Russia Hates me this I know for Vlady tells me so

 Gay Star News

The lower house of Russia’s parliament (State Duma) has overwhelmingly passed a bill that bans so-called ‘propaganda’ of homosexuality.

The State Duma voted 434-0 with one abstention on today (11 June) to approve ban imposing hefty fines for holding gay pride rallies or providing information about LGBT issues to minors.

The adoption of this law by Russia would mean any person or organization mentioning sexual relationships considered as ‘non-traditional’ will be fined.
The law will endanger allows suspension of any organization’s activity and a fine up to 1 million rubles (US$ 30,790 €23,215) which, in practice, means LGBT organizations will find it impossible to operate.

Individuals breaching the law will carry a fine of up to 5,000 rubles (US$166 €124).

Foreigners will be punished more severely than Russian citizens, up to 15 days of imprisonment followed by deportation.

The lower house of Russia’s parliament (State Duma) has overwhelmingly passed a bill that bans so-called ‘propaganda’ of homosexuality.
The State Duma voted 434-0 with one abstention on today (11 June) to approve ban imposing hefty fines for holding gay pride rallies or providing information about LGBT issues to minors.
- See more at: http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/russia-passes-gay-gag-bill-will-become-law110613#sthash.KLQUIWvH.dpuf

The lower house of Russia’s parliament (State Duma) has overwhelmingly passed a bill that bans so-called ‘propaganda’ of homosexuality.
The State Duma voted 434-0 with one abstention on today (11 June) to approve ban imposing hefty fines for holding gay pride rallies or providing information about LGBT issues to minors.
- See more at: http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/russia-passes-gay-gag-bill-will-become-law110613#sthash.KLQUIWvH.dpuf

The lower house of Russia’s parliament (State Duma) has overwhelmingly passed a bill that bans so-called ‘propaganda’ of homosexuality.
The State Duma voted 434-0 with one abstention on today (11 June) to approve ban imposing hefty fines for holding gay pride rallies or providing information about LGBT issues to minors.
- See more at: http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/russia-passes-gay-gag-bill-will-become-law110613#sthash.KLQUIWvH.dpuf

The lower house of Russia’s parliament (State Duma) has overwhelmingly passed a bill that bans so-called ‘propaganda’ of homosexuality.
The State Duma voted 434-0 with one abstention on today (11 June) to approve ban imposing hefty fines for holding gay pride rallies or providing information about LGBT issues to minors.
- See more at: http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/russia-passes-gay-gag-bill-will-become-law110613#sthash.mKXyF8KC.dpuf

The lower house of Russia’s parliament (State Duma) has overwhelmingly passed a bill that bans so-called ‘propaganda’ of homosexuality.
The State Duma voted 434-0 with one abstention on today (11 June) to approve ban imposing hefty fines for holding gay pride rallies or providing information about LGBT issues to minors.
- See more at: http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/russia-passes-gay-gag-bill-will-become-law110613#sthash.mKXyF8KC.dpuf

The lower house of Russia’s parliament (State Duma) has overwhelmingly passed a bill that bans so-called ‘propaganda’ of homosexuality.
The State Duma voted 434-0 with one abstention on today (11 June) to approve ban imposing hefty fines for holding gay pride rallies or providing information about LGBT issues to minors.

- See more at: http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/russia-passes-gay-gag-bill-will-become-law110613#sthash.mKXyF8KC.dpuf

The lower house of Russia’s parliament (State Duma) has overwhelmingly passed a bill that bans so-called ‘propaganda’ of homosexuality.
The State Duma voted 434-0 with one abstention on today (11 June) to approve ban imposing hefty fines for holding gay pride rallies or providing information about LGBT issues to minors.
- See more at: http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/russia-passes-gay-gag-bill-will-become-law110613#sthash.mKXyF8KC.dpuf

Well it looks like my plans to visit Russia will have to be put on hold indefinitely. A shame I was looking forward to it. I can't say I'm surprised, if anything I'm actually surprised it took them this long given that Putin and his United Russia party has always been Conservative -only still believing in the power of interventionist state to keep the system going- and has a very close relationship with the Orthodox church. The famous Pussy Riot demonstration targeted the church for that very reason.

If you're curious the law is linked to the anti Gay "propaganda" laws brought in by a number of Russian municipal authorities. This new law is actually quite problematic for everyone, it doesn't bother to define what constitutes Gay "Propaganda" is acknowledging that homosexuals exist propaganda? What if I acknowledge them but make it clear I hate them? Already a Gay rights  activist Anna Annenkov, has been fined for violating this law but her case doesn't add any clarity. Her crime which earned her a fine of 20,000 Roubles was holding a Rainbow Flag that said "Love is stronger". Now she was part of a Gay rights demonstration on the 25th of May but the act which prompted this censure was the holding of a flag. If that's how broadly the law is being enforced then a lot of Russian's not just LGBT Russians should be very worried. And here's why the Rainbow flag is not just a Gay flag, it has many uses and represents a lot of different communities and movements some of which have nothing to do with sex of any kind.

The use of rainbow flags has a long tradition; they are displayed in many cultures around the world as a sign of diversity and inclusiveness, of hope and of yearning.

There are several independent rainbow flags in use today. The most widely known worldwide is the pride flag representing gay pride. The peace flag is especially popular in Italy and the cooperative flag symbolizes the international co-operative movement. It is also used by Andean people to represent the legacy of the Inca empire (Wiphala) and Andean movements.

Pictured (Not) a Gay Rights Activist

 Now admittedly instances of Andean's finding themselves the victims of this law is going to be few and far between (if at all) but it does illustrate the dangers such a law poses to all Russian citizens, and foreign visitors. I wasn't being facetious at the beginning, I could very easily find myself in legal trouble thanks to this law, just making a post critical of it could easily be considered "propaganda". I know the chances of the Russian authorities finding out or caring is remote but what about people who are actually pretty popular online? What about you, can you be certain you've never done or said anything that might be covered by these laws? I doubt it even if you're a hardcore homophobe so hopefully it won't just be the LGBT crowd opposing this creeping Authoritarianism.

There is also a similar ban on Gay foreigners adopting Russian children that looks set to become law very soon. That particular law is very bad since it won't really punish any Gays, but it will affect Russian orphans. Since before the end of the Cold War Russia (and the other Soviet States) and other Eastern European nations, like Romania due to their pro family policies and focus often let there orphanage system breakdown. It got so bad that there governments approved and encouraged Westerners to adopt from them to ease the strain. And to this day Russia "exports" a lot of orphans.

 At no point does this bill banning Gays from adopting also mandate the state to compensate via increased funding, or with a campaign to encourage further adoptions from straight couples. In fact given how hard it will be to police this ban its likely that the Duma will widen the scope to ban all adoptions from countries that have legalised Gay marriage/adoption. Currently Americans regardless of sexuality and marital status have lost that privilege and similar bans against other nations are on the table.

 So a pretty rotten situation all round, and while I had no illusions about Putin's Russia like so many other young "lefties" did, it is a shame to see that once again bigotry and the need to look tough is punishing the vulnerable and the innocent. Still I remain optimistic, the fact that these laws are targeting "Propaganda" which to me means trying to limit the spread of information and acceptance of Homosexuality is because the Russian authorities know that they're too late to keep it underground. Remember this is the same President who committed genocide in Chechnya to win an election and project a strong image. As far as I'm aware Moscow pride isn't armed and trying to physically secede from his authority, so if anything the lack of organised violent opposition should encourage him. Especially given that his popularity and credibility have plummeted in recent years, and yet instead we get a set of laws not very different from Thatchers Section 28. The restraint such as it is tells me that slowly but surely this is one area where Putin and the new Russian establishment are losing which is why we're seeing this now as a desperate form of damage control.

The lower house of Russia’s parliament (State Duma) has overwhelmingly passed a bill that bans so-called ‘propaganda’ of homosexuality.
The State Duma voted 434-0 with one abstention on today (11 June) to approve ban imposing hefty fines for holding gay pride rallies or providing information about LGBT issues to minors.
- See more at: http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/russia-passes-gay-gag-bill-will-become-law110613#sthash.mKXyF8KC.dpuf

The lower house of Russia’s parliament (State Duma) has overwhelmingly passed a bill that bans so-called ‘propaganda’ of homosexuality.
The State Duma voted 434-0 with one abstention on today (11 June) to approve ban imposing hefty fines for holding gay pride rallies or providing information about LGBT issues to minors.
- See more at: http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/russia-passes-gay-gag-bill-will-become-law110613#sthash.mKXyF8KC.dpuf

The lower house of Russia’s parliament (State Duma) has overwhelmingly passed a bill that bans so-called ‘propaganda’ of homosexuality.
The State Duma voted 434-0 with one abstention on today (11 June) to approve ban imposing hefty fines for holding gay pride rallies or providing information about LGBT issues to minors.
- See more at: http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/russia-passes-gay-gag-bill-will-become-law110613#sthash.mKXyF8KC.dpuf