As I said, I am not going to be pulled into an argument about gay rights in Russia.
However, I need to say that I do not personally know anyone who can afford to travel to Dubai, much less go shopping there! Dubai is only for the uber-wealthy, and America's uber-wealthy tend to be right wing conservatives who are opposed to gay rights as well as women's rights.
Russia is in the news now, because Russia recently enacted new laws, the timing of which is very unfortunate with the Olympic Games in Sochi just around the corner. A lot of people in the US are pushing for a boycott of the games specifically because of these new laws, and out of fear that gay athletes, tourists, or journalists might be arrested.
I myself am against a boycott. I think the Games are a perfect time for our gay athletes to perform with their heads held high, break stereotypes, and compete on equal ground for the gold. A boycott will only cause further deterioration of foreign relations, as well as destroy the dreams of US athletes who have trained all their lives and dream of going there. Gay or not, I think they should have the opportunity to compete!
But I should add that there is a LOT of animosity in the US towards Russia right now because of those new laws. In America, they are perceived as hateful and cruel, and Americans do not have a good opinion of Russia to begin with, so this has only intensified everyone's anger, and the media hyping it up doesn't help.
I myself am caught in the middle, because I frequently stand up for Russia when people call Russians "evil" or "cruel" or "hateful" etc, etc. But at the same time, I support gay rights, and some Russians hate me for that.
I can't win, but despite that I keep speaking my mind where I can.