Why?
It’s been 15 years since criminal prosecution of male homosexuality was finally repealed in Russia. For almost a decade same-sex attraction is no longer considered pathological among mainstream Russian medical specialists. But still Russian society as a whole embodies strong negative attitudes and intolerance towards men and women of homosexual orientation based on prejudice and misinformation. It leads to widespread violation of human rights of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders (LGBT), as well as to hate crimes – physical violence based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Low level of sex education is the ground for promoting fear, hatred and extremely fascist ideas by organizations and public figures of particular kind. That’s why homophobia is dangerous not only for LGBT themselves, but for the entire society, where the tendency for suppressing any individuality is being instilled.
 
What for?
Russian Week against Homophobia is a special attempt to attract public attention in a certain time-frame to the problem of homophobia and to its danger to the society as a whole. It’s a chance of responding to homophobic rhetoric by creating an area free from discrimination and hatred towards people.
 
Where and When?
Russian Week against Homophobia will be held in March 25-31, 2008. It is the successor of previous enlightenment happenings conducted in Russia during European Week against Homophobia (EWAHO) in March, 2007.
This year Russian Week against Homophobia will be held in major cities like Moscow, Saint-Petersburg, Voronezh, Krasnodar, Omsk, Petrozavodsk, Rostov-na-Donu, Samara, Tumen, Cheylabinsk, etc.
During March 25-31 there will be seminars, panel discussions, meetings, film showings with debates, as well as other events targeted at homophobia elimination in Russian society. Also, signature drive for the “Manifest against Homophobia” started last year will be continued.
 
How?
You can support the Russian Week against Homophobia by participating in any events of any region or by suggesting your own event and conducting it.
Who?
This year’s Russian Week against Homophobia is conducted by the following alliance:

• Russian LGBT Network (Charity Fund "Rainbow", "Antidogma" Project, "Nuntiare et Recreare" Ministry, QGuys.RU, "LesbiPARTY", Human rights center for gays and lesbians “Krilya”, Information Agency LINA) – WWW.LGBTNET.RU;
• Youth Network against Racism and Intolerance (YNRI) – www.ynri.hrworld.ru;
• Movement of civil actions “GROZA” – www.resist.ru;
• "LaSky – Trusting Each Other": Russian HIV/AIDS Prevention Network among MSM – www.lasky.ru
• LGBT Organization “Raduzhniy Dom” (Tumen);
• LGBT Organization “Krug-Karelia” (Petrozavodsk);
• LGBT Association “Favorit” (Omsk) – www.favorit.gay.ru .

 
If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact
the coordinating board at homophobia_no@googlegroups.com
Your feedback is important!