It's also important to remember that Judy did say: 

"If, as we move closer to our trip, there is a need to make a change, we will not hesitate to redesign the itinerary to either shorten our stay or change the itinerary."

While it is true that “Canada has also had many other advisories for travel to Russia for quite some time...some even before we booked this trip”, the law that concerns us was only passed in March 2012,  after we booked our trip to St. Petersburg.  It is also true that homosexuals can be a target for violence anywhere, but this law criminalizes behaviour.   Our "core values of freedom of speech and human rights" are greatly different than those in St. Petersburg, and I do not want to risk arrest if I disembark the ship.

Why is it you think that Olivia and/or Judy is leading us to our doom!?!

As everyone has said "Judy will put safety first for our group" and she will! 

There would be nothing worse for a lesbian travel company who wants to continue…than having 600+ of your travelers "arrested" for being "gay"

So far only Canada has issued the advisory…and mainly so because of it's openness to the GLBT lifestyle…which I wish everyone everywhere had!  The advisory issued was because St. Petersburg's new law "runs contrary to core Canadian values of freedom of speech, of human rights" (mine too!).  The advisory states that the new law prohibits "propagandizing homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality and transsexuality among minors, and prohibiting public actions propagandizing pedophilia."

They also have issued this travel advisory for the location…"homosexuality is legal, though some still strongly disapprove of it.  Canadians are advised to avoid displaying affection in public, as homosexuals can be targets of violence."…but that can be true anywhere!  I know friends who have been beaten and 2 friends who were murdered!!

And…Canada has also had many other advisories for travel to Russia for quite some time...some even before we booked this trip

http://www.voyage.gc.ca/countries_pays/report_rapport-eng.asp?id=249000#1

Even in the USA…we as the GLBT community do not have full rights to those "core values of freedom of speech and human rights" as Canada does…so will the USA be next on Canada's list!?!

I know that sometimes visiting a "foreign" country can be scary…but so are some of the excursions we have taken…yet we survived!!!

  THE TREPIDATIONS AND CONCERN ABOUT OUR SAFETY IN ST.PETERSBURG IS SHARED BY MYSELF AND MANY OTHERS.   AS I HAVE BLOGGED B4, THIS IS A VACATION FOR US AND I FOR ONE, DO NOT WANT TO BE FORCED TO AWAKEN MY INNER WARRIOR GODDESS OR EXPERIENCE ANY ANXIETY ABOUT .  I ALSO TRUST JUDY'S LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE BUT WHAT SITUATIONS WE MIGHT ENCOUNTER CANNOT BE FORESEEN.  AND I HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE RUSSIAN JAILS !!!! 

    EXPLORING ALTERNATIVES NOW IS A WONDERFUL IDEA , AS IS OUR TALKING ABOUT THIS.

My wife and I are having some reservations about visiting St. Petersburg in light of this new law.  The wording of the law is too vague and the interpretation could be manipulated to fit whatever situation they want it to.  Whereas we have no hesitation to stand up for our rights and way of life in our country, it is quite a different matter to test the tolerance where there are too many unknowns.

We have utmost respect for Judy and feel that she will put safety first for our group.  Many of the countries Olivia visits probably do have similar types of laws, but they are gathering dust in books that have long been ignored.  Our concern is that this law is new and our arrival on the heels of its passing may serve as a “proving ground” of sorts.  We have no way to gage the reaction of the Russian authorities to our group.  We also have no way to control the behavior of everyone on the trip and we do not wish to spend three days in St. Petersburg feeling fear instead of free.

We would like alternatives to be discussed now instead of later.   Or perhaps a different trip option for those who have genuine concern.   

Having read Judy's statement, I'm also a firm believer that we won't change this new law in St. Petersburg overnight, but by being our naturally good selves we will change the attitudes of people we meet.  What we should leave the majority with, is the right impression we are all good fun loving people, who bring diversity to their community and money to their economy......

I totally agree that we should try to blend in, rather than (naively and dangerously) take part in a political demo. My concern is that some of our fellow travellers may put the group at a risk by choosing to be "political" or brash.I recall travelling to Turkey , with Olivia, with a woman who could not abide by the rules of "modesty" to go into the mosque. She brought ridicule to herself...(They swathed her in a cloak , akin to being a "scarlet woman"). 

The port authorities are also very likely to know what Olivia stands for. 

As a diplomat's daughter, I can assure you that advisories are not written lightly... 

I agree completely with 2Cats. My partner and I are coming on the cruise to celebrate her 60th birthday, not to take part in a political demo. I feel it's a case of 'When in Rome', and we should try to blend in, however much that goes against the grain. During the Thatcher government, we had a similar  law here in the UK, the infamous 'Section 28'. Nobody was ever prosecuted under it, as there was no legal definition of what 'promoting' actually meant. Could be the same in Russia - lets not get too bothered, but just enjoy our 3 days the best we can.

Having traveled with Olivia several times, I feel very confident that they would not put any of their travelers in an unsafe situation.

Diana