Russia's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community continues to face increasing levels of persecution in Moscow and St. Petersburg. But it was a much different story in New York on June 30, where a float representing LGBT people from Russia and other former Soviet republics made its much-anticipated debut in the annual Pride parade.
"It turned out wonderful ... I'm living my dream," Pasha Zalutski, the parade float's organizer and a Belarusian native, told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). "I hope KGB's not here to slash our tires at the last moment."
RFE/RL's Richard Solash has more on the Russian LGBT Pride float here.
The float made its appearance just after Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a so-called "gay propaganda" bill into law which imposes large fines on residents who "provide information" about the LGBT community to minors, The Guardian reported.
Similarly, Putin reportedly signed a law banning same-sex couples in foreign countries from adopting Russian children on July 3.
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