RUSSIA'S "LEGALIZED" GAYS SAY SOME STILL JAILED

    By Fiona Fleck

    MOSCOW, Aug 16 (Reuter) - Gays and lesbians said on Monday
that despite Russia's recent decriminalisation of homosexuality
they knew of no imprisoned gay men being released yet.

    "Since the repeal of article 121.1 not one person to our
knowledge has been released -- and we should know because we have
an extensive information network," Masha Gessen, a U.S. gay
rights activist told a news conference.

    "Even when gay men are eventually released they can expect to
meet with discrimination in looking for work and flats," Kevin
Gardner of the San Francisco-based Gay and Lesbian Human Rights
Commission said.

    "They need a support network to help them get back on their
feet and become integrated into society," he said.

    Gay activists said they planned to open an information centre
as a focus for gay groups and publications, providing a data
bank, legal advice and a hot-line.

    It would also campaign for the release of gays still in
prison and help with their rehabilitation.

    Last year 25 men were imprisoned under Article 121.1 of the
criminal code, which made sexual relations between consenting men
a criminal offence liable to up to five years imprisonment.

    There are no overall figures on gays still serving sentences
under the old legislation, but the activists said at least 50
were still in prisons and camps in various parts of Russia.

    In May, the Russian Justice Ministry lifted the ban, amending
the law to make sexual relations between consenting men legal for
those over 18 years of age.

    Gay activists hailed the new legislation as more liberal than
in other countries such as Britain, where the age of consent for
homosexual males is 21.

    But, while homosexuality has been decriminalised, homophobia
in the press and society at large is rife, gays said.

    The centre, opening soon, will provide an AIDS help-line,
they said. Gays say 666 AIDS cases have been registered in
Russia, but as many as 35,000 people could have the HIV virus
that causes the disease.

    "Gays no longer need to fear going for AIDS tests and can now
talk about safe sex more openly and freely," said Dmitry Lichov,
editor of the Gay newspaper "1/10."

    Homosexuals were the most hated social group in Russia,
according to a sociological poll conducted two years ago, in
which 30 percent of those questioned said gays should be
physically exterminated.

    "This (opening of the centre) is a great triumph, but it is
only a beginning," said Yevgeniya Debryanskaya, Russia's first
open lesbian, who chairs the Union for Coming Out.

    "We are discussing the possibility of registering homosexual
marriages with parliamentarians. It may sound like a joke," she
said. "But it is important for people to be able to register a
relationship."