Maxim Anmeghichean of ILGA-Europe questions Hillary Clinton on gay rights

Maxim Anmeghichean is Moldovan of Armenian origin. He is a Programmes Director at ILGA-Europe (Europe’s main gay rights group).

On 6 March 2009, Hillary Clinton, the US Secretary of State, participated in a meeting with young Europeans hosted by the European Parliament. Max was one of the participants.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was pretty excited by the fact that Max was wearing a T-shirt saying “I love Hillary”, so she said she simply had to take a question from him. And Max used this chance perfectly by posing a question on how the US foreign policy in the field of sexual rights and LGBT issues is going to change under a new administration.

Whatever one may think of Hillary Clinton, wearing a T-shirt saying “I love Hillary” was a very smart move by Maxim Anmeghichean, to be noticed and heard. Well done, Max, you are an inspiration for many.

Financial Times Brussels Blog called Max’s Q&A with Hillary Clinton “the best moment” of the meeting.

For details and video - see Unzipped: Gay Armenia

*photo - via Towleroad

'Pig-prosecutor' and 'donkey-policeman'

:)

*source: BBC ('Law is an ass' stunt brings fine)

"Porcuror" is a pun on the word for prosecutor (pic: PRO-TV Chisinau)

Police were not amused by this bid to join their ranks (pic: PRO-TV Chisinau)

A businessman in Moldova who dressed a pig as a prosecutor and a donkey as a policeman has been fined, despite an outcry over his arrest.

Anatol Matasaru, who alleged harassment by the authorities, said he would appeal against the 200 lei (£13) fine.

The opposition has accused the Moldovan police of an increasingly heavy-handed approach in the run-up to parliamentary elections next March.

Mr Matasaru's arrest on 18 December was filmed by an independent TV channel.

He was arrested as he was trying to load the donkey, wearing a policeman's cap, and the pig dressed as a prosecutor, into his van to stage a protest in Chisinau, the Moldovan capital.

The pig's uniform bore the label "porcuror" - a pun on the Romanian word for prosecutor, using the word "porc", meaning "pig".

Mr Matasaru's arrest was condemned by human rights activists, as well as the opposition. He had set up an internet cafe after having worked abroad.