365Gay: Gay Pride parades spread AIDS, says Moscow Mayor

FROM 365GAY.COM:

By 365gay Newscenter Staff
12.04.2008 2:34pm EST

Moscow -- LGBT rights advocates and AIDS workers are voicing shock at comments by Moscow’s mayor linking gay visibility to the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Speaking at an international AIDS conference in the Russian capital Mayor Yuri Luzhkov said he will continue to ban gay pride parades in the city to prevent spreading HIV/AIDS.

“We have banned and will continue to forbid this propaganda by sexual minorities, as they could turn out to be one of the factors in the spread of HIV infections,” Luzhkov told the conference.

“Certain homegrown democrats believe that sexual minorities can be a primary indicator and symbol of democracy, but we will forbid the dissemination of these opinions in the future as well.”

Luzhkov also stunned conference attendees by saying condoms were not reliable in protecting against HIV.

“Certain manufacturers state that condoms are reliable protection against AIDS, but modern science has proven this is untrue.”

Luzhkov’s remarks came only days after the federal government’s own AIDS Czar said HIV/AIDS is growing by 10 percent a year and that about 1 million people are infected.

The 72-year old mayor’s assertions are the latest in a long running battle with gays in Moscow over his refusal to grant permits for pride celebrations.

Despite Luzhkov’s refusal to grant a parade permit earlier this year the third Moscow Pride took place on Sunday June 1. Gay activists picketed the monument to the Russian composer Peter Tchaikovsky and then hung a huge banner from an apartment in front of Moscow City Hall.

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