The third and final hearing of the case of Coming Out accused of serving as a “foreign agent” took place today in the magistrates’ court in St. Petersburg. Predictably, the organization was found guilty and fined 500 000 rubles (maximum amount for one violation), making it the 2nd Russian LGBT NGO to be branded “foreign agents”. Overall, 4 Russian NGOs have been given the verdict.

Under Article 19.34 of the administrative code of the Russian Federation, if a non-commercial organization receives foreign funds and is involved in “political activity”, it must register with the Ministry of Justice as a “foreign agent”. In laymen terms, “foreign agent” is equivalent to a “spy for a foreign state.”

Today, over 150 LGBT people and their friends and allies gathered on Marsovo Pole, the “Hyde Park” of St. Petersburg, to commemorate Vladislav Tornovoy and other victims of homophobic hate crimes, making this one of the largest public LGBT demonstration ever in Russia. LGBT activists were joined by members of civil and human rights groups, such as “Soldiers' mothers”, “Solidarity”, Anti-Discimination Center Memorial, Yabloko party, and others. Around 150 counter-protesters, held at bay by police barriers, displayed photos of victims of pedophiles, shouted slurs, threw smoke pellets and small stones at the demonstrators. Among those were two radicals who are currently on trial for the attacks on LGBT activists last year. One of the counter-protester leaders was Vitaly Milonov, the author of the “propaganda” law and United Russia city parliament deputy. 

The annual St. Petersburg International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia rally will take place tomorrow, May 17, at 2 pm on Marsovo Pole – the “Hyde Park” of St. Petersburg, in the city center. Traditionally, a joyful celebration of our pride, during which we release rainbow balloons in the air as a symbol of our wish for a world free of homophobia and transphobia, this year’s event will be dedicated to the memory of Vladislav Tornovoy, brutally murdered in Volgograd on May 9^th of this year, and to all victims of homophobic hate crimes.

May 1st, a true “gay parade” took place at the May Day March in St. Petersburg, Russia.

80-100 people marched down the St. Petersburg historical central avenue, with rainbow flags and slogans such as “No to the shameful homophobic law! Let’s stop the hate and discrimination together!” LGBT made part of the larger Democratic column, consisting of various democratic political parties and groups of St. Petersburg.

This week St. Petersburg will discuss the effects of homophobia and transphobia on LGBT teenagers and adults. LGBT organization Coming Out invites everyone to talk about the different aspects of acceptance of homosexual people in society and to hear the views of various civil society organizations and movements on the rights of LGBT people. Several events - informational workshops, discussions and debates - will be held during the Week against homophobia and transphobia under the slogan "It's high time to speak".