Moscow Officials Refuse to Authorize Gay Pride Parade

In news that's disappointing but not so surprising, Moscow authorities are refusing again to allow a Gay Pride march in the city, The Moscow Times reports:

"From our point of view, there is no need for such events in the city," said Alexei Mayorov, head of City Hall's security department and Moscow's pointman on approving rallies, Interfax reported.

He said gay activists would be officially notified about the rejection Wednesday.

On Monday, gay activists applied for official permission to hold a parade, picket and meeting on May 25, saying they would take to the streets irrespective of whether authorities grant permission. Every year since 2006, when the first request was filed, Moscow authorities have refused to grant permission for a gay pride parade.

Protesters Hit SF Pride Parade Over Bradley Manning Removal: VIDEO

Approximately 200 protesters demonstrated in front of SF Pride offices on Monday night to protest Bradley Manning's removal as grand marshal of the Pride parade, the HuffPost reports:

Angered by the decision, protesters demanded parade organizers reinstate Manning with the honor. "We're here today because a big mistake was made by the Board of Directors of Gay Pride," Pentagon Papers leaker Daniel Ellsberg, who would have marched in the parade on Manning's behalf, told the assembled crowd Monday. "They were talking about a mistake that was one of the most honorable things the Gay Pride people have probably done for a long time."

Williams pointed to the danger Manning placed fellow members of the military in as justification for her decision. "Even the hint of support for actions which placed in harms way the lives of our men and women in uniform--and countless others, military and civilian alike--will not be tolerated by the leadership of San Francisco Pride," she said.

Manning is currently in custody awaiting the outcome of his pending court martial.

Ellsberg plans on marching in this year's parade with a banner supporting Manning. "If that will not be tolerated by the leadership, I guess I'm in for a little intolerance," he said.

Watch Ellsberg speak, AFTER THE JUMP...

Boston Pride Parade Organizers to Jason Collins: We Want You to be Grand Marshal

Boston Pride has formally invited NBA player Jason Collins to lead its Pride parade:

“Boston Pride has formally invited Jason Collins to be a Marshal in the 2013 Boston Pride Parade, held June 8th. Boston Pride is proud that our annual celebration helped to inspire Jason Collins to make his groundbreaking decision to come out. We’re also very pleased that he has announced he’ll be marching in this year’s Parade – we’re looking forward to it!”.

Said Collins in his Sports Illustrated coming out announcement:

I realized I needed to go public when Joe Kennedy, my old roommate at Stanford and now a Massachusetts congressman, told me he had just marched in Boston's 2012 Gay Pride Parade. I'm seldom jealous of others, but hearing what Joe had done filled me with envy. I was proud of him for participating but angry that as a closeted gay man I couldn't even cheer my straight friend on as a spectator. If I'd been questioned, I would have concocted half truths. What a shame to have to lie at a celebration of pride. I want to do the right thing and not hide anymore. I want to march for tolerance, acceptance and understanding. I want to take a stand and say, "Me, too."

Bradley Manning Won't Be SF Pride Grand Marshal

Yesterday, Andy reported that Wikileaks soldier Bradley Manning had been appointed Grand Marshal of this year's San Francisco Pride. That's now changed. Late last night, SF Pride Board President Lisa Williams issued a statement claiming that Manning's confirmation for the honor was never supposed to happen in the first place and occurred due to a mistake by an internal staffer. That person has reportedly been disciplined.

Her statement went even further, explaining why the group will not include Manning in this year's event:

Bradley Manning is facing the military justice system of this country. We all await the decision of that system. However, until that time, even the hint of support for actions which placed in harms way the lives of our men and women in uniform -- and countless others, military and civilian alike -- will not be tolerated by the leadership of San Francisco Pride. It is, and would be, an insult to every one, gay and straight, who has ever served in the military of this country. There are many, gay and straight, military and non-military, who believe Bradley Manning to be innocent. There are many who feel differently. Under the US Constitution, they have a first amendment right to show up, participate and voice their opinions at Pride this year.

Before SF Pride released their statement last night, The American Military Partner Association had issued a strongly-worded response in which they said they were "outraged" and asked the group to reconsider Manning's appointment. Williams' announcement followed soon after.

The comments section of the SF Pride's Facebook page has exploded with criticism of the organization. Some are calling the leaders of the group "cowards" and their statement "wrong."

Read SF Pride's full statement, AFTER THE JUMP.

Sydney and its Gay Community are Furious After the State Ripped Out its Rainbow Crosswalk in the Middle of the Night

Since its Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, Sydney's Council and LGBT community has been involved in a debate with the city over keeping a rainbow crosswalk in the center of its gay village.

Last night, a city official (with the last name Gay, ironically) gave the order to remove the crosswalk, the Daily Telegraph reports:

Roads and Maritime Services removed the crossing overnight at the request of Roads Minister Duncan Gay, ending the stalemate between Sydney Council and the government. [Lord Mayor] Cr Moore, who was hosting a forum on the council's cultural policy when the trucks started to arrive at Taylor Square last night, said the move was "a retrograde step".

"I felt they'd come like a thief in the night to remove this crossing that had had such amazing support from the community and which had such support from the business community in Oxford St," she said "It's a sad day for us as a contemporary, progressive city and I thought that's what the crossing symbolised."

LGBT site Same Same adds:

The official reason for its destruction is that it is “unsafe”, but Independent Sydney MP Alex Greenwich and Mayor Clover Moore has shown the safety risk assessment of the crossing is “low risk”, clearly debuking Roads and Maritime Services concern. Greenwich suggested emergency crews were dispatched last night from Ultimo to vanquish the crossing, again raising questions about government resource allocation to instill discrimination and also begging the question about where priorities lie.

“It’s one thing to call for the removal, but to divert RMS crews under the guise of emergency road works is an aggressive act that Sydneysiders will not forget,” he reacts angrily. “Local businesses, residents, and the City of Sydney Council were not given any notice. This even surprised the RMS crew who at the last minute were instructed to remove the crossing."

UPDATE: Towleroad (@TLRD) Twitter follower @LiamGeslaf has alerted us that a rainbow crossing memorial has started at the site of the former crosswalk.

Supporters can plant their own flags or buy one at the site.

NYC Pride Pier Dance Moves Back to an Outdoor Pier

NYC Pride's Dance on the Pier, moved indoors last year because of a pier that was not structurally sound, is now back outdoors, organizers announced today, and will now take place on Hudson River Park's Pier 26 in TriBeCa on Sunday, June 30.

Write the organizers:

NYC Pride is very excited about the move back to an outdoor venue. While last year’s Dance and Rapture were a great success and Pier 57 a phenomenal host, producing the event indoors was a detour from tradition necessitated by the loss of Hudson River Park’s Pier 54. Dancing unabatedly in full view of this great city is something that many of the events’ attendees have come to love and expect. It is with great pride that we bring the Dance and Rapture back outside to their rightful place in the sun.

“We wanted this year’s dance events to be more than just memorable; we wanted them to be historic. With Supreme Court decisions looming and major changes on the horizon, we felt it was our duty to bring these events back in line with their original intention: to be a celebration of acceptance, love and community, outdoors, for all to see! We look forward to creating another world-class dance experience that our attendees will love,” said Chris Frederick, Managing Director of NYC Pride.

“Not only are we thrilled that the event will be back outdoors, but the space is roughly forty feet wider than our previous outdoor venue. Hudson River Park Trust is currently wrapping up massive renovations on Pier 26 and it’s still in close proximity to Christopher Street and the many historic locations that are so important to our community. We are very happy with the move and look forward to a host of future events on this amazing new pier,” said Mo George, Dance Director of NYC Pride.

Dance on the Pier DJs this year are Dave Audé and Oscar G. with an opening set from Luis Perez.