Chechnya

A rally was called today in Liverpool in support of the 100 or more gay men in Chechnya who, it is reported, have been abducted, tortured and, in at least three cases, killed by their captors.

The Chechen authorities deny this, stating that gay people simply "don't exist" in Chechnya... The Russian government, unsurprisingly given its record on human rights, does nothing to intervene.

It's therefore vital that we press our government to act, to condemn what's happening in Chechnya and to offer a place of safety to the men who are at risk of torture and death on account of their sexuality.

The rally, outside the Law Courts, was organised by a young local activist, Helena MacCormack, and it was heartening to see so many other young people in attendance - alongside old timers like me, city councillors, local MPs (Angela Eagle, Stephen Twigg and Louise Ellman) and North West MEP (at least until the Brexit negotiations are concluded...) Theresa Griffin.

('Private Eye' editor/'Have I Got News For You' team captain, Ian Hislop, also mingled with the crowd in Derby Square but he was there filming for his TV series about statues and monuments and not actually attending the rally!)

Here's one of the protesters.

And here's the Bronski Beat classic about homophobia and alienation, 'Smalltown Boy' www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xuz94ZIPfJk