Tag Archives: Pussy Riot

Lady Gaga To Be Sued (Possibly Arrested) For Promotion Of Gay Rights In Russia

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In this is ridiculous entertainment news, singer and performer Lady Gaga is being targeted by the Russian government because of her vocal support of LGBT rights. The court filing this week is due to Gaga’s performance in St. Petersburg over the weekend. Gaga was threatened with a #55000 fine for promoting “gay propaganda” as well as jail time because of a phone conversation to her managers right before her performance.

One of the conservative leaders behind the “gay propaganda law passed recently, Vitaly Milonov, feels that Gaga’s statements sends the wrong message to the younger generations:

We will contact prosecutors and the law enforcement agencies to carry out a thorough investigation of the situation, When people tell kids ‘you must support sexual minorities’, that can create a false equivalence for them between traditional and non-traditional relationships.”

“We saw that in addition to music, songs and such, there were direct calls for 12-year-old citizens to support the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community,”

This isn’t the first case of a celebrity that supports LGBT rights that has been recently targeted by these religious extremists. You may remember that earlier this year, music icon Madonna was sued by the Russian government for her support of the Russian pro-gay bandmembers of the music group Pussy Riot.  Madonna asked for their freedom during her performance and displayed artwork on her self to promote awareness. The charges along with the 10 million dollar suit was later dropped. 

So why is the Russian government continuing with this anti-gay agenda? Seems likely that they’re wanting to rally more to support their anti-gay stance but these charges don’t seem to hold up.

Lawsuit Against Madonna For Supporting Pussy Riot Has Been Dismissed

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Well it appears the Material Girl has done it again as news spread the outrageous case against music and gay icon Madonna has been dismissed by the St. Petersburg courts in Russia. The case sought out over $10 million i damages against the proclaimed legend.

The charges of promoting “homosexual propaganda  when she showed support for embattled pro-gay music group Pussy Riot obviously had no merit (and probably drawing more negative attention to the country as well). Here’s a quick recap of the lawsuit originally brought against her:

Madonna also supported Russian punk band Pussy Riot who were imprisoned for performing a song that criticized President Vladmir Putin in a church. She wore a ski mask and wrote the group’s name on her back and during her concert in Moscow, Madonna said she’d “pray for them” and then went on to sing Michael Jackson’s hit song Human Nature in a moment of symbolism for human equality.

According to the Guardian, the judge presiding over the case, was skeptical of the validity of the charges to begin with:

“The judge in the case, Vitaly Barkovsky, deliberated for more than an hour before delivering his verdict, but appeared to treat the case with skepticism from the start. After one claimant, Vitaly Orlovsky, said Madonna’s concert would prompt the divorce rate to skyrocket, Barkovsky asked him why he was suing no alcoholics, since alcoholism was a well-known cause of divorce in the heavy-drinking country,”

Congrats Madonna!

Did Madonna Expresses Solidarity with Anti-Vaxxers Right Wing Nuts or Trash Cancel Culture?

Madonna Is Now One Step Closer To Facing Trial For Support Of Pussy Riot

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A trial has been set in motion for music icon and LGBT advocate Madonna after she showed support for music band Pussy Riot in Russia. Madonna is being sued by the Russian anti-gay groups for the sum of over ten million dollars that has now been approved by the St. Petersburg court system. Here’s more from the Examiner:

Members of the Union of Russian Citizens, the people’s Assembly and the New Great Russia party who submitted the lawsuit are being granted their wish by a St. Petersburg court, but not for the $10 million initially proposed. A $6.5 million lawsuit is being brought against Madonna because the groups believed she “crossed the line”. One activist, Darya Dedova, said back in August that the money won in the case will be donated to orphanages and stated that Madonna “had been warned with words that she should behave in line with the law and she ignored it”.

Madonna also supported Russian punk band Pussy Riot who were imprisoned for performing a song that criticized President Vladmir Putin in a church. She wore a ski mask and wrote the group’s name on her back and during her concert in Moscow, Madonna said she’d “pray for them” and then went on to sing Michael Jackson’s hit song Human Nature in a moment of symbolism for human equality.

As we reported initially, the lawsuit claimed that Madonna’s support of the now world famous group promoted their pro-gay stance and resulted in  “psychological stress and emotional shock”, to the citizens of Russia. Despite the approval by the courts, no date for the trail has been set.

What a joke. Most likely these extremists are trying to set a precident and make an example to all LGBT in Russia. I hope they lose and that Madonna counter-sues.

BREAKING NEWS: Russian Female Punk Band Pussy Riot To Be Released From Prison

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News sources are stating that the Russian female punk band Pussy Riot will soon  be released.

Pussy Riot were sentenced to two years in prison for “hooliganism” after being arrested back in  March after a performance of a “punk prayer” held at Christ the Savior Cathedral, one of Moscow’s main religious establishments in protest to Russian ruler Vladimir Putin.

Here’s official word from the Associated Press:

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has called for three members of the punk band Pussy Riot to be freed, saying further prison time would be “unproductive.”

Medvedev’s comments on Wednesday could signal the band members’ imminent release as their case comes up for appeal on Oct. 1.
The women had already spent more than five months in jail when they were convicted in August of “hooliganism driven by religious hatred” and sentenced to two years in prison.

The bandmembers have had global support in response to their imprisonment, from LGBT activists and advocates including Madonna, who during an August concert in St. Petersburg when she  showed her support of the band. Madonna’s currently being sued for her vocal support of the band during the aforementioned concert for 10 million dollars.

We wish the bandmembers luck!!!

Moscow Bans Gay Pride Parades For The Next 100 Years

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On Friday, a Moscow city court upheld the ridiculous decision to uphold a law that precvents the gay all celebration festivities of gay pride parades. The ban on gay pride parades started in May 2012 and will last until May 2112. An LGBT community lawyer has vowed to appeal the decision and if necessary, Nikolay Alekseyev,  intends on appealing the mandate to the European Court of Human Rights.

“They refuse our requests every time, but in Strasbourg they recognize these rulings as unlawful. But time does not stand still, we ask for a new event and again they refuse us,”

Alekseyev had submitted a request last year for over a hundred gay pride parades but they were neither accepted or denied within a 15 day time limit. the activists knew that approval was highly unlikely but needed a formal denial in order to file for an appeal.

Gay activists have not let the law prevent them from celebrating pride in their sexuality. In June, a group of 70 held the first ever gay pride parade in Moscow known as “March of the Burning Hearts”. The name came as a response from aa tv anchor that said gay people should not be allowed to donate organs and the hearts of gay people should be burned. Surprisingly the police at the rally did not detain the activists and were offered to drive them home (which was declined).

Recently Russia has been in the news a lot regarding gay rights. Punk rock band and LGBT activists Pussy Riot were found guilty of “hooliganism” Friday and sentenced to two years imprisonment after they performed at one of Moscow’s cathedrals. Their performance was derogatory to Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

The stringent and religiously conservative demands that the country has made recently has garnered worldwide attention from the Amnesty International to artists like Madonna, who’s currently being sued for showing support for Pussy Riot in a recent concert in St. Petersburg.

Music Icon Madonna Sued For Supporting Pussy Riot & Gay Rights In Recent Concert

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It is reported that singer, actress, icon, and legend Madonna is being sued for $10.5 million (£6.6 million) by the Russian Anti-Gay groups because of her support of the band group Pussy Riot during her MDNA concert on August 9th.During the concert, Madonna reaffirmed her support for gay rights:

 “here to say that the gay community and gay people here and all around the world have the same rights to be treated with dignity, with respect, with tolerance, with compassion, with love,”

During the concert Madonna handed out anti-homophobia wristbands and during a performance of “Express Yourself” exposed her back with the band’s name in support. Madonna also held up rainbow colored signs in show that said “NO FEAR”.

The oppressors are claiming that Madonna’s recent performace supporting punk rock group Pussy Riot after their arrest protesting the Russian Government’s anti-gay rights stance siting her performance was “moral damage suffered by St. Petersburg residents”. A legal represnetative for the anti-gay groups suing said the performance was “psychological stress and emotional shock” as well as a“promotion of homosexuality.” Madonna is also being accused of disfiguring an Orthodox Cross.

Pussy Riot were arrested in March after their charged performance of “punk party”, a song that opposed Russian leader Vladimir Putin and the government’s extreme conservative views on gay rights.The three bandmembers were sentenced yesterday to two years in prison labeled as “hooliganism” Both Pussy Riot and Madonna have been staunch supporters of LGBT rights and equality.

Earler today. Madonna released a statement encouraging activist and advocates alike that the conviction of the band Pusssy Riot is unjust and encourages others to speak out:

“I protest the conviction and sentencing of Pussy Riot to a penal colony for two years for a 40 second performance extolling their political opinions. Even if one disagrees with the location or how they chose to express themselves, the sentence is too harsh and in fact is inhumane. I call on all those who love freedom to condemn this unjust punishment. I urge artists around the world to speak up in protest against this travesty. They’ve spent enough time in jail. I call on ALL of Russia to let Pussy Riot go free.”

As of the time of this article, there’s been no official comment from Madonna or her representatives on this ridiculous lawsuit.

Pussy Riot Members Unjustly Sentenced To Prison

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Three members of the innovative punk rock band Pussy Riot were sentenced to two years in prison on the incredulous charges of “hooliganism”. supporters of the band were heard chanting “Shame!” outside the courtroom after the members were sentenced. The band were formally arrested in March of this year after their performance of “punk prayer” held at Christ the Savior Cathedral, one of Moscow’s main religious establishments. when they performed in protest to Russian ruler Vladimir Putin.

In their closing statements before sentencing, the three very classy ladies in their closing statements professed to how freedom of speech was necessary function in a society unfortunately to no avail. The eloquent and philosophical wording from the members reflects the band’s longtime support of gay rights performing in multiple gay pride festivities in Russia.

The push for more stringent and discriminatory laws are being seen as a result of more public voicing of activists for gay rights. Some supporters feel that the band were charged because of their “queer, feminist or left-leaning” especially in light of the newer laws in Russia that have banned gay pride parades and even some places looking to make homosexuality illegal.

The Judge proceeding the trial determined that the band had “crudely undermined social order.” The Judge who took three long hours to read the verdict, elaborated her sentencing stating “Considering the nature and degree of the danger posed by what was done, the defendants’ correction is possible only through an actual punishment,Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, Maria Alekhina, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, all kept their cool as the sentence was read and peacefully were led out in handcuffs.

Officials from Amnesty Internatioonal are concerned the sentence saying the sentencing feels “disproportionate” and that the harsh judgment will have “negative impact on freedom of expression”, and that they need to “to review this case” .

Their arrest and subsequent trial has sparked worldwide support from gay activist and advocates. Music icon Madonna, a long time supporter and advocate of LGBT rights, has supported the band even wearing some of their trademark outfits and painting the band’s name Pussy Riot on her back while performing in Russia.

Support for the band continues to grow with petitions calling for these classy rockers freedom with well over 120000 signatures.

 

Icelandic Mayor Jon Gnarr Wears Pink Dress to Support Arrested Russian Punk Band Pussy Riot – VIDEO

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Reykjavik, Iceland  Mayor Jon Gnarr donned a pink dress and rode through the streets of the Icelandic capital in its annual Gay Pride Parade to add his voice to calls to free three female members pf the Russian feminist punk band Pussy Riot who were arrested during an improvised and concert in Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Saviour rockers and are now facing seven years in a Russian jail for an anti-government  performance.

The band members have gained sympathy both within Russia and internationally due to allegations of harsh treatment while in custody and a risk of a  the possible seven-year jail sentence, and have also been criticized in Russia for offending the feelings of religious people.

Alexei Nikiforov, a federal prosecutor, has demanded prison for the trio because they ‘abused God’ and celebrity ballerina Anastasia Volochkova (whose real fame is that she was fired from the Bolshoi Ballet for being “too fat”) called for the musicians  to repent publicly for their obscenity-laced performance and be punished by cleaning  public restrooms.

Icelandic musician Bjork also published a statement expressing  sympathy for Pussy Riot on her site, saying she understood  the defendants “as a musician and a mother.” and has invited the three band  members to join her on stage to perform a song calling  for greater justice.