Ireland: Protest planned for Dublin Russian Embassy against anti-gay laws
A protest is to take place on Friday at the Russian Embassy in Dublin against anti-gay laws introduced in Russia in June.
The protest will take place at the Russian Embassy in the city, and aims to put pressure on the Irish, as well as other European authorities to convince Russia to repeal the laws.
The event, created on Wednesday morning, has already seen a hundred people sign up to say they will attend.
The organiser of the protest Emma Ryan said: “We will be at the Russian Embassy in Dublin because we are outraged by Russia’s anti-gay laws, and by the abuse occurring there. People gay, straight, bisexual, trans and queer are horrified by the stories and pictures they see coming out of Russia. We cannot stand by silently and allow them to continue in their persecution of the LGBT community.”
President Vladimir Putin signed the law in June banning the promotion of “non-traditional relationships” toward minors, a move that has been criticised as part of a broader crackdown on Russia’s gay community. Other laws banning the adoption of Russian children by foreign same-sex couples, and one which enables organisations receiving funding from abroad to be fined as “foreign agents”, were also passed.
The laws have so far sparked controversy among LGBT activists, with some calling for a boycott of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. Others have also called to boycott Russian vodka as a form of protest.
The protest is organised for 18:00 at the Russian Embassy in Dublin, and information and updates is available from the event’s Facebook page.
