Posted on 06/13/2013 7:40:31 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
The Russian Duma, or the lower house of parliament, passed a law banning homosexual propaganda by an overwhelming 436-0 vote on Tuesday, leading to clashes between gay activists and their opponents.
"Traditional sexual relations are relations between a man and a woman, which ... are a condition for the preservation and development of the multi-ethnic Russian people," lawmaker Yelena Mizulina said on Tuesday before the Duma. "It is precisely these relations that need special protection by the state."
The bill, which must still pass the upper parliament and be signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, reflects the country's strong stance when it comes to issues of sexuality. Public displays of homosexuality have been banned in some of Russia's largest cities, including Saint Petersburg, and the Duma-approved bill now seeks to ban the "propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations," The Associated Press reported.
Some groups have protested against this bill, however, which also makes it a punishable offense to give children information about gay people.
"In the space of mere hours, the Duma succeeded in adopting two pieces of legislation that testify to the shrinking space for freedom of expression in Russia. They represent a sorry attempt by the government to bolster its popularity by pandering to the most reactionary elements of Russian society – at the expense of fundamental rights and the expression of individual identities," said John Dalhuisen, Amnesty International's Europe and Central Asia program director.
"These laws have no place on the statute books of modern, rights-respecting democracy. The bigger question right now is whether the current government has any interest in Russia becoming one."
The Russian Orthodox Church has been a strong supporter of traditional family values and opposed to Western liberalism on sexual issues, AP noted, and it sees the latter as a means of corrupting Russia's youth. Lawmakers have also argued that homosexuality further decreases Russia's low birth rate, which has been in decline in the past couple of decades.
The second bill referenced by Dalhuisen was passed 308-2 by the lower house on Tuesday, making offending religious feelings a criminal offense, punishable by up to three years in prison.
Gay rights activists clashed with the bill's supporters on Tuesday in front of the Duma in Moscow, with Christians carrying signs of Orthodox icons, and chanting prayers.
Reuters reported that a number of gay rights activists were arrested on Tuesday for holding a "kissing protest" in front of the Duma. The gay activists, however, were far outnumbered by Christians.
A scuffle broke out amid the opposing groups, which ended with police arresting around 20 of the gay protesters.
Putin has denied that Russia discriminates against gay people, but has stood up for socially conservative values and has enjoyed the support of the Russian Orthodox Church ever since he won the presidential election in May 2012.
Well done, Russia!
Time to stand up to Satan’s minions.
China (PRC) is very traditionally conservative in that area believing that the two parent family is the pillar that holds up society.
They can look over here and see the family breakdown as is was decades ago the Christian church that kept that true here.
RE: Well done, Russia!
They don’t have the First Amendment in that country.
Kudos to the Russian Orthodox Church. Whether they know it or not, they are making a stand for Western civilization. Let's hope the rest of us see it and follow suit.
Any way you slice it, buggering is an unhealthy lifestyle both on the individual level and on the society level.
And, no, I don't advocate beating up gays any more than I'd advocate beating up winos because alcoholism is also an unhealthy lifestyle. I'd just like to make it easier for them to get help rather than accept the tragic end game where both lifestyles inevitably lead.
I get your point but some, as we all know, take their propaganda too far. Russia doesn't want half-naked, painted up queers parading up and down the streets.
I used to love rainbows as a child. I wish we could take that symbol back from the progressive homosexual movement.
In all honesty, I would at least prefer they just had the sense to keep their private lives private. They've got such a huge collective chip on their shoulder they spend their lives throwing their perversion in everybody's face.
RE: Painted up queers parading up and down the streets.
Well, the next question is this — how far does our even First Amendment go? Can you parade down the streets naked and still be protected by it?
RE: In all honesty, I would at least prefer they just had the sense to keep their private lives private.
Oscar wilde ( who was gay himself ) used to call it “The Love that dares not speak its name”. Today, it’s the love that won’t shut the F up.
I wish I spoke Russian.
436 - 0
Whew...that was close.
The group you are talking about is disgusting and most likely beyond help. They seek to drag society with them.
The group I am talking about is probably the silent majority who are stuck in a miserable situation, depressed and open to the idea of help. They would be even more open to said idea were it not for the loudness of the former group which you describe.
If you don't beleive it, just check out depression and suicide rates of gays versus straights . . . the gap is even greater in societies where the homo lifestyle is trumpeted and celebrated.
A joyous victory against the queer mafia
Maybe they can jail Hilliary under this law - well, I can always dream.
Russia is looking like a better place to live all the time.
It appears that the Russian legislature, unlike our own, is not chock full of girly-men, closet homos, rabid she-men, militant lesbians and freaks of nature who can’t figure out what sex they are.
In San Francisco that is a big YES.
Are you sure we still have it here?
The only Russian word necessary when it comes to the gay mafia is NYET.
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