Russia closes in on national anti-gay law
A news article today from the Associated Press about the Russian push for a national law against “homosexual propaganda” begins thus:
Kissing his boyfriend during a protest in front of Russia’s parliament earned Pavel Samburov 30 hours of detention and the equivalent of a $16 fine on a charge of “hooliganism.” But if a bill that comes up for a first vote later this month becomes law, such a public kiss could be defined as illegal “homosexual propaganda” and bring a fine of up to $16,000.
The article is a depressing, extensive review of anti-gay attitudes and actions in Russia. For example:
Lawmakers have accused gays of decreasing Russia’s already low birth rates and said they should be barred from government jobs, undergo forced medical treatment or be exiled. Orthodox activists criticized U.S. company PepsiCo for using a “gay” rainbow on cartons of its dairy products. An executive with a government-run television network said in a nationally televised talk show that gays should be prohibited from donating blood, sperm and organs for transplants, while after death their hearts should be burned or buried.
The anti-gay sentiment was seen Sunday in Voronezh, a city south of Moscow, where a handful of gay activists protesting against the parliament bill were attacked by a much larger group of anti-gay activists who hit them with snowballs.
The gay rights protest that won Samburov a fine took place in December. Seconds after Samburov and his boyfriend kissed, militant activists with the Orthodox Church pelted them with eggs. Police intervened, rounding up the gay activists and keeping them for 30 hours first in a frozen van and then in an unheated detention center. The Orthodox activists were also rounded up, but were released much earlier.
Related articles
- Russia pushes forward with controversial anti-gay legislation that would outlaw ‘homosexual propaganda’ (news.nationalpost.com)
- Call for protests against Russian ‘gay propaganda’ bill (76crimes.com)
Reblogged this on Goaty's News.
The anti-gay propaganda that has been argued and pushed through in Russia had been maddening. I hope the US and find a way to put pressure on the Russian government to NOT pass law.