LGBT rights activists in St. Petersburg marched in the city's May Day parade today. May 1 is a public holiday in Russia and is traditionally marked by mass state-sanctioned demonstrations.
St. Petersburg city councilman Vitaly Milonov, a driving force behind Russia's "gay propaganda" ban, showed up too.
He shouted anti-LGBT insults and waved the flag of Russian-backed separatists in Eastern Ukraine. Police barred him from approaching the marchers.
Activists handed out lollipops of Milonov's face, with a speech bubble reading "Don't suck in St. Petersburg!" — a knock at the councilman's campaign to legislate sexual morality.
This pink tank made an appearance.
So did the flags of the European Union and Ukraine.
"Our orientation — freedom!" marchers chanted.
The mood was buoyant.
