The Moscow City Court has upheld its
June ruling banning Gay Pride parades in Moscow until the year 2112.
Nikolay Alexeyev, founder of Moscow Gay
Pride, told media outlets that his appeal had been denied.
In May, the administration of Moscow
Mayor Sergey Sobyanin rejected the activists' application to hold a
Gay Pride event in the city for the seventh year in a row.
Activists attempted an end run around
City Hall by submitting requests to hold such events for the next 100
years.
Citing possible riots and public
sentiment, the requests were denied, effectively banning Gay Pride
parades in the city for the next 100 years.
Alexeyev said that he would appeal the
decision to the European Court on Human Rights in Strasbourg.
“Remarkably, President Putin has
stayed silent as members of his party advance a provocative anti-gay
agenda that is putting him on a collision course with his allies in
Europe and around the world,” Andre Banks, executive director of
gay rights group AllOut.org, said in a statement. “Denying 100
years of Pride is no way to make friends in 2012.”
“This ruling reminds us that Pride is
every bit as meaningful today as it was after Stonewall in 1969.
Millions around the world are still fighting for the basic right to
live openly and love who they choose. Much like that memorable
summer decades ago, this fight will continue and it will be
successful. With serious pressure mounting from Russians – gay and
straight – along with other world leaders, Putin will soon have to
choose whether or not to be on the right side of history.”