On the March

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Chechnya: Gay Chechens, Attacked at Home, Find Doors Opening in Europe

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Countries across Europe, including Germany and Lithuania, have begun opening their doors to gay Chechen refugees on the grounds that they have been persecuted because of their sexual orientation.

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Spain: Madrid kicks off WorldPride festival with LGBT traffic lights

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The city of Madrid on Tuesday unveiled close to 300 traffic lights promoting the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people as part of the WorldPride festival that will take place in the Spanish capital later this month.

The festival, which takes place every few years in a different international city, is expected to draw up to three million people to the streets of Chueca, a world-famous gay neighbourhood in central Madrid, between June 23 and July 2.

The traffic lights, which have been installed on pedestrian crossings and will remain in place once the festival is over, show same or different-sex couples holding hands, either crossing the street or standing.

"I think it is great, I love it because that shows the diversity we have in Madrid and I think it is beautiful, I love it," said Manuel, a 33-year-old resident of Chueca. Read more via Reuters

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Moldova: Moldovan Police Halt LGBT March After Attacks By Counter Protesters

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Scores of participants in the LGBT march, who were wearing white shirts with the logo of the No Fear social campaign, were evacuated in buses by police after eggs and water were thrown at them by those attending the counterprotest.