Published on 1 Jun 2014
Police in Moscow have taken two women into custody as a small group of gay-rights activists attempted to conduct a rally dedicated to Conchita Wurst, the bearded Austrian transvestite who won this year's Eurovision Song Contest.

Police quickly broke up the unsanctioned May 31 rally near the mayor's office and arrested the two women, who were holding a rainbow flag, the symbol of the gay-rights movement.

The arrests reportedly happened shortly after a car with rainbow flags on it passed down the street with Conchita Wurst's signature song, "Rise Like a Phoenix," playing at full volume.

Russian officials have criminalized dissemination of homosexual "propaganda" to minors and while homosexuality is not illegal, there is rising antigay sentiment in Russia.
Two women are detained by police as gay rights activists demonstrate outside the Moscow mayor's office against a law banning the spread of "gay propaganda" among minors. Vanessa Johnston reports.