Posted on 10/12/2013 11:33:33 PM PDT by cunning_fish
ST PETERSBURG, Russia (Reuters) - Police arrested 67 people after a fight broke out between gay rights activists and their opponents at a demonstration in the Russian city of St Petersburg on Saturday.
Gay rights campaigners in Russia have held several small protests since the adoption of a law in June banning homosexual "propaganda" directed at minors. Critics say the law curtails homosexuals' rights to free speech and assembly.
The issue has attracted growing international attention ahead of Russia's hosting of the Winter Olympics in Sochi next year. Gay rights activists have called for participants and sponsors to boycott the games in protest at the law.
The disturbance in central St Petersburg began after a group of around 15 gay rights activists tried to hold a demonstration to mark International Coming Out Day.
They were far outnumbered by the anti-gay demonstrators, including several dressed as Cossacks and Orthodox priests, who had occupied the site of the planned demo.
The anti-gay demonstrators included several elderly women who chanted Russian Orthodox prayers.
"The homophobes broke up the action with the help of the police," said Natalia Tsymbalova, one of the organizers of the gay rights demo.
Another demonstrator called Maria told Reuters that when a pro-gay demonstrator tried to unfurl a rainbow-colored flag, she was manhandled to the ground and the flag torn from her.
A police representative told Reuters that 67 people had been detained. They included both gay rights activists and their opponents.
Russia's President Vladimir Putin has denied the new law is aimed at cracking down on homosexuals' rights.
Opinion polls suggest it is backed by a majority of Russians, including many conservative Russian Orthodox believers who regard homosexuality as a sin.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Go Vlad....save your country from these PERVERSE DEVIANTS!! I wish we had done such a thing.
I for one will be watching, supporting, and cheering on the Sochi games.
Scumbag Reuters always has to throw in something about religious objection to sodomy. Notice the wording, "including many". The fact is most normal people, religious or not, are simply creeped out by turd pokers. Congratulations to the Russians for not being as susceptible to mass media manipulation and propaganda as the American sheeple seem to be.
America needs a Vlad.
“who regard homosexuality as a sin.”
It is a sin. Why have the ‘regard’ in there? Not one reputable Biblical scholar argues that the Bible permits sodomy. You can say that sins are all just mumbo jumbo if you are an atheist, but they are what they are. Typical Yahoo.
Go back in the closet where you belong you sick CS’ers.
All this trouble so they can play and roll around in feces.
Exporting Liberalism-America’s only hope.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.