Russian authorities approve IDAHOT event for activist – despite anti-gay laws

An LGBT rights activist claims local authorities in eastern Russia have approved an event for the upcoming International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT).

Alexander Ermoshkin told The Moscow Times that his event had been given the green light – despite Russia’s notorious laws against gay ‘propaganda’.

IDAHOT takes place on Saturday 17 May.

Mr Ermoshkin was fired from his almost 20-year teaching post after Russia’s anti-gay laws came into effect last summer.

The law bans “propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations among minors”, but has been criticised globally at facilitating persecution towards the LGBT community.

Mr Ermoshkin posted on his Facebook page that authorities had agreed to let him hold an event where he and up to 100 people would release rainbow balloons into the sky.

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• Dec 09 2023

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