavior in a conservative society bears some relation to Pussy Riot’s plight.
The original text on the homepage of Moscow’s Khamovnichesky District Court was replaced with slogans calling for freedom for the Pussy Riot women. The titles of the website’s sections were changed to sneering remarks about Russia’s justice system.
In addition, a Pussy Riot song called Putin is Lighting the Fires of the Revolution was uploaded along with a slogan reading “No Logic – Just Hardcore” placed near the Russian coat of arms in the upper right-hand corner of the webpage.
Experts believe the hack was most probably staged by the Anonymous hacktivist group.
The Khamovnichesky District Court sentenced the three members of Pussy Riot to two years each in a prison colony.

Closet Case Ed Koch: Imprisoned Russian Punkers Pussy Riot Are As Bad As ACT UP

Joe.My.God. reports:

Former NYC mayor and closeted homosexual Ed Koch has penned an editorial praising the imprisonment of Pussy Riot, saying the jailed Russian punkers are as bad as ACT UP, who also once demonstrated inside a Catholic cathedral. You may recall that Koch and ACT UP tangled many times during his 80s reign as mayor when he resisted their calls for action. Koch writes:

The Western cultural elite is rallying to the defense of the disrupters in the cathedral. Some approve of the verbal attack on Putin. Others support the denunciation of the Russian Orthodox church leadership and the church disruption because of the church leadership support of Putin. All cited characterize the issue as one of free speech. I do not. I would assume that many Pussy Riot supporters would take a different position, and rightly so, if here in the U.S. a black church were invaded and three men or women engaged in comparable conduct insulting holy places within the church and the pastor.　

I recall when I was Mayor in 1989 and the AIDS activist group Act Up, unjustifiably angry with John Cardinal O’Connor, invaded St. Patrick’s Cathedral and interrupted the Mass, throwing the Communion wafers – which for Catholics are the actual Body of Christ – to the floor.　 Some were arrested.　 So far as I can recall, no one was punished.　 I think the decision of the Russian court to punish a hate crime was just and to be applauded, rather than condemned and ridiculed.　 One can argue concerning the degree of punishment, whether fines rather than jail time should have been imposed, but that is a function of the Russian penalty procedures.　

Famed activist and ACT UP founder Larry Kramer once wrote of encountering Koch while Kramer was walking his dog. As the then mayor leaned over to pet the dog, Kramer said, “That’s the man who killed all of Daddy’s friends.”

RELATED: Another well-known AIDS activist tips me today that when the Independent Film Channel yesterday invited Koch to a Manhattan screening of the AIDS documentary,How To Survive A Plague, Koch abruptly unsubscribed to the IFC mailing list, to which he’d belonged for years.

Queer Russians: I’ve Only Just Begun

Madonna Gets Fined For Supporting Gay Rights At St. Petersburg Concert

Queerty reports:

Madonna is facing charges for speaking out on behalf of LGBT people in St. Petersburg at her concert last night, flouting the city’s gay-propaganda ban. After telling fans at her MDNA gig to “show your love and appreciation to the gay community,” she was fined 5,000 Rubles (or about $150).
We think she can cover it.
As previously announced, pink wristbands were distributed to concertgoers before the show. Madonna also wore a black bra with the phrase “No Fear” written on her back.
Vitaly Milonov, the assemblyman who introduced the city’s recent anti-gay law, was the one to submit  an application to file charges. “[Madonna] testified that she does not care about the legislation of St Petersburg,” Milonov said.
The organizers of the MDNA world tour, meanwhile, could be fined up to 500,000 Rubles ($15,700).
Gay rights activist Yury Gavrikov isn’t impressed with Madonna’s mouthing off. He told Gay Star News he wishes the Material Matron would have canceled her tour instead.
“Madonna as an artist and many other stars are using human rights issues for them to promote shows and make money. We don’t respect this idea. We wanted to protest the hypocrisy of the stars.’
If you want to really do something, you have to not just talk about problems, you have to do something that is politically important, powerful. Meeting with the mayor of St Petersburg or breaking out of the Russian tour is a way to attract more attention.”
‘Madonna will leave St Petersburg and she will forget about all these problems.”

Russia: Government Bans Pride House At Winter Olympics 2014 In Sochi

Gay Star News reports:

Gay rights campaigners will hold a protest in London over Russia’s ban on a Pride House event at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi. Activists will picket the Sochi Exhibition in Kensington Gardens tomorrow (9 August), from 10.30am, to show their anger at the Russian Ministry of Justice’s refusal to allow a Pride House at the games. Russian lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender campaigners had planned the venue to be a meeting place for gay athletes and their supporters with events including a sports competition and photo exhibition. ‘London 2012 has a LGBT Pride House but Russia won’t allow it at Sochi. This is part of an official crackdown on LGBT communities and visibility in Russia,’ said veteran gay rights activist Peter Tatchell. ‘It is an attack on freedom of expression and association. We are urging the International Olympic Committee to intervene. ‘This ban is contrary to the equality and non-discrimination provisions of the Olympic Charter.’ Russian courts upheld the decision to ban Pride House, with a judge claiming it was ‘extremist’ and could provoke ‘social-religious hatred’. The IOC responded to Gay Star News, but stopped short of criticizing the Russian authorities directly. In March, an IOC spokesperson told us: ‘The Olympic Charter does not allow for discrimination against those taking part in the games. ‘The IOC is an open organisation and athletes of all orientations will be welcome at the games.’

Madonna Announces Pro-LGBT Pink Wristband Demostration At Saint Petersburg Concert

U.S. State Department Issues Warning About Madonna’s Concerts In Russia

Joe.My.God. reports:

At last night’s concert in Moscow, Madonna announced support for the jailed female punk band Pussy Riot, which is presently on trial for an anti-Putin concert staged in a church. 

Pop singer Madonna donned the trademark balaclava worn by punk band Pussy Riot during a concert in Moscow to demand Russia free three group members on trial for bursting into a Russian Orthodox church and singing a protest against Vladimir Putin. The U.S. singer also stripped to a black bra to show the band’s name written on her back in support of Pussy Riot’s protest in Moscow’s main cathedral against close links between the president and the clergy. “I know there are many side to every story, and I mean no disrespect to the church or the government, but I think that these three girls - Masha, Katya, Nadya - I think that they have done something courageous,” Madonna said to loud cheers from the crowd at Moscow’s Olympiysky Stadium on Tuesday night. “I pray for their freedom,” she said.

Madonna has also threatened to denounce anti-gay bills in Russia, but that apparently did not happen last night.

Song Of The Day: Kamaliya - Butterflies 

You can get the single and its remixes on iTunes.

Russia: Police Arrest Eight Activists At Saint Petersburg LGBT Rights Rallies

Joe.My.God. reports:

Yesterday only a handful of brave activists defied the St. Petersburg ban on public pro-gay demonstrations and almost all of them were arrested.

• Three rally organizers were arrested Saturday at a park in Russia’s second city, and five others were detained at a later rally attempt near the landmark Smolny complex, Russian news agencies reported. Only six people showed up for the second rally, and the three arrested at the first attempt were the only participants. Although homosexuality was decriminalized after the fall of the Soviet Union, disdain for gays remains strong in Russia. Some rally attempts provoke violence by opponents. St. Petersburg passed a law in February calling for fines of up to 500,000 rubles ($15,000) for spreading “homosexual propaganda.”

Russia: Moscow Bans Gay Pride Events For A Century

Joe.My.God. reports: 

A Moscow court has banned gay pride events for the next hundred years.

• Tverskoy district court ruled lawful the decision of the Moscow municipal government to ban public events that can be qualified as gay parades from March 2012 till May 2112. Nikolay Alekseyev, one of the leaders of the Russian LGBT community and organizer of gay pride events, told reporters that he intended to appeal the decision in the Moscow City Court Presidium, and that if the highest Russian instance also rules against him, to address the European Court of Human Rights. Alekseyev explained to the reporters that in 2011, the activists found a loophole in Russian legislation and submitted requests for 102 gay pride parades to the Moscow Mayor’s office. According to the activist, all they got in return was a letter with a quote from regulations, although the law obliges the city authorities to either allow or ban the planned event within 15 days.