The First All-Russian Gay Infrastructure to be launched in St.-Petersburg in December 2009

We kindly invite you to the press conference to be held on Friday, the 11th of December 2009 at 12.00 on the occasion of the launch of “Tao Zone” All-Russian LGBT Area. The press-conference will be followed by a buffet.
Where: St.-Petersburg, Russia. Moscovsky prospect, 109 building 3
Map (please print out the map to make sure you will find the place): attached

A brand-new LGBT network “Tao Zone”(«Зона Дао») is to be open in St. Petersburg, Russia in December 2009. It was founded by Marina Inyakina and Maria Faivisovich. They recently were successful executives with ambitious career plans. Something changed at the beginning of 2009 when they met to move from Moscow to St.-Petersburg and start their own project.
Now their ambitious aim is to create a unique infrastructure for gay community as well as comprehensive support for homosexuals from all over Russia.
It’s commonly known, that there are no gay people in Russia. The society is so kind to be blind when they just live “somewhere” and do not “expose” their way of life. Well, that’s ok for an average person to be saved by a gay resuscitation specialist, and the next day he or she will be “tolerant” (that is, pass by and not recognize the savior and his same-sex partner holding hands). It’s fine for the government to be paid taxes by a gay top-manager, but how dares he to apply for the social partnership with his long-term partner or for any rights arising from such a partnership?

A gay person in Russia is suppressed by the society and is subject to guilt, shame and reservedness. These three cornerstones are not the best ones to establish a community. But Marina and Maria made up their mind to sell out almost everything they possessed to change the situation. It is not so unusual to invest money in your own business in case you are 100% sure you will gain, but the owners of “Tao Zone” cannot be so sure. Their audience can be described as “upper-lower to middle class”. There is no trace of luxury in “Tao Zone”, everything is as simple as it could possibly be. Marina and Maria intend to create a gay-oriented infrastructure, which includes a night club, yoga and dance school, English lessons, psychological support, business network (recruitment and socialization in a new business environment for homosexuals) a bookstore, a fitness recreation studio and a mini hotel for queers who are short of money. The two ladies set up their risky project in a 170 sq.m. premises within a walking distance from “Moskovskie Vorota” metro station. The renovation was made completely by themselves with the help of several volunteers. They will launch the nigh club first to proceed with the yoga school and dance school. Marina and Maria are in need of those who share their ideas, but in the end they are ready to make the most difficult job, and like-minded people will join.


Please RSVP to Marina Inyakina dao@daodao.ru, +7 (950) 003-7147, +7 (950) 003-7142

I am from Russia and I am gay. My past experience of living there was horrible. Especially last few years. I was beaten, threatened, harassed and abused because of my sexual orientation. Russia is a very homophobic country. Everybody: policemen, officials, common people, orthodox church etc. hate us. They say we are sick, call us freaks, perverts, garbage. All our rights and freedoms violated and nobody cares.
I was beaten by neo-nazies and policemen because I am “not like them… different”. And I got to hospital two times in very grave condition.
Russia hates gays and knows no mercy. I left this country 1 year ago and went to the U.S. hoping to find a new home where people value you for what you can do but not for your personal questions. The country where I have a chance for normal life. Where I don’t have to survive every day.
I am so scared to go back…

help get out of Russia! We are a couple, we live 13 years! SOS! SOS! write on mail reinael55@bk.ru

Guys, everyone of you knows that there are countries liberal to homosexuality, although in some states the attitude to it is exceptionally awful. Russia is one of them.
Here talking about legal gay or lesbian marriages makes somebody risk to be not even blamed but killed. Homophobia is one of the most important problems thus being an obstacle to LGBTI existence. Anyway. Types of it differ from one individual to another but the most widely spread is that almost everybody here is not straight. Nevertheless the mentality doesn't give an ability to reveal, the majority of them has to hide. No way to come out.
Nowadays the main problem is of students, they don't get any possibility even to meet each other (I mean other belonging to LGBTI), so cases of commiting suicidal action among them increase. Really impossible to live here. As for me, a schoolboy, there is the only way - to immigrate. I suppose everybody of my age here will maintain the same position.

Hello! I live in The Kabardino-Balkar Republic - it's a federal subject of Russia (a republic) located in the North Caucasus. Our republic includes two major ethnic communities, the Kabardins and the Balkars - both of them are Muslims. I belong to Kabardins and I'm gay. I guess you don't need the explanations how difficult it is for gay person to live in Muslim community...
Anyway, I've spent all my life living in Nalchik (a capital of The Kabardino-Balkar Republic) and all my life I was hoping that one day everything will change.
I was 12 years old when I realized that I'm gay. I had no one with whom I could share my secret. There was no person to help me with any kind of advice. I was bullied by every single person I know, including my own parents... But I did not give up and for over 11 years I was trying to survive my problems. I kept fighting because I was hoping that one day, after graduation I will leave The Kabardino-Balkar Republic. But moving to any other Russian City is not a solution of my problem also, because all my relatives have sworn to find and kill me for being openly gay. I've already told you that my family members are Muslims and when I told them that I'm gay, their religious views did not allow them to accept me the way I am... In 2009 I tried to run away from my family: I moved to Saint Petersburg, which WAS known as being the most Gay-Friendly City in Russia. But two months later my family tracked me down and brought me home by force. Now I understand that even if they didn't find me I couldn't keep living in Saint Petersburg, because last year St. Petersburg became Russia's third city to pass an anti-gay law called “gay propaganda.” Two regions of Russia — Arkhangelsk and Ryazan — have previously passed the same law. 62% of Russians supported the re-criminalization of homosexual acts between consenting adults. I'm in despair... And I don't know what to do... Russia is becoming homophobic country. I can not keep living in Muslim Homophobic Republic - it's dangerous for my life. My father wants me to marry a girl this summer - he thinks that it will change me and who I am. But it won't. Even if it would, I don't want it to... I live in horror and tyranny... My family and my country do not want me to be happy with who I am. But I'm proud I'm gay... Sometimes I want to kill myself (it seems to be the only solution of my problems)... I'm just thinking: If I won't kill myself somebody else will kill me... I beg for help... I just want to live normal life without fear and discrimination...

Hello everyone!
I`m Russian, and I`m lesbian. During all my childhood I wanted to be a boy (since I was 5). I dreamed of friendship with boys, and never of love. At school I falled in love with my math teacher, young woman - but I didn`t understand that. I knew nothing about gays and lesbians. And I think at that time it was good. Then many years have passed. I tried to live with a man when I was 23, but couldn`t do that enough time. That time I realised I should change my life. I met a lesbian girl, rent her room and left my boyfriend. Since then till today I am who I am:)It is two years that I live with a beautiful woman 10 years older. So I don`t wanna be a boy anymore:)
My mother doesn`t know that, but I think she`s suppose; my sister know I`m lesbian. I don`t attend any gay organisation or meetings, but the most of my friends are lesbian. They are also live by themselves. I don`t like any crowd, though it was organized one. I prefer some real persone. You can write me here: veselial@mail.ru
Thaks!:)
Barbara

recently decided to write to you. Situation that is happening in my country is terrible. especially for people like me. My president completely free hand to tens of thousands of stupid and cruel people. In many parts of the country enacted laws "On the promotion of homosexuality" We pretty much have had no rights, and now we have selected last.According to the law, I can not even aloud to talk about my sexual orientation, kissing my girl somewhere outside of our apartment, and even hold her hand. If I break the law at best I'll pay a huge fine, and in the worst case, I'll take the camera up to 15 days. Or I will beat. And maybe even killed.In the town where I live with my girlfriend a lot of bands that specialize in cleaning the city on such as we. We have no rights, we do not normally open living, human rights law is violated at every turn. I want to say to those who can speak openly about themselves. You damn lucky! I would gladly left the country with my girlfriend, but it's very hard. But every day I'm more afraid for his life and the life of my girls

Gays Siberian city of Barnaul live in fear

For six months in this city occurred in April killing of gays. The first victim - known in the town tailor, the second - a university lecturer. Three of them occurred in the last 2 weeks. In the latest tragedy killed the couple. Police to solve crimes. Their perpetrators are homophobes who kill and rob their victims. The latter crime is not solved, it happened several days ago.
Gays living in Barnaul, grieving, being in a depressed and frightened state. In the town before the killings related to sexual orientation. Over the past 10 years, were killed 5 people, not counting what happened in the past six months. Unable to explain this terrible phenomenon. Gay - the community is afraid to lead his normal life, fearing for their future.

The conference of LGBT Christians of different confessions "Accepting the force" that has been opened for the public since the middle of November summed up today in Moscow.

"Nuntiare et Recreare" internet site reports that 26 people from 10 different states participated in the work of the Int'l conference. Among those twenty six Christians were Orthodox Christians, Catholics, Lutherans, Baptists and others.

The conference opened with a prayer for gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people who are standing on the spiritual crossroads in their lives and for those who is forced to be in isolation... and consisted of three parts. In Part One - "Love each other as I loved you..." (In. 13,34) its participants shared their opinions on understanding the Creed, Christianity in general and Christian love in particular. Part Two - "LGBT Christians from different countries of the world" - informed the audience on LGBT Christianity issues in different countries of the world and in Part Three - "Our stories" delegates told their life stories...

The Conference adopted a Resolution - Appeal to Christian Churches of the world, LGBT Christians and LGBT community that is published in the Internet on the "Nuntiare et Recreare" site.

http://english.gay.ru/news/rainbow/2009/12/04-16927.htm

In 1980's I was instructing my gay friends, how to avoid imprisonment due to the antisodomy pragraph 121-1 of the Criminal Code of the USSR. At last the City Prosecutor's Office desided to punish me for this sort of activity and tried to fabricate a criminal case, based on absolutly false accusations. The started investigation deprived me of my work in the state university and left unemployed for two years till the very end of the court procedures and my conditional verdict. On June 1990 a group of activists came to my apartment and we founded gay-lesbian "Krilija" Center of St.Petersburg, http://krilija.sp.ru , which is active up to now, being the oldest LGBTI NGO in Russia, officially registered after a year of struggle at the courts of different level.

Добрый день! Я не гей и никогда им не буду. Но я уважаю выбор другого человека,для меня главное в людях это их доброта и отзывчивость, способность к сопереживанию, их гуманизм то есть все то, что заложено в каждом из нас как искра Божественного дара делающего нас отличными от животных. Поэтому я противник любой формы тоталитаризма и мракобесия. И ещё- я против любых проявлений гомофобии. Но с приходом к власти тирана Путина в нашей стране стала планомерно и безжалостно уничтожаться демократия. Конституция РФ принятая в демократической России давно уже перестала существовать. В стране правят бал всевозможные праворадикальные организации, мракобесы-фанатики из разных тоталитарных сект, фашисты всех мастей, бандиты и экстремисты из всевозможных прокремлевских организаций.Страшно даже подумать в какое болото толкает страну кучка воров узурпировавшая власть в стране, как планомерно и безжалостно зомбируют безумные Кремлевские кукловоды молодежь, каждый день изобретая все новых и новых врагов против которых направляют агрессию молодежи. Так тиран и его клика сбивают градус гражданского протеста ,натравляя людей против тех кто неугоден режиму, или против любого кого диктатору ,просто, не жаль. Было отвратительно видеть кривляние и ложь тирана в Амстердаме ,когда он цинично врал всему миру, что права человека (в том числе и лиц нетрадиционной ориентации) в нашей стране никто не нарушает. Все это гнусная и подлая ложь! В нашей стране за годы Путинской авторитарной диктатуры люди давно забыли о любых правах человека. Тем более те кого правящая в стране автократия и фанатики из религиозных организаций давно приговорили к тотальному уничтожению. Аналог этому может быть только в истории фашисткой Германии ,в те годы когда бесноватый фюрер превратил в прах миллионы человек. Сегодня даже самые легковерные и наивные граждане начинаю понимать, что власти в нашей стране не просто подражают Третьему Рейху ,они копируют его. Так в стране официально возродились ультраправые организации фашистов. Мало этого их курируют и опекают власти нашей страны, их защищают наши «правоохранительные» органы. Обеспечивая им полную безнаказанность и самую широкую свободу действий. А теперь моя история. Я живу в самом сердце Свердловской области в городе Нижний Тагил. Однажды мне попалось на глаза омерзительное видео, унижающее человеческое достоинство с элементами насилия над человеком. Самое потрясающие было, что этот материал был размещен на федеральном областном канале. Там был показаны противоправные действия организации «Оккупай-Педофиляй» города Каменск-Уральский в отношение молодого (18 лет) юноши. При этом его называли то педофилом,то гомосексуалистом. Проводил операцию известный фашист Максим Марцинкевич. Все члены организации так же являются фашистами и экстремистами. Я написал открытое письмо губернатору Свердловской области Куйвашеву.Е.В. и попросил его пресечь преступную деятельность этой организации. Так как её члены устраивают самосуд, занимаются самоуправством, бьют и,видимо,грабят «подозреваемых» в педофилии и гомосексуализме. Разместил письмо на сайте http://open-letter.ru/letter/97129/ сразу после публикации меня стали преследовать члены этой организации http://vk.com/occupykamensk Против меня устроили настоящую охоту .На сайте было объявлено,что любой кто расправится со мной получит значительную денежную награду, опубликованы мои контакты и адрес. Кроме этого начались телефонные звонки с угрозами, попытки напасть на меня на улице и .т.д. При этом все эти общественники ненавидят меня за ту критику ,что я высказал их движению. За мою смелость,за то,что выступил против них с открытым забралом,что в среде этих выродков непринято. Сегодня эта организация полностью переключилась на травлю гомосексуалистов. Их они избивают,грабят,унижают и все это делается при поддержки полиции Свердловской области. Так как я выступаю против любого насилия, за торжество демократии, за главенство закона над самосудом,то мне пришлось обратится в полицию. Однако сотрудники ГУВД по Свердловской области не только не обратили внимание на мои заявления, они принялись яростно защищать уголовников и подонков. Они категорически отказываются проводить любые проверки по фактам нарушений Конституции РФ ,по уголовным преступления против определенной социальной группы. Мне дают понять,что тот кто защищает гомосексуалистов и их права,сам не человек. И он так же находится вне закона. Поэтому преступление против меня оказываются безответными. Уголовное дело так и не возбудили,хотя я постоянно подвергаюсь опасности. Что тогда говорить о мифических правах гомосексуалистов в нашей стране,если даже я не гомосексуалист,а человек просто выступивший в защиту этих людей ,тут же стал вне закона. Сотрудники правоохранительных органов не просто не расследуют эти преступления, они ещё и угрожают мне лично, вынуждая меня отказаться от борьбы за права человека в этой стране, отказаться от защиты прав сексуальных меньшинств. Меня принуждают закрыть все мои сайты и больше никогда не писать подобных обращений. Губернатор Свердловской области мне не ответил. Думаю он так же поддерживает гомофобную истерию в нашей стране. Теперь я каждый день жду когда запылают печи концлагерей, в этой новой стране ,где правит клан олигархов и казнокрадов исповедующих идеологию фашизма. Кто хочет меня поддержать можете пройти на мой сайт http://vk.com/id207956775 И помните,что в стране убивают демократию.Поэтому нельзя им дать сделать всех нас покорными животными! Фашизм в России не пройдет!