From this … (gay activists holding balloons in park)..
… to this. (gay activists being beaten on bus).
A rally by gay activists in St Petersburg to mark the International Day of Fighting Homophobia, falls victim to anti-gay protesters.
The activists were also protesting against a new law in St Petersburg which outlaws what it calls 'spreading gay propaganda among minors'.
But their protest attracted several counter groups of protesters, many with face masks, chanting anti-gay slogans and throwing rocks and stones..
A bus carrying the activists was later halted in a side street where the attacks intensified, with the anti-gay youths climbing inside and punching and kicking activists.
At least two gay activists were hospitalized with injuries and one man was injured when mace was sprayed into his face.
