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NEWS & LETTERS, August-September 2007Queer NotesBy Elise A world-record three million people participated in Sao Paulo, Brazil's, 11th annual Gay Pride parade in June, making it the largest Pride parade among numerous others held the same day. A particularly vociferous anti-gay rally held the previous day failed to keep participants and spectators away from the Pride festivities, which opposed homophobia, machismo and racism. -- A June protest by gay rights activists that was given the go-ahead by Moscow city authorities was stopped by police. Most of the activists were dispersed but two were detained after police stopped, among other things, the unfurling of a banner. The good news is that anti-gay onlookers didn’t punch the activists and pelt them with eggs, which they did in May. Demonstrators were aiming to have the European Union impose a visa ban on Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov, who has banned gay Pride parades and called homosexuality “satanic.” * * * Stop Murder Music and numerous other gay rights groups have finally been able to persuade the reggae groups Beenie Man, Sizzla and Capleton to stop performing anti-gay songs. By signing the Reggae Compassionate Act, the performers agreed to “respect the rights of all individuals” and to reject sexism, including homophobia. Peter Tatchell and his group Stop Murder Music will be monitoring the performers to see if they keep their word. |
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