Wednesday, June 12, 2013

More homophobia in Russia

Russia has progressed a law making it illegal to express support for gay rights:
Gay activists were attacked and then arrested outside Russia’s parliament as lawmakers overwhelmingly passed a bill that will ban “gay propaganda” aimed at under-18s. The Duma passed the bill, which outlaws the “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations”, by 436 votes to zero, with one abstention.

The bill will now become law if it is approved by Russia’s upper house of parliament and then signed by President Vladimir Putin, who has already expressed his support for it. The bill is the most criticised element of a series of measures that activists say makes a difficult situation for gay people in Russia even worse. Individuals who violate the law can be fined up to £100, while the penalty for organisations can be up to £20,000. Foreigners found to be promoting gay equality in violation of the law will be arrested and immediately deported.


So what's "propaganda"?
[S]preading information aimed at forming non- traditional sexual behaviour among children, suggesting this behaviour is attractive and making a false statement about the socially equal nature of traditional and non-traditional relationships

Or in other words saying that gays are equal human beings whose relationships are equally worthy of respect and recognition.

Russia is a party to the European Convention on Human Rights and is supposed to respect equality. But clearly, that means about as much as the US Constitution these days.