MURMANSK GROUP
The Murmansk gay/lesbian group was founded in the evening of June the 16th at a hotel room in Poliarnie Zori Hotel in Murmansk. Then a interim board with three Murmansk gays was elected by the gays who hade gathered at the room. There were also representants for RFSL-Piteå älvdal & norra Västerbotten in northern Sweden (Piteå) and LLH Finnmark in northern Norway (Alta).The Scandinavian organizations were in Murmansk to have a gay conference and to inspire the gays and lesbians in Murmansk to start an organization. The Scandinavians also had contacts with Murmansk anti-aids center and Murmansk Red Cross. Later the new group had new contacts with these centers.
The new gay/lesbian group in Murmansk has decided to work for five goals to begin with, for instance to inform the heterosexual society, to cooperate with other gay/lesbian groups in Russia and to get a post box.
The same evening as the founding of the gay/lesbian group two of the interim board members, one lesbian Swede and one gay Norwegian were special guests on the Murmansk radio. During 35 minutes information about homosexuality and the new group was given to the listeners.
SHORT INFORMATION ABOUT MURMANSK
Murmansk is the Republic of Russia's principal port on the Arctic Ocean, and the world's largest city above the Arctic Circle. Its 450,000 inhabitants endure long, dark winters with sub-zero temperatures in carrying out their daily lives. Commercial fishing, ship building and repair, seafood processing and other maritime activities are the region's primary industries.
Situated on the Kola Peninsula 30 miles from the Barents Sea, the Murmansk harbor is ice-free all year because of the warm waters of the Gulf Stream. From December to May, the port of Murmansk replaces the icebound St. Petersburg port, 900 miles to the south, as the major port serving the northwest region of Russia. Nuclear-powered ice-breakers keep a channel open to the Arctic Ocean all winter.
Murmansk was founded in 1915 as a World War I supply base, and became a major Soviet port in World War II as Allied convoys braved Arctic storms and Nazi submarines and dive bombers to bring war material and food to the embattled Soviet people. Modern Murmansk is the site of a teacher's institute, a merchant marine training academy, and a research facility of Arctic fisheries and oceanography. Russia's northern navy fleet is based nearby.
Gay Russian prince Boris.
You can send e-mail to the adress below. It is operated by RFSL in Sweden and information will be forwarded to Murmansk. You can also write normal letters to the Murmansk group through RFSL:
RFSL, Box 155, 941 24 PITEÅ, SWEDEN
E-mail:
Murmansk gay and lesbian organization