Why are we so self righteous over homophobia in Russia? Attitudes to gay people were exactly the same in this country not so long ago.
Because we changed (well most of us anyway) and we know how wrong it is and just because we like every other country were wrong in the past does not mean we should say its ok for Russia to still be like that today and just hope they change one day.
And when you say not so long ago homosexuality was decriminalised in England and Wales ( Scotland lagged behind by 14 years and NI by 15) in 1967 that's 46 years ago, that's plenty of time for Russia to have caught up if it wanted to.
And with Putin and all the rumours I think with him its a case of "the man doth protest too much"
Homosexuality isn't illegal in Russia, it is the 'promotion' or advocacy of 'non-traditional sexual relations' in material distributed to minors that is the subject of Russia's new laws. Though the efffect of the law is to extend the ban on promotion of "gay rights" to the general community, since the general community obviously includes children.
You might like to look up "Section 28" or "Clause 28" of the Local Government Act 1988 to discover that the Tories introduced a similar proscription into local government legislation intended to prevent schools and local authority organisations including libraries from
"intentionally promot[ing] homosexuality or publish[ing] material with the intention of promoting homosexuality" or "promot[ing] the teaching in any maintained school of the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship".
So it's not as long ago as you seem to think that the British government establishment rid itself of it's reactionary and discriminatory attitude (if indeed you truly believe that it has!) - Section 28 was only repealed by the Labour government in November 2003, less than a decade ago
Why are we so self righteous over homophobia in Russia? Attitudes to gay people were exactly the same in this country not so long ago.
We're going on about Selena being refused entry into Russia, probably because she defended gay rights. It's not about what the average person in Russia thinks, but probably why Selena was refused a Russian visa.
I think I'd prefer it if the Russian government didn't turn a massive blind eye to the torture and beating of it's own gay kids that end up on camera, instead of arresting the perpetrators (neo-Nazis, massive problem with torture murders of foreign workers here also).
And that the police always end up arresting the gay rights marchers when the anti-mob/skinheads decide to turn vicious (which is always).
I think you just expect Russia to be a bit more advanced and understanding than it is. Besides, it's a miserable, chilly place.
You might like to look up "Section 28" or "Clause 28" of the Local Government Act 1988 to discover that the Tories introduced a similar proscription into local government legislation intended to prevent schools and local authority organisations including libraries from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_28
So it's not as long ago as you seem to think that the British government establishment rid itself of it's reactionary and discriminatory attitude (if indeed you truly believe that it has!) - Section 28 was only repealed by the Labour government in November 2003, less than a decade ago
But gay pride celebrations and marches etc weren't banned in the uk during that time, as they are in Russia
But gay pride celebrations and marches etc weren't banned in the uk during that time, as they are in Russia
Indeed, the essence of gay pride is political. It was lobbying for the repeal of Section 28 as soon as it was introduced. Interestingly, one of those voting against the repeal of section 28 was David Cameron.
As for the Russian treatment of gays?
The British gay press has been reporting the arrests,harassment, police raids, assaults, rape of lesbians for twenty years.
How comes it has taken the straight press so long to pay attention?
Homosexuality isn't illegal in Russia, it is the 'promotion' or advocacy of 'non-traditional sexual relations' in material distributed to minors that is the subject of Russia's new laws. Though the efffect of the law is to extend the ban on promotion of "gay rights" to the general community, since the general community obviously includes children.
You might like to look up "Section 28" or "Clause 28" of the Local Government Act 1988 to discover that the Tories introduced a similar proscription into local government legislation intended to prevent schools and local authority organisations including libraries from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_28
So it's not as long ago as you seem to think that the British government establishment rid itself of it's reactionary and discriminatory attitude (if indeed you truly believe that it has!) - Section 28 was only repealed by the Labour government in November 2003, less than a decade ago
That's a reason (one among many others) to condemn the Thatcher Government, not a reason to refrain from condemning Putin.
Homosexuality isn't illegal in Russia, it is the 'promotion' or advocacy of 'non-traditional sexual relations' in material distributed to minors that is the subject of Russia's new laws. Though the efffect of the law is to extend the ban on promotion of "gay rights" to the general community, since the general community obviously includes children.
You might like to look up "Section 28" or "Clause 28" of the Local Government Act 1988 to discover that the Tories introduced a similar proscription into local government legislation intended to prevent schools and local authority organisations including libraries from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_28
So it's not as long ago as you seem to think that the British government establishment rid itself of it's reactionary and discriminatory attitude (if indeed you truly believe that it has!) - Section 28 was only repealed by the Labour government in November 2003, less than a decade ago
Section 28 didnt apply to private citizens like the Russian law, just to local government and its employees (even schools were removed from its remit quite quickly). Certainly no-one was threatened with prison as in the Russian law. Comparing the two isn't helpful... the Russian law covers all aspects of the private citizens right to free expression with very severe penalties. Section 28 never even got as far as one court case.
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But now they aren't - or at least most people's aren't.
I hope we in the UK have moved on since then.
Because we changed (well most of us anyway) and we know how wrong it is and just because we like every other country were wrong in the past does not mean we should say its ok for Russia to still be like that today and just hope they change one day.
And when you say not so long ago homosexuality was decriminalised in England and Wales ( Scotland lagged behind by 14 years and NI by 15) in 1967 that's 46 years ago, that's plenty of time for Russia to have caught up if it wanted to.
And with Putin and all the rumours I think with him its a case of "the man doth protest too much"
You might like to look up "Section 28" or "Clause 28" of the Local Government Act 1988 to discover that the Tories introduced a similar proscription into local government legislation intended to prevent schools and local authority organisations including libraries from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_28
So it's not as long ago as you seem to think that the British government establishment rid itself of it's reactionary and discriminatory attitude (if indeed you truly believe that it has!) - Section 28 was only repealed by the Labour government in November 2003, less than a decade ago
We're going on about Selena being refused entry into Russia, probably because she defended gay rights. It's not about what the average person in Russia thinks, but probably why Selena was refused a Russian visa.
And that the police always end up arresting the gay rights marchers when the anti-mob/skinheads decide to turn vicious (which is always).
I think you just expect Russia to be a bit more advanced and understanding than it is. Besides, it's a miserable, chilly place.
But gay pride celebrations and marches etc weren't banned in the uk during that time, as they are in Russia
Indeed, the essence of gay pride is political. It was lobbying for the repeal of Section 28 as soon as it was introduced. Interestingly, one of those voting against the repeal of section 28 was David Cameron.
As for the Russian treatment of gays?
The British gay press has been reporting the arrests,harassment, police raids, assaults, rape of lesbians for twenty years.
How comes it has taken the straight press so long to pay attention?
That's a reason (one among many others) to condemn the Thatcher Government, not a reason to refrain from condemning Putin.
Where does protecting children come into it?
Putin is blatantly in denial. All that homoerotic posturing with his top off
Section 28 didnt apply to private citizens like the Russian law, just to local government and its employees (even schools were removed from its remit quite quickly). Certainly no-one was threatened with prison as in the Russian law. Comparing the two isn't helpful... the Russian law covers all aspects of the private citizens right to free expression with very severe penalties. Section 28 never even got as far as one court case.