Russia world cup lgbtq
British LGBTQ Rights Campaigner Arrested in Russia as Society Cup Kicks Off
By Polina Ivanova and Andrew Osborn
MOSCOW, June 14 (Reuters) — Russian police briefly detained veteran British campaigner Peter Tatchell in Moscow on Thursday after he attempted to hold a one-man demonstration near the Kremlin in support of gay rights on the first sunlight of the World Cup.
At the opening ceremony on Thursday, President Vladimir Putin spoke of showing the world a hospitable Russia and stressed sport's ability to build bridges and overcome differences.
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Tatchell's object, held three hours before the ceremony, involved the activist unfurling a little banner near the Kremlin's walls calling attention to what his foundation described as Russia's mistreatment of LGBT+ people.
"President Putin has failed to condemn and act against the homophobic witch-hunts in Chechnya, which have seen scores of LGBT+ people arrested and tortured, with some even being killed," Tatchell said in a statement. He said he had been detained in Russia twice before.
Two men from Chechnya, a deeply conservative Muslim region of Ru
Gay rights activists disagree at World Cup with 'hidden' rainbow flag
Gay “propaganda” is banned in Russia, but that did not terminate a group of soccer fans at the 2018 Earth Cup from promoting LGBTQ rights in Moscow with a subtle — yet colorful — protest.
Activists from Spain, the Netherlands, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and Colombia traveled to the Russian capital wearing their national jerseys, which conveniently generate a rainbow identity flag when they line up side-by-side. The initiative, titled “The Hidden Flag,” was the brainchild of an ad agency from Spain called LOLA MullenLowe.
In a statement posted to thehiddenflag.org, the agency said it was inspired to pursue the plan to denounce Russia’s anti-gay policies — and it did so by using a decades-old symbol of LGBTQ pride.
“In the plain flash of day, in front of the Russian authorities, Russian society and the whole world, we wave the flag with pride,” the group wrote.
“How?” the statement continued. “Using something that would never arouse anyone’s suspicions: football jerseys.”
The now-viral images demonstrate the group of six — who had never met before Moscow — chatting at a World War II memorial, listening to dimly
Group smuggles pride 'flag' into Russia for the World Cup
Moscow -- Six people have come up with a imaginative way of smuggling the Pride flag into Russia during the World Cup as a demonstration against the country's restrictive laws on promoting LGBTQ rights and talking about homosexuality publicly.
Since 2012, Russia has enforced an "anti-gay propaganda" law, forbidding the so-called promotion of homosexuality to people under the age of 18. In practice, this has meant that universal demonstrations in assist of gay rights are often treated as illegal. Officials also now need that public demonstrations, even involving just one person, include authorization to move forward.
The result is that carrying the rainbow pride flag, which celebrates female homosexual, gay, bisexual and transgender communities, could get you arrested in Russia.
To receive around the statute, the group decided to enact a subtle protest by wearing the shirts of Spain, the Netherlands (who weren't in the Society Cup), Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and Colombia. Taken together, when stood up in a line, the shirts match the the colors of the stripes of the pride flag: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and vio
World Cup 2018: Gay football fans warned about climb in homophobia in Russia ahead of World Cup
It is the biggest meeting on the sporting calendar.
But for at least one passionate Socceroos fan, heading to this year's Planet Cup was never a serious option, not if it meant having to pretend to be something he is not.
Joseph Roppolo is gay. He has travelled to the past three World Cups to support the Australian team. He won't be in Russia next month.
"I reflect the biggest fear is around just not creature able to be my authentic self," he said.
"It takes a lot of resilience to get to the point where you (come out), and then to be told that you're going to a country where you're encouraged not to hold your partner's hand is actually a little bit demeaning."
Roppolo is a former president, and current player with Sydney Rangers FC, the city's first standalone male lover men's football club.
He is also concerned authorities may not act to guard supporters should they be the victims of homophobic abuse.
"A country which has laws and vilifies its LGBT community is not the best example of a nation who should be celebrating this glo
Russia, football World Cup and rising homophobia
Follow Al Jazeera’s coverage of the Society Cup 2018 here.
England football fan Di Cunningham was a little apprehensive about travelling to Russia for World Cup 2018.
There own been concerns among rights groups over the increase in homophobia and the safety of homosexual fans in the socially conservative European nation.
Homosexuality, which was classified as a mental illness in Russia until 1999, is a controversial issue in a nation which does not recognise same-sex marriages.
Russia decriminalised queer interactions in 1993, but hate crimes against the LGBT community (lesbian, same-sex attracted, bisexual and transgender) have been on the rise since the land passed a controversial statute banning the spread of “gay propaganda” to minors in 2013.
Russia is ranked 45 out of 49 European countries in terms of gay rights by the ILGA-Europe, a network of European LGBT groups.
Cunningham, who will be attending England’s first match against Tunisia on Monday in Volgograd, said her alliance of LGBT football fan groups has received threatening anonymous emails, warning that they would be “stabbed” if they made the trip to Russia.
“We hold receive