LGBT
Related: About this forumMatthew Shepard's parents head to Russia to confront homophobia there
Brave folks, I fervently hope they remain safe.
http://news.yahoo.com/matthew-shepards-parents-head-russia-211916300.html
NEW YORK (AP) The parents of a gay U.S. college student tortured and murdered in 1998 are traveling to Russia on Friday to spread their message of tolerance and acceptance in a country where anti-gay policies and attitudes are widespread.
The centerpiece of their five-day trip is a gay film festival in St. Petersburg at which a documentary film about Matthew Shepard will be shown and discussed. The film's director, Michele Josue, a high school classmate and close friend of Matthew's, will be accompanying the Shepards on the trip.
Matthew Shepard, at the time of his murder, was a 21 year-old student at the University of Wyoming. His death became a rallying cry for the U.S. gay-rights movement and was a factor in the passage of federal hate-crimes legislation in 2009.
The Shepards also will visit Moscow, and are hoping to meet with Russian parents who have gay or lesbian children.
joeybee12
(56,177 posts)shenmue
(38,506 posts)I hope they are all right.
closeupready
(29,503 posts)helping the world to rise above senseless hate. To say nothing of their bravery, in a scary place which today's Russia seems to be towards anyone less than fascist.
Cha
(297,723 posts)LostOne4Ever
(9,290 posts)[font style="font-family:papyrus,'Brush Script MT','comic sans MS',fantasy;" size=4 color=teal]I hope the Russian People listen and are inspired to demand their laws be changed.[/font]