Moscow has banned gays and lesbians from promoting their way of life because they can help spread HIV/AIDS, the Russian capital's 72-year-old mayor was quoted as saying on Thursday by RIA news agency. Mayor Yuri Luzhkov, speaking at an HIV/AIDS conference in Moscow, also said there was no scientific proof that condoms provided full protection against sexually transmitted diseases. "We have banned, and will ban, the propaganda of sexual minorities' opinions because they can be one of the factors in the spread of HIV infection," Luzhkov was quoted as saying by state-owned RIA. [Reuters]

The Moscow City Court denied appeals made by Moscow Gay Pride organisers over the banning of 145 gay human rights marches that were planned for last May. Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov banned the marches citing "security concerns and prevention of public disorder." Marchers walked the streets on June 1st illegally and dispersed before riot police arrived. The organisers now plan to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights. [UK Gay News]

Gay activists in Russia had hoped to stage a protest against Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov on the International Day Against Homophobia, but a judge refused to give them the go ahead. The march would have called for prosecution against Luzhkov's consistent bans on gay pride. Irony at its worst? [UK Gay News]

It's a good day for homophobic Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov. A Russian judge ruled that Luzhkov has every right to call gay people "satanic," as he did earlier this year.

The judge, who is leading the almost completed draft list of most homophobic judges in Russia… maintained that Mr. Luzhkov used the term “satanic gathering” towards the gay parade event and not against its organisers or other people.

According to the judge, this was a personal subjective point of view of Mr. Luzhkov.

We're sure Luzhkov's control of the city's courts had nothing to do with this favorable ruling.

A Russian court struck a blow to the European nation's gays yesterday. Tagansky District Court tossed gay pride organizers' bid to declare Moscow's ban on the festivities as illegal.

Undeterred by the decision, activist Nikolay Alexeyev vows to appeal until he and his allies get justice:

We will appeal the decision of the Tagansky District Court to the Moscow City Court under the current law. Then we are going to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights.

The current law insists local governments provide security and clearance for public happenings. Moscow's anti-gay mayor, Yuri Luzhkov did not comply, which led to an exceptionally bloody pride parade.

Russia's bloody anti-gay history continues. Police carted off two gay activists today after shutting down a pre-sanctioned protest against Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov (pictured, looking like a shit eater). Demonstrators want the EU to ban Luzkhov's intracontinental travel.

Rather than admitting the injustice, overzealous coppers claimed the queers' were too close to a construction area, according to The Independent…

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• Beth Ditto and The Gossip got down at Glastonbury. And when we say down, we mean as far down as she could go. Miraculously, her underwear made it further.

• Canadian Anglicans split on gay nuptials:

In a tense vote after nearly two days of debate at the church's synod in Winnipeg, lay and clergy members voted in favour of a motion that would have allowed dioceses in Canada officially to authorise blessings. But the church's bishops voted against the move by 21 votes to 19, meaning that the motion failed, because it needed to be passed by all three groups.

God almighty! Can't they just have a schism and get on with it already?

• Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov may find himself grounded. Human rights activists are protesting his anti-gay ways by asking the international community to restrict him to Russia.

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