Petrelis Files

Russian - U.S. Gays to Stage Speak Out Nov 12 at SF Milk Plaza

(Click to enlarge. The signs in English and Russian read "I am a human being and not propaganda" and "We love gay Russians". Credit: Bill Wilson.)

Members of a contingent of Russian gays on a U.S. State Department tour of San Francisco will hold a speak out in the heart of City's LGBT Castro neighborhood, with activists from the local Gays Without Borders activist group.

As part of its public diplomacy effort to the build the organizing skills of foreign lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender activists, the U.S. State Department has brought five Russians gays to San Francisco for meetings and informal chats with Bay Area activists and LGBT and HIV/AIDS nonprofit organizations.

There will be an interpreter at the speak out. Activists will display large posters in English and Russian, and an rainbow flag.

WHO: Russian gays & Gays Without Borders 
WHAT: Speak out 
DATE: Tuesday, November 12 
WHEN: 4:30 pm 
WHERE: Harvey Milk Plaza 
LOCATION: Castro and Market Streets

The photo above was taken today, Monday, November 11, at the San Francisco LGBT community center after an informal brown bag lunch chat between the Russian gays and San Francisco activists and staffers from the center and other local nonprofit groups.

Our Russian gay guests are seated in the front row, but because of online death threats made against them in recent days by anti-gay bullies belonging to the Occupy Pedophilia network of hooligans, we are not naming them to protect their well-being.

Please join us tomorrow, Tuesday, at historic Harvey Milk Plaza and show solidarity with the LGBT community of Russia.