Just days after the world presented an
united front against HIV during Monday's 20th anniversary
of World AIDS Day, Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov has linked HIV to the
gay rights movement, reports the Interfax news agency.
On December 4, Luzhkov, speaking at a
conference in Moscow titled HIV/AIDS in Developed Countries,
said that his administration would continue to ban the progress of
gay and lesbians rights, citing the notion that greater visibility
for the gay community was responsible for an increase in HIV in
Moscow.
“We
have banned, and will ban, the propaganda of sexual minorities'
opinions because they can be one of the factors in the spread of HIV
infection,” he said.
The mayor went
further, declaring that safe sex – the idea that condoms dampen the
spread of HIV – has exacerbated the spread of AIDS. “Some
companies insist that condoms are a safe guarantee against AIDS, but
contemporary science proved that it is not the case.”
Luzhkov's comments
come at a time when the world is waiting to see if he will ban a gay
pride and march celebration in Moscow for the forth year in a row.
This year, gay activists have scheduled gay pride to coincide with
the May 16 finale of the Eurovision Song contest to be held in the
city.
Moscow gay rights
activists have repeatedly clashed with their mayor.
Last June, a small
group of protesters led by gay rights leader Nikolai Alexeyev
(sometimes spelled Alekseev) held pride flags and banners outside the
famed Tchaikovsky music conservatory, in defiance of Luzhkov's ban of
the event. They chanted, “No to homophobia,” and “Tchaikovsky
was gay.” A second demonstration was held at a building in front
of Moscow City Hall where a banner was hung reading “Rights For
Gays and Lesbians – homophobia of Mayor Luzhkov to be prosecuted.”
Luzhkov has denied
gay activists a parade license since 2006. He has called being gay
“satanic,” and declared last year's actions “criminal.”
“Today's
statements of Moscow mayor show which level of madness such
politicians can take our society to,” Alekseev told gayrussia.ru.
“While developed democratic countries recognize the rights of gays
and lesbians for more effective fight against HIV infection and other
sexually transmitted diseases, Moscow mayor is trying to take our
society to the new epidemic circle in Russia where population is
decreasing very fast.”
“The statements
of Mr. Luzhkov are based on his own prejudice and stereotypes and in
no way reflect recent scientific information,” he said.