In our country, homosexuality and lesbianism have always been considered sexual perversions, and were even prosecuted in the past. Currently, the stated actions are not prohibited by law… but their agitation, including gay festivals and a parade of sexual minorities, is in fact propaganda of immorality, which may be prohibited by law.

—Moscow Deputy Mayor Lyudmila Shevtsova, banning Moscow’s first gay rights march, which was planned for May 27, the 13th anniversary of the decriminalization of homosexuality in Russia. Officials banned the rally on the grounds that it would incite violence.  The rally, nevertheless, went ahead, during which scores of protesters — including gay rights activists as well as nationalists and members of religious groups who condemned the march  — were arrested.

Mimi Hanaoka