Moscow Bans Gay Pride Events for the Next 100 Years
Moscow has attempted to defend traditional conceptions of sexuality by banning gay pride events in the city for the next 100 years.
The Russian capital had previously banned the parades from 2006 to 2008, but now it has taken a step further by ending pride events for the next century, according to the BBC .
Nikolay Alexeyev, the country's most famous gay rights campaigner, has attempted to overturn the city council's push to ban gay parades in the city.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
"After an extended period, the city refused to issue permits for the rallies for this year and for all of the next 100 years. They cited possible riots, as well as public opinion which came out against it," Alexeyev said to the press after the decision on Friday.
Alexeyev has said that his fight doesn't end here and that he will petition before the European Court in Strasbourg to declare that Moscow's past and present bans on gay pride events were unjust.
Although the act of homosexuality has been legal in Russia for the last 20 years, former Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov said in 2007 that gay pride events are "satanic."
The city of St. Petersburg has also called for a ban on spreading "homosexual propaganda" in the nation, which religious leaders claim is convincing young people that a homosexual lifestyle is acceptable.
According to the St. Petersburg law, any individual caught promoting homosexuality to minors will receive such a fine, while a much larger one of $17,200 is imposed on organizations that do the same.
Last month it was also announced that legislators in Russia are planning to ban all public displays of homosexuality in Russia, and make sure any such affectionate demonstrations between same-sex couples are kept private.
