NEWS FLASH

LGBT Activists Arrested During May Day March In Russia | Seventeen LGBT activists were arrested for carrying rainbow flags during a May Day parade in compliance with St. Petersburg’s new anti-gay propaganda law. “LGBT activists were marching as part of a larger “democratic” column, consisting of various democratic and civil society groups of St. Petersburg,” Polina Savchenko, the general manager of the organization Coming Out informs ThinkProgress. Five minutes into the march, “police requested removal of rainbow flags. When activists refused, they were forcefully detained and are now facing charges of ‘propaganda of homosexuality’ and non-compliance with the police. One activist was detained for holding a sign ‘homophobia is illegal.’” Several people have already been arrested under the measure, which bans the “promotion” of homosexuality among minors.