[fse-esf] MEDIA RELEASE, , Russian Week against Homophobia (RWAHO), , March 25-31, 2008 / please disseminate]

[Karine Gantin]

 From Russian human rights network from our HCA partners, very involved 
in social and democratic struggles in Russia, with many components 
insides including LGBT
Please disseminate widely
Best regards,
Karine Gantin

MEDIA RELEASE

*Russian Week **against Homophobia (RWAHO)*

/March 25-31, 2008/


For immediate release
*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finally repealed in Russia.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.


*Wh**ere 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.


-------- Message original --------

Sujet: 	FW: request to circulate information
Date: 	Sun, 9 Mar 2008 17:49:04 +0300
De: 	Konstantin Baranov <newaristos at gmail.com>
Pour :: 	'Karine Gantin' <karine.gantin at noos.fr>


-----Original Message-----
From: Konstantin Baranov [mailto:newaristos at gmail.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, February 20, 2008 11:07 PM
To: 'Karine Gantin'
Subject: request to circulate information

Dear Karine!

How are you? How is your work going?..

We continue our activities in the field of LGBT rights, and this year we
once again co-organize the Week against Homophobia in Russia.

I attach a press-release of it in English. Hope, you will find it
interesting for the readers of your website.

It would be great if you could also circulate it through your channels.
Our partners from Russian LGBT organizations already started the
dissemination of this release in the English-speaking space, 

Thanks in advance for your assistance!

Yours sincerely,
Konstantin Baranov,
International Youth Human Rights Movement,
Russia.

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