BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

22/08/2006

Belarusian Gay Activist Joins Protest Outside Washington Embassy

WASHINGTON, August 22, 2006 - Belarusian gay activist Viachaslau Bortnik joined about twenty people at a protest organized by Poglyad ("Vision") in front of the Belarusian Embassy in Washington, DC, last week.

"Demonstrations have been held in Belarus and throughout Europe and the U.S. on the 16th of every month since last September, the sixth anniversary of the 1999 disappearance and presumed murder of opposition leaders, but they have never featured intimidation of LGBT people before," explained Viachaslau Bortnik.

"So I decided to bring this issue to the attention of our diplomats and foreign community."

Viachaslau Bortnik held a self-made poster with a portrait of the last European dictator and the words "Lukashenko - Queen of Homophobia" during the demonstration.

The "16" symbol - and lighting of candles on that date - have become synonymous with the pro-democracy movement in Belarus.

Henry W. Johnson II, founder and chief coordinator Poglyad - DC based civic initiative to support democracy in Belarus, said that he had followed "the developments of the situation with expulsion of Latvian ambassador from Belarus on pretext of his sexual orientation".

"I've been in Belarus several times, and it's absolutely insane what is going on there," he said.

"With over nine months of demonstrations having been undertaken here in Washington, we encourage those who can come out and join us once again in reminding the world that we have not given up our desires for freedom in Belarus.

"Solidarity protests are to be held again on September 16," Mr. Johnson added..

Source:

http://www.ukgaynews.org.uk/Archive/2006aug/2203.htm