gay propaganda

Seta published a statement against the article 6.13.1, the federal anti-lgbt draft law in Russia. The statement is addressed to the speaker of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, Sergey Naryshkin.

(Letter in Russian here pdf)

Seta – LGBTI Rights in Finland joins human rights organisations around the world in expressing deep concern regarding the proposed article 6.13.1 in the Parliament of Russian Federation, also known as the ”homosexual propaganda” draft law.

Seta urges You and all Russian legislators in federal, regional and local levels to protect the human rights of everyone, including LGBTI people, in line with the international commitments of Russia. We stand in solidarity with the Russian LGBTI community and all human rights defenders.

Banning activities that inform the public about diversity of sexual orientation and gender will send the whole Russian and international community an unacceptable signal of intolerance and exclusion. Passing the law would put human rights defenders increasingly at risk. Such a law would not only violate the human rights what comes to freedom of speech, assembly and association of LGBTI people and their allies in Russia but would also violate the right of everyone, including minors, to access correct information about the diversity of gender and sexual orientation.

By making decisions based on wrong information and prejudices, decision makers carry responsibility for severe consequences such as increasing intolerance towards LGBTI people, hate crimes, violence and arbitrary arrests.

On December 19th, numerous protests against the law are organized throughout Russia and Europe. According to Seta’s knowledge, the first reading of the law will be in January 2013.

Seta – LGBTI Rights in Finland

Seta is a national human rights organization, established in 1974. Seta’s goal is a society where everyone can live equally, free of discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. Seta is the umbrella organization for 21 LGBTI associations all over Finland.

Finnish LGBTI organization Seta gives its annual anti-award to Governor of St. Petersburg.

Seta ry 30.6.2012
Helsinki, Finland

Seta awarded today the governor of St. Petersburg, Gergiy Poltavchenko, with Seta´s annual anti-award called the ”Rat of Honour”. Poltavchenko received the anti-award because he signed the notorious anti-LGBT law of St. Petersburg in March 2012. Seta´s awards were a part of Helsinki Pride, the biggest LGBT event in Finland.

Seta wants to raise awareness about the human rights situation of LGBTI people in areas close to Finland. The distance between Helsinki and St. Petersburg is four hundred kilometres only.

”Poltavchenko could have refused to sign the law. The law goes against the constitution of Russia as well as international human rights agreements and recommendations, such as the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers recommendation to member states to combat all discrimination against LGBT people. The situation in St. Petersburg is worrying especially as a similar development is spreading elsewhere in Russia” stated Outi Hannula, the chairperson of Seta, in her speech.

Seta has arranged protests and events and written letters to Russian and Finnish authorities against the censorship laws of St. Petersburg and other areas of Russia also before. In April, when governor Poltavchenko visited Helsinki, Seta organized a public demonstration together with Amnesty Finland.

Seta gives the ”Rat of Honour” anti-award annually to a person or organisation that has expressed discriminatory opinions about LGBT people or has discriminated against them. In addition, Seta gives a positive award, the ”Apple of Good Information”, to a person or organization that has promoted the human rights of LGBTI people. This year, the recipient of the Apple is the Gender equality ombudsman Pirkko Mäkinen who actively and strongly defends the human rights of trans and intersex persons.

Seta: The federal ”gay propaganda” law in Russia has to be turned down

Poltavchenko is ”Rat of Honour”