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Almost 15 thousand signatures against the Russian anti-gay law were offered on June 27 to the Russian Embassy in The Hague by Tanja Ineke, president of the Dutch LGBT organization COC Netherlands.
A video of the presenting of the petition can be viewed here:
With the petition, the signatories and COC and wanted to show their love and support for the Russian LGBT-community, and their disapproval of the bill. Unfortunately, a few days later president Putin signed the bill into law.
In a speech before offering the petition, ms Ineke stated that the Dutch want to send a clear message to LGBT’s in Russia: ‘you’re not alone!’ She called on president Putin ‘to take responsibility for all Russian citizens, including approximately 10 million LGBT’s.’
According to the COC-president, the anti-gay law threatens to silence the Russian LGBT-community. Ineke : ‘it leads to a climate in which Russian LGBT’s are confronted with increasing levels of humiliation, discrimination and violence.’
A representative of the Russian Embassy in The Hague was only willing to receive the petition through the fence of the embassy.
COC Netherlands also organised a demonstration in support of the Russian LGBT-community and against the anti-gay law on April 8, 2013, during a visit of president Putin to Amsterdam. Approximately 5 thousand people attended and the demonstration reached the world news. Amongst the speakers were two Russian LGBT-activists.
The petition against the Russian anti-gay law was supported by change.org and can be viewed here. COC Netherlands is the oldest still existing LGBT-organisation in the world. It is in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.