Russia in second attempt to ban LBGTQ media
Some of the people on my flist might know about the epetition last Decemeber (2011) against the proposed ban in Russia that would make all media (spoken, written, visual etc) about any LGBTQ, ranging from anti-discrimination services to nightclubs to romance novels illegal in Russia.
The bill was halted, however it has now been restarted and there seems to be every effort to push it through before there is time to get any organised form of protest against it organised.
I found out about it from this:
Dear Imogen
I'm writing from St. Petersburg and I desperately need your help. We've just learned that the horrific anti-gay bill is back, and it could pass tomorrow.
In December, you and hundreds of thousands of All Out members from around the world stood with me and my friends in Russia to stop this bill - one that would make it illegal to speak publicly about being gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender. Together, we stopped the vote from taking place.
But now, opponents of equality are pushing it forward again in a last minute development, hoping we don't have the time to get organized and fight back.
We are rushing to organize a public protest against the law, but no matter where you are, you can stand with us. Call United Kingdom's Foreign Affairs office now and tell them to use every means possible to stop this law from passing. If enough of us call, we can create pressure and stop this anti-gay law, or make sure it does not pass without notice.
Click here to find out the right phone number to call:
www.allout.org/en/russia_call
It may feel intimidating, but we've made it easy by giving you a simple script to follow.
Political leaders in St. Petersburg are about to make it illegal for any person to write a book, publish an article or speak in public about being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. The ruling party led by President Medvedev and Prime Minister Putin could make millions of people invisible with the stroke of a pen.
Our opponents are trying to slip the bill through and are hoping we don't have time to get organized and fight back. We have less than 24 hours to show them that the world is watching and won't tolerate Russia's gay gag order.
Call your Foreign Affairs office and tell them to stop Russia from silencing its LGBT citizens:
www.allout.org/en/russia_call
Thank you for standing with LGBT Russians and for going All Out.
Best,
Polina from Coming Out - St. Petersburg's LGBT Organization
SOURCES:
St. Petersburg's Anti-Gay Propaganda Bill Scheduled For A Second Vote
thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2012/02/02/417107/st-petersburgs-anti-gay-propaganda-bill-scheduled-for-a-second-vote/
Draconian Bill Outlawing LGBT Activities and Gay 'Propaganda' is Back on the Table in St. Petersburg, Russia
www.towleroad.com/2012/02/russiastpete.html
Tolerance, not gay bans
www.themoscownews.com/editorial/20111117/189213196.html
Russia’s gays under attack as MPs back fines for ‘gay promotion’
en.ria.ru/analysis/20111118/168818571.html
If you can help protest awful piece of legislation please do. Even if you can't take part in it that way I would ask that you think about passing the information in this post on so people at least know that this is happening.
Being as Livejournal are owned or at least part owned, by SUP, a Russian media company, I have contacted them asking for some reassurance that if the bill were to pass that Livejournal will not suddenly remove all LGBTQ content.
I'm not holding my breath waiting for a reply.
EDIT
Livejournal have replied, basically their servers are in the US so they will use US law regardless of the fact they are owned by SUP, a Russian media company.
Dear Imogen,
Thank you for your inquiry, and I certainly understand your concern about this restrictive bill.
Though LiveJournal Inc. is owned by SUP Media, LiveJournal Inc. operates out of San Francisco, CA, and our servers are housed in Billings, Montana. This means that we operate under U.S. and California law only, and are not subject to laws such as the one you describe in Russia. Even if this bill were to be passed, it would have no bearing on what our users could publish in their journals and communities on LiveJournal.
Regards,
Anne
LiveJournal Community Care Team
The bill was halted, however it has now been restarted and there seems to be every effort to push it through before there is time to get any organised form of protest against it organised.
I found out about it from this:
Dear Imogen
I'm writing from St. Petersburg and I desperately need your help. We've just learned that the horrific anti-gay bill is back, and it could pass tomorrow.
In December, you and hundreds of thousands of All Out members from around the world stood with me and my friends in Russia to stop this bill - one that would make it illegal to speak publicly about being gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender. Together, we stopped the vote from taking place.
But now, opponents of equality are pushing it forward again in a last minute development, hoping we don't have the time to get organized and fight back.
We are rushing to organize a public protest against the law, but no matter where you are, you can stand with us. Call United Kingdom's Foreign Affairs office now and tell them to use every means possible to stop this law from passing. If enough of us call, we can create pressure and stop this anti-gay law, or make sure it does not pass without notice.
Click here to find out the right phone number to call:
www.allout.org/en/russia_call
It may feel intimidating, but we've made it easy by giving you a simple script to follow.
Political leaders in St. Petersburg are about to make it illegal for any person to write a book, publish an article or speak in public about being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. The ruling party led by President Medvedev and Prime Minister Putin could make millions of people invisible with the stroke of a pen.
Our opponents are trying to slip the bill through and are hoping we don't have time to get organized and fight back. We have less than 24 hours to show them that the world is watching and won't tolerate Russia's gay gag order.
Call your Foreign Affairs office and tell them to stop Russia from silencing its LGBT citizens:
www.allout.org/en/russia_call
Thank you for standing with LGBT Russians and for going All Out.
Best,
Polina from Coming Out - St. Petersburg's LGBT Organization
SOURCES:
St. Petersburg's Anti-Gay Propaganda Bill Scheduled For A Second Vote
thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2012/02/02/417107/st-petersburgs-anti-gay-propaganda-bill-scheduled-for-a-second-vote/
Draconian Bill Outlawing LGBT Activities and Gay 'Propaganda' is Back on the Table in St. Petersburg, Russia
www.towleroad.com/2012/02/russiastpete.html
Tolerance, not gay bans
www.themoscownews.com/editorial/20111117/189213196.html
Russia’s gays under attack as MPs back fines for ‘gay promotion’
en.ria.ru/analysis/20111118/168818571.html
If you can help protest awful piece of legislation please do. Even if you can't take part in it that way I would ask that you think about passing the information in this post on so people at least know that this is happening.
Being as Livejournal are owned or at least part owned, by SUP, a Russian media company, I have contacted them asking for some reassurance that if the bill were to pass that Livejournal will not suddenly remove all LGBTQ content.
I'm not holding my breath waiting for a reply.
EDIT
Livejournal have replied, basically their servers are in the US so they will use US law regardless of the fact they are owned by SUP, a Russian media company.
Dear Imogen,
Thank you for your inquiry, and I certainly understand your concern about this restrictive bill.
Though LiveJournal Inc. is owned by SUP Media, LiveJournal Inc. operates out of San Francisco, CA, and our servers are housed in Billings, Montana. This means that we operate under U.S. and California law only, and are not subject to laws such as the one you describe in Russia. Even if this bill were to be passed, it would have no bearing on what our users could publish in their journals and communities on LiveJournal.
Regards,
Anne
LiveJournal Community Care Team