Russia is very anti-Gay

[Degeneve]

I do wonder if some of this is motivated by the teasing Putitin gets about his macho image.

The reason is maybe more due to the fact that Putin makes everything to please the (very) conservative Russian Orthodox Church...

 

[The Great Zaganza]

It's to a large part the price to pay for the orthodox church to support Putin.

 

[funk de fino]

Russia is a lot of things. Two of the service engineers at my work now refuse to go there for the level of racism. They were never bothered when they were with me, but things were nasty if they went out and about on their own. The OMON were always pulling guys over for the guilt of not being Slavic. In St Petersburg there are thugs raiding brothels, attacking gays, etc. Yet the same thugs have young girls draped over them when they are sat in the bars.

In one hotel that I was staying in (recent build, relatively expensive), the restaurant/bar near the reception was no smoking. In comes a big bear of a guy with his twenties something girlfriend, starts being stroppy and demands the no smoking signs are removed. The staff give way and do exactly that.

Despite the huge investment going on there much of the infrastructure is literally falling to pieces, even some of the new builds are having to be repaired already. It's a very confusing country, the people can be very welcoming, but there is a very disturbing level of misogyny, racism, and sheer thuggery hiding all around.

I concur. I've worked in Russia many times and, although I find the country and people fascinating, the homophobic and racist stuff is off the chart sickening.

 

[Jules Galen]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/russia-ban-ki-moon-gay-rights_us_585187c1e4b0ee009eb4e9b7

Russia Blocks U.N. Council Bid To Thank Ban Ki-Moon For Gay Rights Work



I don't get why Russia would expend political capital like that. Don't they want to be seen as more pro-gressive and not regressive?

Maybe. Or maybe they are just tired of Queers hanging out waiting to make their young men gay.

 

[Jules Galen]

Maybe. Or maybe they are just tired of Queers hanging out waiting to make their young men gay.

This is not true, of course, but I figure that's how the Russians see it. Where I live - in Texas - we got gays everywhere, and it doesn't really make a difference. Men will be gay, or not. It is not a lifestyle choice - it's genetic. Consequently, we accept gays in Texas - and nothing has really changed as a result, except people (especially the Southern Baptists) have stopped being so hysterical about gays.

 

[Sideroxylon]

Maybe. Or maybe they are just tired of Queers hanging out waiting to make their young men gay.

Did the homo agenda make your own youth a struggle with confusing emotions?

 

[Jules Galen]

Did the homo agenda make your own youth a struggle with confusing emotions?

You are going nowhere. Release the anger my friend.