A group of young Americans were invited to the Pride House to hear three local individuals describe life in Israel as a homosexual.

A rough translation would be “Israel’s Parliament must be everyones’ Parliament.”

Binyamin Rose is the psychotherapist at the Open Clinic located inside Jerusalem’s Pride House, which is the only anonymous HIV testing center in all of Israel.  He is one of those amazing people who work under extremely complicated conditions to help people in need.

A small sample of the Jerusalem Pride House’s library.

Everyone’s favorite gay couple in the office of Pride House.

An armed guard sits outside of the Pride House’s door.

The Pride goes on.  I thought it was very well done, and extremely tasteful, with an obvious focus on Human Rights.

Because of last year’s shootings in Tel Aviv and the stabbing of three participants in Jerusalem’s Pride in 2005, there were over 1500 police  protecting the Pride march and rally.

There were several protestors from the Ultra-Orthodox Jewish community, who mostly made sheep noises.  When a small group of them started jumping up and down yelling protests, I couldn’t help but be reminded of the Neo-Nazi groups I have encountered so many times in Eastern Europe.  When one of the men started a conversation with me, I told him of this similarity between the two.  He responded by saying “Good, at least they got something right.”

A lone protestor stands quietly alone along the Pride route.  The Ultra-Orthox community may not be as violent as the skinhead protesters in Eastern Europe, but politically they are extremely powerful in Israel.

The Pride made its way up to a park just outside of the Parliament building.

Ayala Katz, whose son Nir  Katz, was one of the victims of last year’s shootings, gave an emotional speech about her hopes of ending homophobia.  Ayala now heads an LGBT support organization for parents of the LGBT community  in Tel Aviv.

Participants enjoy the cool night air and listen to speeches made by members of the LGBT community.

In Tel Aviv, thousands attended a candle light march in remembrance of those injured and killed in last year’s shooting.

To see more images of Pride, check out the our website:
http://www.walkwithpridenow.com

WWP Blog:
http://wwpproject.wordpress.com

And join us on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/WWPproject

I was also really happy to also meet up with Australian film makers Logan Mucha and Jack Giles.  I first met these two in Minsk, and they have helped me out in more ways than one.  Information on their film East Bloc Love can be found here http://www.loganmucha.com/east-bloc-love/ I will never be able to thank them enough.  Here Logan interviews an organizer of EuroPride outside of the Pride House.

Let’s also not forget Andy Harley who runs UK Gay News found at:  http://ukgaynews.org.uk/latest.htm Andy, who is 71 years old, has a long and fascinating career in journalism.

Nikolai Alekseev and Sergey Yenin give a speech on the situation of LGBT Rights in their home countries at Pride House.

German Parliament Member and Human Rights activist Volker Beck meets up with Nikolai and Sergey.  To know more about Volker Beck’s long career in Human Rights click here : http://www.volkerbeck.de/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=348&Itemid=105

We were also able to meet up with some of the team  of Beyond Gay: The Politics of Pride.  From left to right are Ken Coolen, Morris Chapdelaine, and Bob Christie.  Their site is located here http://biggaymovie.com/

While a group of protestors did demonstrate in front of the Pride House one night, no major problems occurred there.  However, homophobic stickers were put on the Pride House windows more than once.

Rev. Szymon Niemiec from the Christian United Church gave a very touching sermon and blessing before the Pride.

Sergey is prepared for a TV interview on Gay Rights in Belarus.

Protestors threw eggs, yelled hate speech, gave out bibles and some even threw holy water.  However, there was a very large police presence and I didn’t hear of anyone being physically assaulted.

But of course the Pride went on. I thought  it was a very good mix of a party atmosphere and a Human Rights demonstration.

Poland holds the first EuroPride ever in eastern Europe.  Around 8,000 people attended and no one was physically assaulted.  It was a fine day.

Clare Dimyon, in orange, discusses her experience attending different Prides around the EU.  Clare was awarded the MBE, Member of the British Empire Award, by the Queen for her work.  Here she explains one of her photos on display in the British Embassy.

“Beyond Gay: The Politics of Pride” co-producer Morris Chapdelaine, (right),  attended the march and held a Q&A with one of the Budapest Pride organizers, (left) after the screening of his documentary.    It was great to finally meet Morris after following his movie’s FB page for so long.

Police are posted outside of  a local movie theater which hosted several pre-Pride events.  Earlier in the week a group of skinheads ripped down the Rainbow flag and assaulted an individual.

City workers began putting up steel barricades around 9am, and riot-police started suiting up around 11.  However, as the march didn’t start until 3pm, the streets were very quiet.

Because of the violence that took place at the 2007 and 2008 Prides, streets are now totally blocked off.  This is great for keeping participants safe from protestors, but it can defeat the purpose of a public event.

Problems.  The police and organizers are having communication difficulties.  Police have not blocked off the route as in previous years, and say they will not walk the route with participants.  Security after the Pride is also in question.

Organizers and volunteers check each individual that comes into the Pride grounds.  Bags are checked for weapons and several right-wingers posing as participants are turned away.  Unfortunately, some do make it past the guards.

Around 1,000 participants show up for Budapest’s 15th Pride.

A group of young skinheads showed up pretty early.  I think the oldest one out of this group was 16 years old.

An obviously intoxicated protestor screams at participants who are blocks away.

Police quickly arrested four skinheads who tried to disrupt the Pride.

Despite the communication problems, I thought the police did a very good job.  It was an extremely hot day and I can’t believe anyone would want to stand around for hours in that riot-gear.  This was the first Pride where I had several officers give me their emails so I could send them photos.

At the end of the march participants head down to the subway, which has been closed off  specifically for the Pride.  At every exit along the route riot-police are also waiting.

The next day a small group gathered at the grave of Károly Kertbeny, the Hungarian writer and creator of the term “homosexual.”  I was actually very sad to see so few people there.

Again, I would like to thank everyone here in Budapest, especially Hadley who always took the time to speak with us about the community here.

Mark Ames is a prominent club owner in London, he recently vowed to boycott all Muslim owned businesses in the UK.

There was a small group of religious protestors at the Pride.  However, I have to say that this is the first Pride that I have been to where the police were there to protect the protestors from the participants.

After being in so many countries where even having a Rainbow Flag is a struggle, seeing this symbol balled up on the street and left waiting for collection for over an hour, really disturbed me.

To see more images of Pride, check out the our website:
http://www.walkwithpridenow.com

WWP Blog:
http://wwpproject.wordpress.com

And join us on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/WWPproject

I had briefly met Marko Mapkob in Athens, and he was nice enough to let us meet up with him when we came to Sofia.

Local photographers opened Pride week with a gallery of photos from previous Prides.  The empty frames will be filled with images from this year’s event.

Organizers hold a meeting at a local restaurant.  Many of the volunteers do not want their faces shown.

Marko is asked to appear on a local radio station to speak about the upcoming Sofia Pride.  The man in white is from a Family Values group.  He argued some very interesting facts like; homosexuals die 20 years younger than straight people, all homosexuals want to legalize gay prostitution and drugs, and that all homosexuals have at least 500 sex partners in their life time.  These statements were presented as “facts” to those listening to the radio show.

During one of the last meetings, organizers are shown pictures of skinheads and organizations that have threatened violence against the Pride.

Volunteers are shown a video of the violence that has occurred during previous Prides.

A fund-raiser is held at a local disco.

A single Rainbow Flag hangs from a window of a friend’s apartment the day of the Pride.

Organizers check the streets below the LGBT headquarters.

Friends are met just before the Pride.

In past years, protestors have thrown Molotov cocktails during the Pride.  Fire extinguishers are now brought along as a precaution.

EU Representive, Michael Cashman, attended the Pride.

Police did a good job keeping protestors away from the Pride.  Even though this man swears he only wants to walk across the park, I would later see him yelling at participants along the Pride route.

Sofia has its 3rd Pride.

While the Pride did have some protestors, and 3 arrests were made, there was none of the extreme violence that had occurred in earlier years.  These two elderly men expressed their dislike, but were not violent.

The march ended in a local park with music and dancing.

Again, I would like to thank everyone in Sofia, and we wish you all the best.

To see more images of Pride, check out the our website:
http://www.walkwithpridenow.com

WWP Blog:
http://wwpproject.wordpress.com

And join us on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/WWPproject

A meeting is held by Pride organizers.  The problem is a familiar one.  The local police are trying to change the route of the parade to make it less visible to the public.  A second concern is that the city has granted a right-wing group the right to protest along the Pride’s route.

Here Pride organizers, 31 year old Franko Dota and 25 year old Marko Jurčić, lead a public round table to discuss ways to overcome widespread homophobia in Croatian institutions.

Signs and flags are put together at the Zagreb Pride’s office.  The office is situated in an old abandoned factory and turned into an artists compound.

Participants meet at a local square and prepare for the start of Zagreb Pride.  Croatian actor, Rade Serbedzija, shows his support for the local LGBT community.  Do you want to disagree with Boris the Blade?

The Pride goes on under the protection of a lot of anti-riot police.

The group of protestors, which seemed to be made up mostly of under-aged boys, did everything from Nazi salutes, to anti-gay songs, to showing female participants their sexual organs.  Several arrests were made.  During this arrest, one of the police officers kicked this young man in the head.  It was broadcasted on the news over and over again.  Not one Pride participant I talked to took any joy in the scene.  Instead, they each expressed concern for the boy.  This is even after several of the Pride participants were attacked by groups of young men as they walked home after the march.

The Pride ends at a local park with speeches, music, and dancing.

We then head back to the artist compound for a great after-party.  We had an incredible time in Croatia and thank everyone there for making it such a remarkable experience.

Instead of photographing Istanbul’s main pride event, Sarah had read about a small group holding a separate Transgender Pride.  This was to be a first in Istanbul, with the march being held to bring awareness to hate crimes and discrimination faced by the transgender community living there. Transgenders are a minority in a minority, and one major problem is that they are often looked upon as outsiders by their local gay communities.  This can often make the resources available to the gay community not as focused on the needs and requirements of transgender individuals.

Our first day in Istanbul we made contact with LGBTT activist Sevval Kilia, who immediately welcomed us into the community. Sevval works as a counselor at the Womens’ Door Outreach Program, which provides support for people in need.

I started out the gallery with just a couple of very simple portraits.    Often these women are looked at as “exotic animals,” – I would see people photographing them from a “safe” distance, or just staring.  With these portraits I wanted to show a very human side of them, which many people may forget to think about.

Many of the women that make up Istanbul’s transgender community are not just activists for LGBT rights, but also belong to many different Human Rights groups.  Here Demet Demir, in red,  joins a protest for the 30,000 Kurdish individuals who have disappeared in Turkey.

Hate crimes against transgenders have been on the rise in Istanbul.  In the last year alone eight individuals have been murdered.   A few days before we arrived, this young woman was attacked by five men on a public street.  Police are of little help, and even when arrests are made, the offenders rarely see more than a slap on the wrist.

A woman asks me to take a photo of her holding a portrait of herself.

Sevval and Ebru Kiranci tape up posters announcing the date, time, and location of the Pride.  Ebru is another woman who we would spend a lot of time with and come to admire.

A man reacts to Erbu’s flyer announcing the Pride.

The WWP’s Sarah Baxter and German film documentor, Maria Binder work on a proposal for much needed financial support.  The proposal is sent to the Urgent Action Fund Group and much to everyone’s delight it is approved the next day.

The LGBTT office is a small and simple rented flat.  This is where we would spend most of our time.  The atmosphere here is very warm and inviting.  Many people come in and out during the day, just to chat and to see how everyone else is doing.

The day before the pride a press conference was scheduled at the LGBTT office.  Several journalist from the local press were expected to show, but not one did.  The local press does not give favorable stories on the local LGBT community on the grounds of “morality” issues.

The girls shop for instruments that will be used in the Pride.

Erbu listens to a health discussion held as part of the Pride.

Michelle and several of the other participants get ready for the march.

What I thought was going to be a small and quiet event turned into a Pride of almost 500 people. I was really caught off guard.

Sarah and I had an absolutely great week in Istanbul.  We met some really incredible and remarkable people, who were so open and kind to us both.  We wish them all the best, and can not thank them enough.

The day before the Pride there is a press conference.  We get there early in hopes of meeting one of the organizers for a 10-15 minute interview.  It’s here we meet Stefano, who is kind enough to answer all of our questions, and to give us a general idea about the community here in Athens.  But soon enough, a bit more frustration sets in.  I guess they don’t have a photographer there, so I am being asked to take photos and give them away on the spot.  I’m not huge on press conference photos, but I do what I can and send them copies later that night.

The Pride goes on.  It’s a good party-like atmosphere, and the participants are extremely friendly.  The route goes through some of the busiest parts of Athens, and directly in front of their Parliament building.

The Athens Riot Police may be some of the most experienced in the world.  They were very professional, and there was absolutely no violence.

This woman showed up to share her feelings on Jesus.  One of the many things I have come to admire about the LGBT communities that I’ve met is their sense of humor.  She isn’t yelled at, or pushed away.  Instead, she is invited up on one of the floats and spends the entire Pride trying to preach to the beats of Lady Gaga and Madonna.

A participant of the Pride takes a rest next to a much more traditional resident of Athens.

After the march, everyone heads back to the park where it all began for a stage show and dancing.  The organizers have hired photographers to take pictures of the stage area, and I am denied even 5 minutes on the stage to take pictures of the crowd, “We do not need your photos.”  I’m told by one of the volunteers.  A few of the organizers we met at the press conference are standing just feet away.

The next day I receive an email from the Athens Pride organizers asking me for more photos.

Despite breaking Russia’s Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights, Moscow’s Mayor, Yury Luzkov, has for the last 5 years banned any form of gay prides. However, a small community of LGBT activists lead by Nikolai Alekseev have held illegal Prides since 2006.  They have been met with violent protests from right-wing extremists and police brutality.  Nikolai has lead the movement both in the streets and in the courtrooms.  Here waiting on a court appearance Nikolai Alekseev, and Alexey Golitsin wait outside a courtroom while the lawyer for the prefecture contemplates life.

With a degree in law, Nikolai has argued for LGBT Rights over and over in Russia’s courts. The defense gives absurd reasons why there can be no Pride in Moscow.  Even the judge was laughing at the city’s lawyers, who argued that there was no place in Moscow to hold such an event due to a Putin rally being held the same day. Unfortunately, the appearance is only a formality, as the verdict had already been handed down by higher powers. However, the European Union is scheduled to rule on the case next year, and everyone is positive they will find the ban a violation of the EU’s Human Rights Convention. Which calls on member countries to allow and protect the protests of minority groups.

Nikolai’s work will reach much further than the LGBT community. The rights they win will affect every minority group in Russia. To date, only Gay Russia has taken the initiative to take the violations to the EU courts.

Despite years of violent protests by both skinhead groups and police, this year’s Pride avoided any beatings or arrests. A bit less intimidating, this woman asked my friend Vlad what was going on in the courthouse. She admitted to being against homosexuality and tried to lecture him on morality.  He spent the next 40 minutes talking to her about his life.

Having met Nikolai in Minsk, he granted me the incredible opportunity to spend almost every waking moment with him during my stay in Moscow. In this photo, an A-Team of LGBT activists made up of Peter Tatchell, Andy Harley, Andy Thayer, and WWP’s Sarah Baxter work from the make-shift press office in a rented Moscow flat.

The press conference held at The Holiday Inn was a huge success. This year’s Pride received an incredible amount of positive attention from the major news sources in Russia, and the big international news agencies.

Nikolai works from several phones, and all of them are constantly ringing.

Maria Yefremenkova, who runs Gay Russia in St. Petersburg, has a quiet moment just before we leave for the Pride.

LGBT activist, Anna Komarova prepares her protest sign in the living room of the rented flat.  Above, another young protester grabs some much needed sleep under a sign that reads “Rights to Gays.”

Participants including French LGBT activist Louis-Georges Tin, (second from bottom), make their way to the Pride.  Louis-George is the driving force behind the International Day Against Homophobia and IDAHO Foundation.

In defiance of the city’s ban, a 20 meter Rainbow Flag was taken out and marched for 600 meters down a main city street while anti-homophobic slogans were chanted by the 30-40 participants.

Despite being physically beaten by skinheads in earlier Moscow Prides, U.K. based activist Peter Tatchell makes a statement to the media during the march. Peter would be arrested the next day in Red Square for making a solo protest.

Volker Beck, a German member of the EU Parliament, is the only politician who has supported Moscow Pride since day one. He has a long and distinguished career working for Human Rights.  In 2006, Volker was badly beaten by a right-wing extremist protester. The man responsible is known and has even gloated to media about his actions. The Russian government has yet to take any actions against the extremist.

Then just as quickly as it started, the flag was rolled up and everyone bolted in different directions. I followed a group of friends to a small bus and we were driven away to safety.

The flag is rolled up and put away for safekeeping. Lots of cheers, lots of laughs, lots of hugs.

Exhausted, many of the participants headed back to safe houses, celebrated, and then went to sleep.

Later that night everyone met up for a celebration. For the first time in history, Moscow Pride happened without any violence or arrests. Sitting on the floor is Russian cameraman Vladimir Ivanov, who has documented Gay Russia since the beginning.

When you go through something like this you get close to the people around you very quickly.  They are an incredible group of people fighting the good fight.

The more media the better.  One of the reasons Prides are held is to create public awareness.  Media also provides some security as police and protesters sometimes think twice about violent acts when a camera is pointed at them.  Both the media and police were very friendly and professional at this event.

After Minsk, I felt strange photographing the party atmosphere of GayFest.  I think it’s great that this can happen in Romania,  and I know that the road here hasn’t been easy.  But my thoughts were still with Sergey and everyone back in Belarus.

Unfortunately, there was a “Nationalistic” march just hours before the Pride.  While this group was very vocal, they were not violent.  However, in previous years, arrests were made due to protestors carrying knives, smoke bombs, rocks, and other weapons.  Out of all the LGBT groups I have spoken to, not one has said they would deny them the right to march, and the freedom of speech.

A “Family Values” march took place the day before the Pride.  With Gay Adoption Rights a huge concern for the LGBT community, it brings to question just what values are these traditional families teaching?  I saw children no older than 10 carrying signs condemning homosexuals.  Hatred and intolerance…nice values.

It is always very helpful to have VIPs attend a Pride.  If the government is under pressure to protect important guests things are usually much safer for everyone involved.  In Bucharest, the gay Rev. Diane Fischer gave a great speech on how God loves everyone, and the British Consulate made their support and presence well known.

But despite the VIPs and all of the police protection the march took place along empty streets in almost complete isolation from the general public.  It was only in a small park along the very last stretch of the march that a handful of on-lookers gathered and viewed the march from at least 200 meters away.  This was in complete contrast to the “Family Values” and “Nationalistic” marches that took place earlier, which made their way through some of the busiest streets in Bucharest.

As I was walking home, feeling pretty good about everything here in Romania, a small boy, no older than 8 years old, ran up and handed us a few rolled up pieces of paper.  One of them was in English, and is pictured above.  I didn’t feel so good anymore.