22 Jan Support for the Russian activists in the struggle against Article 6.13.1
Today the Russian State Duma will consider in the first reading the federal ban of the so-called ‘homosexual propaganda’ – Article 6.13.1, which would violate fundamental human rights to freedom of assembly and expression, as well as the right to seek and distribute information.
The law puts at risk not only activities of human rights defenders, but also well-being and lives of LGBT people in general, who will be exposed to even greater violence and discrimination due to institutionalized stigmatization.
On Tuesday, activists of the Russian LGBT Network are holding actions in several Russian cities to protest against Article 6.13.1 and to respond to the negative labeling of LGBT by the legislators.
The Macedonian LGBT organization LGBT United called upon all the citizens of Macedonia to give support to the Russian activists by making a protest call at the Russian Embassy:
“Today Russian LGBT activists in different cities of Russia and LGBT activists from all over the world will take the streets in protest against the new amendment (Article 6.13.1) of the Administrative Offenses Code of the Russian Federation, which creates administrative responsibility for the so-called “homosexual propaganda”. Give your support to the LGBT people from Russia! Call the Russian Embassy in Skopje”- it is said in the statement.