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
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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
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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
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