This year, the Festival was supported by many famous artists, journalists, actors, directors, and even politicians from Europe, America and Russia. We want to share with you the inspiration we got from the many words in support!

Klaus Wowereit - Governing Mayor of Berlin:

“The organizers of this year’s festival chose an important slogan. It reads “The Art of Being Yourself”. This motto, as I understand it, is not only a call to every individual to be confident of him or herself and to accept differences of others, but also calls for a fair society built upon mutual respect, for a society that sees diversity as an enrichment and not as a blemish. In other words, the fight against discrimination and for equal civil rights is not just a small, insignificant issue. When someone limits people’s opportunities because of their religion, their skin color or sexual orientation, it threatens the whole society. It is a question about the basic rules of our coexistence. It is about central values of humanity, tolerance and the freedom to be different from others…
I wish the International Queer Culture Festival in St. Petersburg much success.”

Valery Panyushkin - well-known Russian journalist and writer

“…The very fact that it even occurred to someone to organize a festival for tolerance and against homophobia is evidence to the fact that homophobia in Russia exists and that tolerance in Russia is scarce… no single person can be truly happy until there are people around him or her who are unhappy…”

Stephen Fry - English actor and writer

“It give me great pleasure to send a message of support, solidarity and admiration to all those taking part in the St Petersburg International Festival of Queer Culture this September. I cannot tell you how proud I am to have so many Russian followers, readers and friends… It has not easy to be out and proud in Russia of late and it takes a very special kind of courage to stand up for yourself in such an atmosphere of enmity and ignorance. I think it is a very Russian quality to be so brave, to have such integrity and such a proper sense of pride and self… Good luck and all my love and best wishes to all taking part.”

J. J. Johanson, popular Swedish singer and special guest of the Festival:

“When I was asked if I wanted to participate, there was no hesitation, I definitely said “yes” - sais Johanson. “I hope the message of the Festival will be heard all over the world“.

Oleg Garkusha, Auktsyon group, show presenter of the RockFest on September 25:

“I wish you that this Festival will not be the last one, that there will be more such festivals, may be more often. Invite good quality musicians and everything will be good.”

John Cameron Mitchell, American director (Hedwig and the Angry Inch and Shortbus):

“I’m in NY now where we take it for granted, we can be open about our sexual and gender identity… Come in to the festival. There are some incredible people… It’s very important to feel less alone to reach out to your brothers and sisters. And I thank you so much for paving the way for people in the future”.

We also got support from consulates and international human rights groups:

British Consulate-General in St. Petersburg:

“…We believe the International Festival of Queer Culture will present another valuable opportunity to highlight, peacefully and lawfully, the issues that affect vulnerable groups of society, including LGBT people. We wish you every success with the event, and strongly support your right to hold it.”

Consulate General of Sweden in St. Petersburg:

“The fight against discrimination and intolerance and for equal rights is a difficult one, where civil society plays a vital role. Agents for change, such as your organisation, are carrying out valuable and important work. The Consulate General of Sweden commends your important initiative and confirms its strong support to the International Festival of Queer Culture.”

We are grateful to all these wonderful people and organisations for their inspirational words of support which will the values of the Festival - tolerance, right to self-expression, respect for human differences and rights - reach the hearts of the Russian audience.

All details on support for the Festival you can find here:
http://queerfest.ru/index.php/us-have-supported/individual-support/?lang=en

Follow our news at the Queer Festival web-site!

http://www.queerfest.ru