Russia's anti-gay actions charm U.S. conservatives
Russia’s ongoing anti-homosexuality campaign has earned praises from U.S. conservatives who previously had nothing good to say about the former “evil empire.”
The Associated Press reports:
As the hub of the Soviet Union, Russia was reviled for rights abuses by many U.S. conservatives during the Cold War. Now some are voicing support and admiration as Russian authorities crack down on gay-rights activism.
The latest step drawing praise from social conservatives is a bill signed into law Sunday by President Vladimir Putin that would impose hefty fines for holding gay pride rallies or providing information about the gay community to minors.
“You admire some of the things they’re doing in Russia against propaganda,” said Austin Ruse, president of the U.S.-based Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute. “On the other hand, you know it would be impossible to do that here.”
Ruse, whose institute is seeking accreditation at the United Nations, plans to travel to Russia this summer to meet with government officials and civic leaders.
“We want to let them know they do in fact have support among American NGOs (non-governmental organizations) on social issues,” he said.
Others who have praised Russia’s anti-gay efforts:
- Peter LaBarbera of Americans for Truth About Homosexuality: “Russians do not want to follow America’s reckless and decadent promotion of gender confusion, sexual perversion, and anti-biblical ideologies to youth.”
- Stefano Gennarini of Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute: “Russians have consistently denied homosexual groups parade permits, sparing its children and the public at large the ludicrous and disturbing behavior on show in the squares and streets of Europe and America. … $155 [a fine for same-sex displays of affection] is hardly unmanageable for homosexuals who want to kiss in public.”
- Evangelical preacher Scott Lively, who has just reissued a pamphlet from a 50-city speaking tour of Russia that he organized in 2007, which stated, “Russia could become a model pro-family society. If this were to occur, I believe people from the West would begin to emigrate to Russia in the same way that Russians used to emigrate to the United States and Europe.”
The World Congress of Families, a U.S.-based anti-abortion, anti-gay-rights organization, plans to hold its next international conference at the Palace of Congresses at the Kremlin in Moscow next year, AP reported.
For more information, read the full article “Some US conservatives laud Russia’s anti-gay bill.”
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