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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 17, 2007)
AUGUST 17. 2007 jUSt|OUt|ei world ASIA/PACIFIC Georgian Rally Canceled Over Gay Rumors Fitness The Council of Europe's second annual “All Different, All Equal” rally in Tbilisi, Georgia, was canceled in late July after local media incorrectly 3.288.4500 3.283.5404 3.289.1429 reported it was a Gay Pride parade, which provoked outrage in religious and other circles. Similar pro-diversity rallies have been held V since 1995 in many of the Council of Europe’s 47 member nations. Russian gay activist Nikolai Alekseev believes the “This was a demonstration targeted at youth for criminal case against him is political retribution. intercultural and inter-religious dialogue, where children could have shown their views on mutual neighbors who use drugs, 78 oppose living beside ar respect and love with their songs, pictures and alcoholic, 56 disapprove of criminals as neighbors » creativity,” local organizer Paata Gachechiladze and 44 percent reject the notion of an emotionally told The Messenger, a Georgian English-language unstable neighbor. newspaper. The confusion started after the local Alia news La Cage aux Folies Star Dies paper ran a story headlined “Pederasts Are Getting French actor Michel Ready for a Parade in Tbilisi.” Other media then Serrault, who played gay repeated the story without doing their own research. nightclub owner Albin ■ Gachechiladze called the Alia report a total Mougeotte in La Cage aux fabrication, commenting, “The filthy gossip of one Folies, journalist caused such a big mess.” July died 29 in ere ses Included ned & Operated of cancer Honfleur, ds Available France. He was 79. Key Russian Activist Charged with Slander Well-known Russian gay In a statement, French President Nicolas Sarkozy BLdLa__ i_ Nikolai called Serrault a “monu Alekseev, chief organizer of the nation’s two ill-fated ment of the world of the Pride celebrations, was charged with criminal slander ater, cinema and television.” Serrault, who Aug. 1 for outing federal legislator Alexander Chuev straight, appeared in 130 other films and won t on a live TV news affairs program June 21. César awards, France’s version of Oscars. activist Michel Serrault Alekseev made the claim in a joint appearance with Chuev on the NTV network’s K baryeruf westcoasl tness.com ■ -tfursi pib ■ ■ / '' "y,' Gay Bulgarian Pop Star Fathers Girl Famous Bulgarian pop-folk singer Azis became program. According to GayRussia.Ru, Chuev has made the father of a baby girl Aug. 5. anti-gay statements and supported anti-gay legisla The child, Raya, was bom to Azis’ friend Gala, tion, including a bill that would have recriminalized the Sofia News Agency said. Last October, Azis, 28, gay sex. He reportedly authored a bill that would and his partner, Niki Kitaetsa, staged an unofficial have banned pro-homosexual propaganda. wedding in Sofia. “According to Russian Criminal Code, slander ing means dissemination of lies which spoils some Outgames to Give It Another Go one’s reputation or dignity," Alekseev said. “Russian Despite losing $5 million in its initial effort last authorities were caught in their own trap by opening year in Montreal, the World Outgames will he this criminal file. On the one hand they are saying all staged a second time in 2009—July 25 to 29 in the time that no one is discriminating {against] gays Copenhagen, Denmark. in Russia and that there is no problem being gay, and “Thousands of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans on the other hand they are investigating whether the gender sports enthusiasts, cultural movers and shak word ’gay’ can be insulting.” ers, activists, their families, friends and supporters will Alekseev said he believes the criminal case is gather in the Danish capital for nine absolutely fab political retribution for his many court challenges ulous days of serious sport, serious culture and totally to Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov’s bans on this and serious fun,” gushed a press release issued Aug. 1. last year’s Gay Pride parades. One of those cases is Organizers expect 8,000 athletes to compete in pending before the European Court of Human 30 sports. An “Out Human Rights conference” will Rights. iti' ’ '.' a MI run concurrently with the games, focusing on “It is clearly another example of Russia becoming an authoritarian state where people do not have any “sports, culture and media, education, families, politics, business and workers and LGBT history." right to express themselves and speak freely," The Outgames were born in 2006 after Gay Alekseev said. “And Russian authorities particularly Games organizers in Montreal and the Federation do not like those who reveal bitter tmth about them.” of Gay Games got into a nasty, prolonged argument For details on the two disastrous attempts to hold over financial planning and other matters. The Gay Pnde parades in Moscow, see tinyurl.com/2nkl7p federation eventually moved the 2006 Gay Games and tinyurl.com/2lt8pl. to Chicago, and the Montreal organizers launched the competing Outgames under the auspices of the EUROPE Most Finns OK with Gay Neighbors relatively young Gay and Lesbian International Sport Association. About 80 percent of Finns have no objection to living next door to gays, people with HIV or immi R ex WOCKNER has reported for the gay press since grants, according to a survey carried out by the ValT 1985. He has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Suomi newspaper. Drake University and started his career as a radio However, 92 percent do not want to have reporter. u __________ ■
