Russian activists risked arrests and attacks by holding a gay rights protest in St Petersburg today (17 May).

In an unannounced and unapproved act of rebellion, LGBTI people stood strong to fight against oppression and bigotry for International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia.

It was especially risky after police arrested dozens of protestors who had attempted to march in the St Petersburg’s Labor Day parade. Members of Coming Out, a LGBTI rights group active in the city mainly made of young people, were beaten, dragged and detained by officers while a neo-Nazi walked in the parade without opposition.

In 2014 and 2015, the IDAHOT rally was able to take place under full police protection. The number of participants grew from 20 in 2009 to 250 in 2015, making it the largest rally for LGBTI rights in Russia.

But following the arrests by police earlier this month, the annual protest was banned citing the ‘gay propaganda’ law.

But activists did it anyway.

With over 40 people from different groups, such as Coming Out, Side by Side LGBT film festival, LGBT for equality, Russian LGBT Network, feminist, trans activists and many more, risked everything for the protest.

A spokesperson said: ‘[The protest] allowed us to show the LGBTI communities that we are not silenced, as bystanders joined our action and the media picked up our rainbow colors. The International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia remains one of the most important days to tell our society that we exist, and despite the changing situation, LGBT communities of Russia will always find ways to be heard.’