Russia and the law of hate

[luvdovz.livejournal.com]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/st-petersburg-gay-communities-living-in-fear-7604065.html
http://en.ria.ru/society/20120402/172554599.html

Following the example of St. Petersburg, now other big Russian cities are preparing to adopt a new law that is set to impose fines for those who openly discuss homosexuality, let alone those who practice it. The state Duma is about to pass a federal law against "homosexual propaganda" that'll now be valid throughout the whole country. And that's happening in the 21st century.

The democratically leaning people and the civil rights advocates in Russia are in shock. In the future, whoever dares to even speak openly about issues of homosexuality would be considered a criminal. Until now St. Petersburg, probably the most popular tourist destination in Russia, used to have a watered-down law against "homosexual propaganda", under the pretense of protecting the children and youngsters (that's the official statement under the law: i.e. THINK ABOUT THE CHILDREN!). But now the federal parliament will impose a more extreme version of that law on the whole territory of the Russian Federation. If the bill is passed, there will be fines for anyone performing informative campaigns about the various sexual orientations. Of course, apart from the many discriminatory implications from this law, a side effect that shouldn't be underestimated is that it would additionally complicate the HIV/AIDS prevention. But the authorities wouldn't hear about it. "Public decency" and "morality" trumps all these considerations.

Sounds pretty much like a return to the Dark Ages, doesn't it? But the author of this bill, Vitaly Milonov from Putin's party United Russia is adamant. Just how extreme he is in this respect, is demonstrated by his latest statements: he recently accused the German industrial-metal band Rammstein in homosexual propaganda. Rammstein, of all bands! That same Milonov also warned Madonna to "watch out" and not even think of breaking the law at her concert in St. Petersburg. Because that same law also forbids movies, music videos, books and magazines with "homosexual content".

Surely, all this is in blatant violation of human rights, whichever way you look at it. Human rights, under which Russia (being a member of the European Council) has subscribed.

The LGBT community in Russia is in panic, and understandably so. Having in mind that even street protests against this law are strictly banned, many among them are considering leaving the country. The LGBT-haters don't mind that: "If you don't like it, leave". You'd think the people who think that way are a minority, but no. Turns out in Russia that's the predominant sentiment, as seen through the Russian segment of LJ as well.

A few activists recently made a video where, at the background of Tchaikovsky (who btw was also homosexual), they're appealing to the foreign tourists to boycott St. Petersburg. One of the strongest arguments against this law is that it puts people with homosexual orientation and pedophiles in the same category, thus effectively treating the former as criminals.

No surprise, the Russian Orthodox church is jubilant. The praise for the authorities is frequent and full with pathos. This law, you see, would provide a better protection for the Russian society against "immoral Western influences". St. Petersburg is now supposed to become "a champion of morality" and "a place of pilgrimage for all pious Christians".

And all that, after in 1993 Russia had changed its penal code to unban homosexuality. That may've looked like a step forward, but in fact the subject of homosexuality has largely remained a taboo in the Russian society ever since. And today's push for a retrograde legislation like this, is yet another step closer to the repressive times of the Soviet Union.

Comments

[luvdovz.livejournal.com]

The freedom & liberty meme is getting tired, and your statement sounds very much like sloganeering. We might be in need of a more substantial argument to make a discussion on the subject. The good thing is that you've demonstrated a capability of making such arguments, so I'd be happy if you could come up with one.

My thoughts are that the outcome from such a "gamble" depends more on the cultural specifics of said society. What are yours?

[underlankers.livejournal.com]

Russian statesmen never pretended until the Soviet era to offer liberty, and eventually all that pretending caught up with them. The people that want to ban naked tits on a movie screen, or use of the words cunt and twat on a TV screen also want to limit free speech rights, so where is the defense of those free speech rights by conservatives? The answer is that there is none, there is instead the assumption that keeping kids from reading such ghastly tomes as Harry Potter filled with the unspeakable concepts of magic and the supernatural is valid.

In short, physicians, heal yourselves.

[lafinjack.livejournal.com]

Haven't you said that speech that is treason is legally punishable?

[ddstory.livejournal.com]

Obviously all those LGBT people have made the wrong choice of being born in a place like Russia, and then another wrong choice to be LGBT in that place. Because being gay is a choice, you know? Or so I was told.

[luvdovz.livejournal.com]

Snark aside, would you venture with a proposal for a solution of this situation?

[sophia-sadek.livejournal.com]

But they are all guilty of pederasty.

[hardblue.livejournal.com]

It looks like the Russians are following America's lead: distracting attention from the serious issues of power and corruption in favor of hot-button cultural issues. Are they big on the abortion question, too?

[luvdovz.livejournal.com]

It's become a major issue lately, but not for the reasons that it's an issue in the US. Russia is suffering a severe demographical problem (http://www.rferl.org/content/Abortion_Remains_Top_Birth_Control_Option_Russia/1145849.html), and they're considering doing something to restrict abortion (http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/russia-considering-abortion-restrictions-to-slow-population-collapse/) somewhat, if they're to slow down the population collapse they're experiencing. Although I doubt that could be the main cure for the problem. There are mostly social reasons for that problem and they should be addressed with a priority.

[sophia-sadek.livejournal.com]

This is clearly an attack on The Arabian Nights, which contains some homoerotic propaganda. The Russians are attempting to out-Islamize the Islamists.

BTW, have you ever heard of The Pink Swastika (http://books.google.com/books?id=wJsiAQAAIAAJ&q=The+Pink+Swastika&dq=The+Pink+Swastika&hl=en&sa=X&ei=rnJ8T5DNMoamiQLV6oyhDQ&ved=0CDYQ6AEwAA)? It contains some pretty rabid homophobia under the guise of being anti-Nazi.

[il-mio-gufo.livejournal.com]

i n t e r e s t i n g . . .

[htpcl.livejournal.com]

Meanwhile, Medvedev has signed a law (http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/International/2012/Apr-03/169100-russias-medvedev-signs-law-meant-to-help-opposition.ashx#axzz1r5bFRtHZ) that makes it easier for political parties to register, after a wave of protests and demands to open up the political scene a bit.

[telemann.livejournal.com]

Madonna was going to say a few things against the law from the stage at a concert in St. Petersburg, and a city official said she would be arrested if she did. But a few gay activists suggested she would be making things worse by doing speaking out so publicly.

Source. (http://www.drownedmadonna.com/index/item/698-madonna-maybe-be-fined-for-gay-propaganda-if-she-speaks-against-homophobic-law-in-st-petersburg.html)

[vlad-pulov.livejournal.com]

Тhе Law against homosexual propaganda to child and teenagers is very important and necessary step to democracy and family values in Russian society.
Sexual perversions and excesses are out of our culture, and destroing moral climate in our country since 1990-93.

[kylinrouge.livejournal.com]

How much are they paying you to write this?

[dwer.livejournal.com]

oboy.

[dv8nation.livejournal.com]

But if you get rid of all the Russians spending absurd amounts of money on foolish things the rest of the world will have one less thing to a laugh about!

[il-mio-gufo.livejournal.com]

how wonderful it would be if the populous could establish such democracy and family values without the need for a law. if only society could do it all on their own! :)

[vlad-pulov.livejournal.com]

And it has nothing about "hate", don't make perversion here with the word.

[luvdovz.livejournal.com]

The only perversion I can notice in this case is contained in your apparent interpretation of "democracy" as "things that I approve".

[vlad-pulov.livejournal.com]

I hope the next law will be against porno and violence on TV.

[blue-mangos.livejournal.com]

I think Rick Santorum has a big future as a politician in Russia.

[underlankers.livejournal.com]

Ah, a return to Soviet-style family values: give into bigotry, act like authoritarian assholes. They're only targeting gays, a group on whom the US Government prefers to side with countries like Iran on, so Americans in a good number are probably confused at why the Russians hate gays. They probably don't know or care that this is a return to the Soviet-era puritanical tradition of brutality targeting select groups in the name of a puritanical morality. Especially given who the targets are.

[il-mio-gufo.livejournal.com]

gosh, it's so sad to see the country target attack on it's own citizens in this fashion. but of course those at the top have no real regard for the Russian people. if they did, then i would know so many Russian woman who have ended up in The States by whatever crazy trafficking story you can imagine. it's a real thing that human trafficking shit - why don't they begin to protect their current citizens against their largest problem at hand??? arrrrr *venting*****

[vlad-pulov.livejournal.com]

During two years there was a big discussion in society about gay-parads, etc.
The great majority don't accept this, as so as marriage between homosexualists.
This Law is wright, this is our choice in our country, so relax everybody.

[malasadas.livejournal.com]

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[rimpala.livejournal.com]

Nobody ever asks if treating gays like second class citizens is a bad influence on our children.