I support equal rights for gays, says conductor facing protest

A leading Russian conductor has said he believes in “equal rights for all people”, as he faces a planned gay rights protest at his concert at the Barbican tonight.

Valery Gergiev, the principal conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra, said he does not discriminate against gay people after he was accused of supporting a Russian ban on homosexual “propaganda”.Gay rights activist Peter Tatchell made the claim when he invaded the stage during an LSO concert at the Barbican last Thursday.

In a statement yesterday, Gergiev said it was “wrong to suggest that I have ever supported anti-gay legislation”. Mr Tatchell welcomed the statement but said it was not enough to call off the protest as Gergiev did not “renounce his support for President Putin”.