First time in history of Belarus, gay-flag on political action
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Svyatoslav Sementsov
Apr 26, 2008, 3:32:18 PM4/26/08
to lgbtb...@googlegroups.com
More than a thousand people took part in the opposition's march staged
on the occasion of the 22nd Chernobyl accident anniversary in Minsk on
April 26. It was a first time in a history, when rainbow flag used on
political public event in Belarus.
The crowd started gathering at the square in front of the National
Academy of Sciences at 2 p.m. and a short rally followed. Leaders of
opposition had did speeches.
Sergey Androsenko, 19y.o. gay - leader of Gay Youth Association, stay
with big rainbow flag in the center of crowd. Anarchists promise to
protect gays on this event if somebody will try attack them.
The crowd then walked some two miles on sidewalks from the square to a
church built to commemorate Chernobyl victims at the intersection
between Arlowskaya and Karastayanavay Streets.
As the demonstrators were crossing Yakub Kolas Street, some 100 youths
separated from the crowd and entered the roadway but some of the
organizers intervened and managed to talk them into returning to the
sidewalks.
After reaching the church, the crowd observed a minute of silence for
those who died of illnesses caused by the Chernobyl fallout and laid
flowers at a monument commemorating the victims. The demonstrators
started dispersing shortly afterward.
Police did not interfere and no arrests were reported.
This case definitely will become a part of Belarusian LGBT history as
a date of beginning of cooperation between civil society and LGBT
movement, and the date of proud when LGBT activists didn't afraid to
become visible.
on the occasion of the 22nd Chernobyl accident anniversary in Minsk on
April 26. It was a first time in a history, when rainbow flag used on
political public event in Belarus.
The crowd started gathering at the square in front of the National
Academy of Sciences at 2 p.m. and a short rally followed. Leaders of
opposition had did speeches.
Sergey Androsenko, 19y.o. gay - leader of Gay Youth Association, stay
with big rainbow flag in the center of crowd. Anarchists promise to
protect gays on this event if somebody will try attack them.
The crowd then walked some two miles on sidewalks from the square to a
church built to commemorate Chernobyl victims at the intersection
between Arlowskaya and Karastayanavay Streets.
As the demonstrators were crossing Yakub Kolas Street, some 100 youths
separated from the crowd and entered the roadway but some of the
organizers intervened and managed to talk them into returning to the
sidewalks.
After reaching the church, the crowd observed a minute of silence for
those who died of illnesses caused by the Chernobyl fallout and laid
flowers at a monument commemorating the victims. The demonstrators
started dispersing shortly afterward.
Police did not interfere and no arrests were reported.
This case definitely will become a part of Belarusian LGBT history as
a date of beginning of cooperation between civil society and LGBT
movement, and the date of proud when LGBT activists didn't afraid to
become visible.
--
Svyatoslav Sementsov
co-president
TEMA - information center
-
m. +375297390882
svyatoslav...@gmail.com
skype: svyatoslav.sementsov
ICQ: 375118767
www.pride.by
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p.o.box 118
246048 Gomel
BELARUS
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