talkpolitics | Harvey Fierstein New York Times Op-Ed / Russia’s brutal crack down on gay rights

A participant in the "kissing protests" was attacked and kicked in a recent Moscow protest*

In the Sunday edition, the New York Times published an Op Ed by New York City actor, playwright, and producer Harvey Fierstein condemning the Russian crackdown on gay rights; with an appeal to use the upcoming Winter Olympic games in Sochi as a platform to condemn the homophobic policies of President Putin and the Russian parliament.

Mr. Fierstein noted in his op-ed:

...just six months before Russia hosts the 2014 Winter Games, Mr. Putin signed a law allowing police officers to arrest tourists and foreign nationals they suspect of being homosexual, lesbian or “pro-gay” and detain them for up to 14 days. Contrary to what the International Olympic Committee says, the law could mean that any Olympic athlete, trainer, reporter, family member or fan who is gay — or suspected of being gay, or just accused of being gay — can go to jail.
Earlier in June, Mr. Putin signed yet another antigay bill, classifying “homosexual propaganda” as pornography. The law is broad and vague, so that any teacher who tells students that homosexuality is not evil, any parents who tell their child that homosexuality is normal, or anyone who makes pro-gay statements deemed accessible to someone underage is now subject to arrest and fines. Even a judge, lawyer or lawmaker cannot publicly argue for tolerance without the threat of punishment.

Mr. Fierstein pointed to a recent case of a 23 year old gay man murdered in Volograd. When the man stated he was gay, he was beaten, his body violated with beer bottles, his clothing set on fire, his head crushed with a rock and his genitals removed. The crime was so ghastly, it's an example of homophobia being described as the motivation of the attack (most Russian authorities deny there are such attacks).

Recalling how the world largely ignored Adolf Hitler's treatment of Jewish citizens during the 1936 Olympic Games in Munich, in addition to a call on the International Olympic Committee, and political leaders to vocalize their concerns about the curbing of human rights, there is also a movement to have Olympic atheletes condemn the Russian policies by wearing gay right emblems on their uniforms, and speaking out when ever it's possible. I don't know how effective such a campaign would be, some in Russia already seem to have persecution complex, reminiscent of the Soviet era, or the Politburo in China complaining about Western interference regarding civil rights within their own country. But the moral imperative to speak out against brute bigotry, and discrimination against an entire class of a country's citizens demands action.

Four Dutch nationals who were making a film on gay rights were recently arrested and interrogated by authorities for "promoting homosexual propaganda," which is the first known instance of the new law being implemented.

The original Op-Ed piece that ran in the New York Times.

Harvey Fierstein's Wikipedia entry.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

malasadas.livejournal.com

I have been watching events unfolding in Russia with some considerable dismay, but I also have to say I don't have a terrific read on the motivation here. Is this an attempt by Mr. Putin to elevate a new scapegoat in Russian society in the manner that the Tsars used against Jews in the 19th century (http://www.ushmm.org/wlc/en/article.php?ModuleId=10005183)? Is it Putin trying to defiantly establish Russia as opposed to the perceived movement forward on gay rights in several Western European nations as part of its "unique" culture? Is this a vigorous push to try to institutionalize current prejudices before sentiments change with the younger generation?

All three?

I am mindful that in my adult lifetime the United States Supreme Court upheld the right of states to criminalize private consensual behavior between adults (http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0478_0186_ZS.html) and that current Associate Justices dissented from the case that struck that down. (http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/02-102.ZD.html)

What I do not know is if Russia is having its 1970s Anita Bryant overreaction phase to the idea of gay rights or if it is heading down a much more sinister path. My fears, and the reasons why my ancestors left Russia, say it is sinister. I'd like to believe the IOC is going to do something, but I am not naive enough to expect them to have the guts.

From:

telemann.livejournal.com

I'd like to believe the IOC is going to do something, but I am not naive enough to expect them to have the guts.

And I'm pretty sure national teams will get a lot of lectures about not pissing off the Russian authorities by any unsanctioned political statements via wearing emblems, or signs, etc. Just as long as the money keeps flowing, that's the only thing that matters to the IOC.

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Harvey Fierstein New York Times Op-Ed / Russia’s brutal crack down on gay rights