The plight of homosexuals in Russia is getting worse under Vladimir Putin. Gays and lesbians had their own Spring movement after the fall of the Soviet Union — coming out of the closet after decades of repression. Then came Putin and his alliance with the Russian Orthodox Church. Putin’s government quickly used gays and lesbians as targets of political attacks. Those political attacks have now turned to actual attacks as thugs raid gay bars and clubs — beating down both men and women while the police do nothing. The recent legislation banning “gay propaganda” (and a ban on parades for 100 years in Moscow) has triggered the increase in attacks as homophobes see official support for their violent campaigns.
Alyona Korolyova, 47, watched helplessly as her girlfriend was kicked in the head as part of an organized attack by masked men.
The attack came during a celebration of the internationally observed National Coming Out Day. The men clearly had prepared for the attack and the police did not intervene. She reported that “At around 9.30pm, a group of masked men ran by me, yelled: ‘This fight has been ordered’ and began overturning tables, throwing chairs and beating whomever fell under their hands.”
Eight Russian regions have banned “homosexual propaganda” in the past year – Arkhangelsk, Ryazan, Kostroma, Magadan, Novosibirsk, Krasnodar, Bashkortostan and St Petersburg. A national ban is now being prepared in the Duma.
It is all part of the regression of Russia under the authoritarian image of Putin.
The Russian Supreme Court vote to uphold the ban on “gay propaganda” in its review of the Arkhangelsk region’s ban. However, it ruled that gay pride parades and other demonstrations in support of gay rights are legal while banning direct appeals to children.
Gay and lesbians Russians have shown considerable courage in refusing to return to the closet and passivity. They continue to push for full rights, particularly free speech rights.
Source: Guardian
Bron, You are a decent guy trying to find some sense to what Gene is saying. This isn’t about conservative, liberal, Putin, communism, etc. With Gene it’s about Gene and his enormous brain.
Bron, Thanks for a sane response. The old Soviet system was communism which is liberal. Or do I have it backwards and the communist hating Reagan was a liberal?
nick:
I would also say what Gene says is social conservatism is more a religious fanaticism of evangelical Christens, who by the way, are not necessarily “conservative”.
It would take a team of highly trained shrinks to unravel your narcissistic personality disorder. Now please, have the last word which is part of your pathology, and get back to your busy week. Then, BASTA!
NICK:
in the context of the soviet union, Putin is a conservative. He wants to conserve/bring back the old soviet system.
Most American conservatives I know are more along the lines of classical liberals.
nick,
While rc was only imprecise with his usage of technical terms as the move by Putin was arguably socially conservative, you on the other hand, were simply wrong. How very typical of your usual responses though. First, you assume that I agree that Putin is the most dangerous man in the world when I said nothing of the sort and then secondly you act like a tough guy douche bag who relates everything to his penis when it is pointed out that you were wrong. If you don’t like others pointing out when you are wrong? Stop being wrong.
Wow Gene, you will do a triple axle trying to make a point on which we agree. My first comment and prior ones show I understand the dictatorial nature of this dangerous man. I’m just not allowing someone to rewrite history and label communism as conservative when it is the antithesis. Now, shake your dick, this pissing contest is over and never should have even started. I thought you had a busy week.
I agree with Gene on his assessment of Putin as totalitarian. As a matter of fact, a number of the oligarchs funding the Republican party seem to have leanings in that direction. It is all about power and control. Come to think of it Dr. Stanton Samenow, in his several books on the criminal mind lists the need for power and control as key elements in the personality makeup of the psychopath.
We have quite a few of those in this country who would love to seize power to the extent they would turn this country into a true single party system with just a single box to check on every ballot.
And I was just pointing out the obvious flaw in your comment, nick.
Precision in terms is important and there are few fields where that gets abused more than political science. Putin’s relevant behavior is totalitarian – not conservative, not Communist. Totalitarianism is a political system where the state holds or seeks to hold total authority over the society and seeks to control all aspects of public and private life which is exactly the flaw in the decidedly mixed message Putin sent out on human rights in taking his above described action. While is action is arguably conservative in the social sense, it is decidedly not Communist either. The proper term is totalitarian, or in the alternative authoritarian, but totalitarian is the more precise term. That comports with the technical terms of art and the common usage of the English language.
Malisha, LOL and very astute. I’m thinking Ray Cohn would have loved to do Putin.
OK, so you can take the Communism out of Russia but you can’t take the Russians out of — their insane desire to pander to control-freak-murderous thugs? Or something like that?
Look at Putin. Do YOU think he is strictly heterosexual? Gee, where’s that gaydar article when you really need it?
Gene, I believe we agree on Putin. If you simply read rcampbell’s comment he labels Putin a conservative. I’m just pointing out the obvious flaw in his comment. Hopefully that comports w/ your blog creed.
Which is considerably less salient to the present behavior than Putin being raised, educated and employed professionally as a totalitarian thug. Totalitarianism is not the sole province of one side of the political spectrum or the other.
rcampbell, Putin was born, raised, educated and worked as a Communist.
Is this what happens when a country becomes less liberal and more totalitarian? More accurately stated, this IS what happens when control-oriented conservatives take over a country.
Putin is the most dangerous man in the world.
Do you think this possibly could be in coincidence with the resurrgience of the Russian Orthodox Church????? Naah, Churches are good for people, aren’t they???? Bwa-hahahahahahahaha………..
As the Church gains prominence and power in Russia this kind of violence will increase. Christ wants his religion back!
Joseph? Is that you? It’s a lot harder today to say one thing then do another and get it away with it than it was when you used to do purges.
Sounds like Mississippi.