Equality California presents - Nikolai Alekseev's California Tour

January 31, 2011

Equality California is honored to sponsor, along with Robin Tyler Productions, Inc., the California tour of Russian LGBT activist Nikolai Alekseev. Join us to hear from Nikolai about the LGBT rights movement in his country and how you can support the movement across borders. In 2010, Nikolai Alekseev won in the European Court of Human Rights on LGBT human rights violations in Russia . The court ruled that, by banning three Moscow Prides in 2006, 2007 and 2008, Russia breached three articles of the European Convention. The case marked the first ever international defeat of the Russian Government on the issue of LGBT rights. In an attempt to force Nikolai to withdraw the case, Russian authorities kidnapped him on September 16, 2009, as he was boarding a Swiss Air flight. They stole his cell phone and sent fake text messages to his friends and the press asserting that he was defecting from Russia and withdrawing his case. Two days later, Alekseev was freed and the lies were exposed. Join us at one of these upcoming events to hear from Nikolai about his work and the challenges that LGBT Russians face. If you can't make it in person, please join us for a livestream of the San Francisco event on March 7 at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, March 5 3 to 5 p.m. West Hollywood Park Auditorium 647 N. San Vicente Blvd. West Hollywood More Info > Hosting Sponsor: Lesbian and Gay Advisory Board and the City of West Hollywood Sunday, March 6 3 to 5 p.m. Mizell Center 480 South Sunrise Way Palm Springs More Info > Hosting Sponsor: Equality California Monday, March 7 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. San Francisco LGBT Community Center 1800 Market Street San Francisco More Info > Livestream > Hosting Sponsor: San Francisco LGBT Community Center Last year’s kidnapping wasn’t the first time Alekseev had been harassed for standing up for LGBT rights. He and his colleagues of the Russian LGBT Rights Project have faced brutality, violent arrests by riot police, kidnappings and other atrocities. Against great odds and strong opposition throughout their country, they have fearlessly and relentlessly pursued equality for all LGBT Russians. Last week, the brutal murder of David Kato and near-deportation of Brenda Namigadde -- two Ugandan activists working to defeat a brutal anti-LGBT bill in their country that would allow multiple ‘offenders’ to be put to death -- were a horrific reminder of the stakes that LGBT people can face for organizing for greater rights. We can’t stand aside and let these atrocities happen. Join me to hear about Nikolai Alekseev’s experiences and learn what you can do to help LGBT rights flourish in every nation. In Solidarity, Geoff Kors Executive Director Equality California

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