The day of the fight against homophobia was allowed to celebrate a rally without campaigning

On May 17, in the Petrovsky Park of St. Petersburg there will be a rally of the LGBT community dedicated to the International Day of Combat Homophobia. The event will perform "representatives of civil society and democratic parties", and then 510 multi -colored balloons will be launched into the sky. The Rainbow Flashmob is officially permitted by the district administration, which in the light of the recently adopted law in the city on the ban on propaganda of homosexuality looks at least ambiguous.

Publicpost talked about the event with its organizers and representatives of the authorities.

Igor Kochetkov, head of LGBT organization "Exit"

"Rainbow flash mob" - a coordinated action?

- In St. Petersburg, this is an officially permitted event, it was agreed by the administration of the Petrograd district.

But does this flash mob fall under the law recently adopted in St. Petersburg on the prohibition of propaganda of homosexuality?

- In general, no one knows what falls under this law, even Milonov himself (Vitaliy Milonov, deputy of the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg, initiator of the antigen law - pp). During his discussion, Milonov said many times that public street actions do not fall under this law, but nevertheless, many other people were repeatedly detained for participating in street events precisely on the basis of this law. In addition, the administration of the Central District of St. Petersburg has already refused twice to agree on street shares, referring to this law.

But this law, indeed, is so formulated that it is completely impossible to say that it falls under it. The administration of the Petrograd district, apparently, considered that our event did not fall under it.

Who will ensure his protection?

- Police. Since the event has been agreed, police will be present on it.

Natalia Yakovleva, head of the press service of the administration of the Petrograd district of St. Petersburg

- Yes, indeed, this is an officially permitted action. It is agreed only on the territory of the Petrovsky Park, no processions, nothing like that ...

Does the action do not fall under the recently adopted law on the prohibition of propaganda of homosexuality in St. Petersburg?

- No. It is declared as a rally dedicated to the International Day of the fight against homophobia. No advertising, no noisy, loud agitation ... There will be a rally, they will talk there, exchange experience, there will be some rainbow balls.

This is all clear: multi -colored balls symbolizing the dream of a world free from hatred and so on ... (laughs.) Police will not leave anyone unattended. There will be no agitation passers -by. As well as no aggression, no attacks, no inelerance in relation to the protesters will not be allowed.

Nikolai Alekseev, leader of the LGBT movement Gayrussia

Are you going to hold a similar action in Moscow on May 17?

-Firstly, it is written with a pitchfork on the water-about the fact that they can calmly hold the action. Secondly, this is not the first year-they were allowed by the action last year.

We do not plan anything. Traditionally, on May 27, we will spend a gay pride in Moscow. We are not given permission for six years, this week we again submitted an application to the city hall, we are waiting for an answer from the Moscow authorities. Since we will hold the action at the end of May, there is no point in scattering for two weeks into two global events within two weeks.

Are you going to conduct gay prade if the authorities do not give permission?

- Yes, of course. We do it every year. Where gay-pride will pass, depends on the decision of the authorities. We clearly prescribed in our application that we agree to change the place.

Where is it preferable for you to draw a parade?

- At the moment, the application has been submitted to the procession along Myasnitskaya Street, from pure ponds to Lubyanka, and then a rally on the Revolution Square. If the response of the authorities is negative, we will probably arrange a rally of the city hall or on Manezhnaya Square. It is still unclear. In any case, we won the case in the Strasbourg Court - and we will rely on his decision.

Will there be any events dedicated to the Day of Combat Homophobia in Moscow?

- There will be a round table in the Sakharov Center, dedicated to the Day of Combating Homophobia. I plan to take part in this.

Do you have any statements or requirements?

- There will be diplomats from the European Union, human rights activists and so on. Questions will be discussed about laws and propaganda. My main idea is a ban on the entry into the western countries of the authors of the law on the prohibition of propaganda of homosexuality that we have in Russia. This applies, first of all, the St. Petersburg deputy Vitaly Milonov, Alexander Dyadlov from the Arkhangelsk region, Tatyana Telezhina from the Kostroma region. These are not a high-flight bird, I do not think that someone will protect them. I am absolutely sure that if one of them is banned by entry into Europe, it will not be inconsistent with anyone to raise the question of prohibiting the propaganda of homosexuality in any parliament, nowhere.