Update: Mashup video of IDAHO kiss-ins around the world below the fold.

Pride season is both a triumph and a heartache.  I sit here safely in Seattle and marvel at the courage of my gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender brothers and sisters in other towns, states and countries who may be putting their freedom, security and lives on the line just to say in public, I AM SOMEBODY AND I DESERVE FULL EQUALITY.

Hat Tip MrQueer, who tweeted this, via @RainbowFlash175 (webpage):

150+ people on #RainbowFlash2010 in St-Petersburg (Russia), May 16! WATCH: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v…  #idaho2010

A flash ‘mob’ is one way to skirt the authorities, which was a major problem for Baltic Pride in Minsk this year (Minsk video below fold).  But first, a few moments of pure joy from Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Slavic gay pride, Saturday, May 15th in Minsk, Belarus.

SATURDAY MAY 15

15:08 Minsk had its gay pride march.  For just 10 minutes, 40 Russians and Belarusians and Russians waived a 12 meters long rainbow flag for a short march of approximately 200 meters.  They were at first met by a large group of journalists, photographers and TV crew.  But when they reached the first crossing point, they were trapped by several vans of anti-riot police.  Suddenly, the doors of the vans opened and anti-riot officers ran towards the participants. “I never saw anything of the kind” said Nikolai Alekseev by mobile phone.  ”They were brutal and violent” he added.  Another participant who did not want to be named said: “It was like a group of wild dogs”.  The march ended with most of the participants being arrested and violently beaten.  A few managed to escape but the police ran after them.

Mashup video of IDAHO kiss-ins around the world.