May 17 Photo Brief: International Day Against Homophobia, books burned in Nepal, walking art in Hong Kong

25 photos

Anti-discrimination parades and demonstrations take place marking the International Day Against Homophobia, caravans of camels walk through the sulphur and mineral salt formations near Dallol in the Danakil Depression, northern Ethiopia, a kitchen fire spreads to neighboring buildings, including a major book store, in Kathmandu, Nepal, people wearing a white cloth take part in “Divisor”, a performance art piece by Brazilian artist Lygia Pape in Hong Kong and more in today’s daily brief.

Crowds break up gay rights rally in Georgia

Margarita Antidze | Reuters
8:25 a.m. EDT, May 17, 2013

TBILISI (Reuters) – Priests and thousands of other Georgians broke through police barricades and forced gay rights activists to flee on Friday, cutting short their rally to mark the international day against homophobia.

Holding banners saying “Stop Homosexual Propaganda in Georgia!” and “Not in our city!”, the demonstrators swarmed into a square in central Tbilisi where about 50 Georgians were rallying in support of gay rights. Police escorted the gay rights supporters onto buses and drove them away to avoid violence.

Several people, including some journalists, received minor injuries, Georgian media said.

“We won’t allow these sick people to hold gay parades in our country,” said Zhuzhuna Tavadze, brandishing a bunch of nettles and adding that she was ready to fight.

“It’s against our traditions and our morals.”

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