25.09 Gay NY Opera Protesters Promise More Sour Notes for Russian Performers
WASHINGTON, September 24 (By Maria Young for RIA Novosti) Gay rights protestors who raised their voices and disrupted the start of the New York Metropolitan Operas Russia-centric opening night gala on Monday were singing victory on Tuesday, and planning new ways to pressure high-profile Russian performers to speak out against their countrys controversial legislation on homosexuality.
As we continue to press Russian artists who come to the US, and as we continue to pressure Russian public figures who come to the US, I think we will begin to see folks in Russia begin to question the wisdom of this law they have passed, said Duncan Osborne, one of the protesters and a member of Queer Nation NY, a New York-based group that works to end discrimination against the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community.
The season-opening gala is a cornerstone event for New York society and opera enthusiasts. But the performance of Eugene Onegin, written by famed Russian composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky, and performed by two Russian stars, was a tempting target for protesters.
The Monday night gay rights protest was aimed at world-famous Russian opera diva Anna Netrebko and renowned Russian conductor Valery Gergiev, both were headlining the opera at the Met and are supporters of President Vladimir Putin.
Patrons in black ties and sequined evening gowns were greeted outside the venue by what Queer Nation NY says was an estimated 150-200 chanting protesters passing out flyers, rainbow pins and holding a giant rainbow flag that has come to symbolize the gay rights movement.
Inside, We wanted Netrebko and Gergiev to hear from us. We think they are important voices in Russia and we think it is morally incumbent upon them to speak out and oppose what the Russian government is doing, said Osborne.
I was one of the four people who was inside the theater. Im the person who yelled,
