We invite you to join us at 2:00 at the park beside the 519 Community Centre for a protest to show our outrage and grief.

Through the communication between Russian LGBT Network we were given the call to protest the Russian Embassy. As such, we will gather at Barbara Hall Park alongside the 519 Church St Community Centre and following a few short speeches will then march collectively to Bloor along Church Street to the former site of the Russian Embassy at the corner of Bloor and Church.

Background:

Chechen officials have recently launched an anti-gay campaign which has seen between one hundred and several hundred gay men captured and detained in camps. Reports of conditions include the prisoners being subjected to daily hate-motivated torture with three men reported murdered.

Ramzan Kadyrov, leader of the semi-autonomous Russian republic has said through a spokesperson, Alvi Karimov that the reports of anti-gay operations in Chechnya were absolute lies and disinformation. He explained that "You cannot detain and persecute people who simply do not exist in the republic, to Interfax news agency.

We, Queer and Trans community members of Toronto and our allies, stand up in solidarity with gay men and all queer and trans people in Chechnya and around the world facing persecution for their identities and shout: YOU EXIST, WE EXIST!

We know that while the scale of these current atrocities is shocking, that facing violence, intimidation and discrimination is sadly commonplace for many LGBTQ people around the globe - even at home in Canada and here in Toronto.

Please forward and share this with as many queer folks and allies as you can, we want to show Putin and Kadyrov that we do exist and we will not stand silently while our brothers and sisters are persecuted!

Please bring a flower for yourself and someone else in the crowd to lay at the Russian Embassy door.

JOIN US FOR BANNER MAKING!!

Friday April 21st in the Cloud Room at Glad Day Bookshop!

VOLUNTEER!!!

we are looking for volunteers to fill a number of roles. Please get in touch with us at

TOChechnyawithLove@gmail.com if you are interested in any of these volunteer positions.

1. Safety Marshall

2. Donation collector

3. ASL Interpreter

See you on Saturday!