Pussy Riot Taking Over Sin City

The Russian duo Pussy Riot — artists and civil rights activists recently imprisoned in their native country of Russia for loudly endorsing LGBT rights — will be a large part of Las Vegas's second Life is Beautiful festival.

The October music and arts festival in downtown Vegas will feature Pussy Riot, consisting of Masha Alekhina and Nadya Tolokonnikova, as part of their speaker series. The women will discuss feminism, LGBT equality, and their two years in a Russian prison.

“Nadya and Masha’s treatment in Russian prisons and labor camps was inhumane. They were deprived, starved and held captive,” Lisa Shufro, Learning Series Curator for Life is Beautiful, said in a statement. “They are coming to the festival to share their perspectives on justice, injustice, activism and civil right not only in Russia, but in the U.S. and the world."

Also on the speaker lineup is NPR reporter Neda Ulaby, an out journalist who The Advocate just named as one of the most influential in media.

Musical acts include Arctic Monkeys, Jenny Lewis, and Foo Fighters. Check out pics of last year's event here and check out video of Pussy Riot below.