‘Slavic Gay Pride’ to be held in Moscow on Eurovision finals day

Russian gay activists plan to hold a Slavic gay pride in Moscow on the day of Eurovision song contest finals, May 16^th.  

The action is named ‘Slavic’, not 'Moscow Gay Pride', because it is going to involve gays not only from Russia, but from Belarus as well, the action’s organizer, Nikolay Alexeyev, told Interfax Sunday. He said the action will take place with or without the authorities’ approval.

“We shall look for legal ways to hold the action, but if we don’t get the approval, this won’t limit our actions in any way. We are going out for the action anyway, regardless of the authorities’ decision,” Alexeyev said.

On May 16^th, thousands of tourists are expected to be in Moscow to see the final stage of the Eurovision show. But Alexeyev said he was “far from trying to discredit Russia in any way on the Eurovision finals’ day” and was ready for any negotiations with the authorities.

Moscow authorities have never before approved a gay pride, although there have been several appeals. When the actions were attempted illegally, their participants got detained on charges of disrupting public order.

“On May 16^th we are celebrating the International Day against Homophobia,” Alexeyev told Interfax, although the International Day against Homophobia is May 17^th.