The Saint-Petersburg “Coming Out” LGBT organization held a series of single pickets in Malaya Sadovaya street on April, 11^th. These events were conducted under the motto “We stand for Russia for everybody. We stand for Russia without homophobia” which marked the end of the “Week Against Homophobia”.

7 people participated in the picket, about 40 activists were present and supported the action. The police were making arrangements concerning protection of public order. During picketing there were 2 minor incidents which were efficiently reacted to by the police.

The picketing activists offered all interested people to sent “rainbow letters” to the Culture Committee and the Main Department of Internal Affairs. The letters contained questions to the state officials about the taken measures on the counteraction against homophobia and protection of citizens’ rights. As a result about 100 letters were sent.

“By this action we call our citizens to understanding of the fact that no prejudices should split the people of one country into two warring camps. Unfortunately the city authorities rejected our request to hold a mass rally. We consider this refusal illegal and have appealed to court,” said Igor Kochetkov (Petrov), the director of the LGBT organization “Coming Out”.

Let us remind that the info campaign called the “Week Against Homophobia” is held from the 5^th till the 11^th of May. It’s aimed at drawing the public attention to the problem of homophobia and its danger for the whole society. This action was initiated by the inter-regional social movement “Russian LGBT Network” (LGBT means lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people).

Translated by M.K.