US gay marriage ruling unleashes debate in Russia

[pampango]

Members and supporters of the LGBT (Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Transgender)
community take part in a May Day rally in Saint Petersburg on May 1, 2015

The US Supreme Court's move to legalize gay marriages triggered heated debate in Russia on Sunday, with one MP saying Facebook should be blocked while a senator urged the adoption of the US army's "don't ask, don't tell" policy.

Since coming to the Kremlin for a third term in 2012, President Vladimir Putin has forcefully promoted traditional values, seeking to paint Russia as an antithesis to the West. In 2013, he signed off on a hugely controversial law banning the promotion or display of homosexuality in front of minors.

The US Supreme Court's ruling on same-sex marriage on Friday ignited fresh debate in Russia which is locked in confrontation with the West over Ukraine. Lawmaker Vitaly Milonov said Facebook should be shut down in Russia while senator Konstantin Dobrynin said it is Milonov who should be banned.


Vitaly Milonov, a lawmaker in the local parliament who has become
a hate figure for gay rights activists

Some gay activists said that Russia, too, would one day uphold gay people's right to marry, but not necessarily in their lifetime. "Most likely I will not live to see the day when some democratic, honestly-elected president illuminates the Kremlin in rainbow colors for one day," journalist and activist Anton Krasovsky said on Facebook. ""There will be happiness. For sure. Because love wins."

http://www.i24news.tv/en/news/culture/76496-150628-us-gay-marriage-ruling-unleashes-debate-in-russia

Change will come. Because love wins.

[RKP5637]

1. Putin follows closely the guide to dictatorships, seek out a party/group and hold them up as

the embodiment of evilness as a rally point to pursue the dictatorship and to focus the masses. Old text book theories.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

2. Those Russians are very brave./nt

[AZ Progressive]

3. LGBT people are the epitome of bravery

[DemocratSinceBirth]

4. I just finished a book on Russia. Their homophobes make most of our homophobes look like softies./nt

[AZ Progressive]

5. As bad as the U.S. in the 60's?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

6. There weren't very many gay people who were out then.

And that would make them a half century behind. Pity the poor Russian glbtq people while they catch up if ever.

[Behind the Aegis]

7. It is a shame they have to endure that crap.

I fear for them. I believe it will get worse before it gets better. I am surprised no one has tried to 'splain this to us.

[joshcryer]

8. Russia's super anti-LGBT shift was purely a power move.

The large anti-Putin rallies were diverse, including many gay activists. By shutting down pro-LGBT groups he effectively splintered opposition groups. Once you hit 50 in Russia you can get a pension, 85% of Russians own their dwelling, health care is free in Russia (nevermind, of course, that dwellings are in disrepair, that the pension fund is nearing collapse, and that the state of health care provision in Russia is dismal). Those are economic issues that the activist left can't touch in Russia lest they seem like they are somehow against it. So they focus on social issues, and LGBT rights is one of the most important issues that they believe in.

Take away an issue, force the far right into a corner with FUD, and then it hurts the activists.