Minsk Pride
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| Location | Minsk, Belarus |
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| Founded | 1999 |
| Language | Russian, Belarusian, English |
| Website | http://www.pride.gaybelarus.by |
Minsk Pride — gay pride in Minsk (Belarus). This is a festival in support of tolerance for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people in Belarus.
The first Belarusian Pride Festival “Belarus Gay Pride” was held in Minsk from 6 to 9 September 1999. “Belarus Gay Pride” 1999 was organized by the Belarusian League for Sexual Equality “Lambda” and the magazine for gays and lesbians “Forum Lambda”. The festival program included a seminar for journalists on "Lesbians and gay men in the media", conference on the rights of gays and lesbians in Belarus and in the world, the exhibition of photographs and films taken homosexuals, competition “Mr. Gay Belarus” and competition “Transmission”. During one of parties in the club burst the raided by riot police and frisked the contestants “Transmission”. In the events of “Belarus Gay Pride” was attended by about 500 people.
In the period from 7 to 10 September 2000 in Minsk was held second Pride festival "Belarus Gay Pride" 2000. "Belarus Gay Pride" 2000 supported by prominent figures Belarusian culture, almost all of the artists stated in the program, have agreed free to participate in the events in support of the rights of gays and lesbians.
The planned march "Belarus Gay Pride" 2000, was banned by the authorities 24 hours before its scheduled start. The rationale for denial of the march was that the organizers failed to obtain a permit to march on time. Most of the activities were banned under the pressure of the Russian Orthodox Church. Thus, not been displayed a collection of clothes, were abolished appearances Minsk and international artists, not take place contest "Miss DIVA-2000" and the first championship of Belarus on a male strip show.
In further the authorities were doing everything possible to prevent the carrying out of any of the planned activities. September 7 in the club "Aquarium", where the opening of "Belarus Gay Pride" 2000 was stormed a police raid. On the fifteenth minute of the art program at the club was off the light, and the police said the participants leave the premises for a few minutes. Then, the police pursued participants in the streets of the city.
The next day, the authorities closed press center "Belarus Gay Pride" 2000, which was granted by the public organization "United Way". The authorities also was ordered immediately leave the office and cease operations, and to cancel all activities at the House of Culture, where should to held workshops and film screenings. As the director, of the Culture House was closed to all visitors due to technical reasons. Screening of the film on LGBT topics in the city movie theater was canceled. The organizing committee and all the people who were in the building, left the building under the supervision of police officers in plain clothes, of leading videotaping of the car. Communication has been disabled, and organizing committee was deprived the possibility of immediately contact with human rights organizations and the media.
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