Thread: Sochi Olympics and the Law against Gays in Russia +

Originally Posted by John_Douglas

Why is it out of proportion? The Russian government passed laws essentially turning a certain class of people into criminals. Some people feel that boycotting the Olympics is a worthwhile step to express their disapproval.

And how does it turn them to criminals? Did you ever read what is this law about? It prohibits homosexualism propaganda to underage (under their 18 ) persons.

It is nowhere written in the law that being a homosexual is a crime!

I would say that any sexual propaganda (not only homosexual) to children is unappropriate, agree?
Moreover, any public discussion of someone's intimate relations is something ...hm... embarrassing. There are things which are generally not for publicity in the civilized society.
Let everyone do what they want privately. Why even to talk about that? I have never heard anyone in my country to ask another person about their ...hm... sexual orientation.

The US and the UK do have laws prosecuting the so-called "indecent exposure". If someone decides to walk naked through a crowded street in NYC, what would happen? They are going to be arrested by the police, isn't it? But it does not mean that just having ...hm... some intimate parts of body is a crime. The crime is exposing them, right? Especially, when there are underage children around.
Many people feel discussing someone's sexual preferences publically is as shameful and shocking as walking naked in the town.

And now imagine the situation. A man from e.g. Mumba-Yumba tribe from Central Africa (just jokingly) came to the U.S. and walked completely naked exposing his ... you know what. Because in his tribe it is considered normal to walk naked so that everyone could see the shape of his private parts. Quite logically, he was arrested in the U.S. for exposing his ... And after that the tribe leader starts accusing the U.S. government for discrimination of people who have a p..is. Sorry for that. But the whole situation around the anti-gay-propaganda law is very similar.

Sorry I don't agree with you.

If you're against any sexual propaganda targeting minors, then why have a law specifically targeting homosexual propaganda? The only reason is to single out homosexuals as a group for discriminatory treatment.

Secondly, pretty much every show on TV, every song on the radio, every movie involves people talking about their sexual preferences. Nobody considers it shameful when a man says "this is my girlfriend and I want to marry her" but if he says "this is my boyfriend and I want to marry him" why should that be shameful? And even if you do consider it shameful, why does that mean it should be a criminal act? Again, it's a discriminatory law, taking rights away from homosexuals.

That's what people are objecting to, the fact that discriminates against a group of people and reduces their rights.

Я был в Москве в 2007м году, когда многие в западном прессе упрекали правителство Москвы за то что не разрешили провести гей-прайд парад. Тогда я не очень симпатично относился к тем западным гей-активистам - хоть и сам я за равенство прав для геев, считал есть более актуалные проблемы в российском обществе, при этом Россия более консервативная страна США или Германия и не стоит осуждать за это, пытаться навязывать собственные взгляды.

А вот теперь ситуация совсем другая - новый закон по-просту лишает гомосексуалистов их человеческих прав. Никто не говорит, чтобы россияне поменяли свои мнения по поводу геев. Они просто выступают против несправедливого закона.

Originally Posted by John_Douglas

Я был в Москве в 2007м году, когда многие в западном прессе упрекали правителство Москвы за то что не разрешили провести гей-прайд парад. Тогда я не очень симпатично относился к тем западным гей-активистам - хоть и сам я за равенство прав для геев, считал есть более актуалные проблемы в российском обществе, при этом Россия более консервативная страна США или Германия и не стоит осуждать за это, пытаться навязывать собственные взгляды.

А вот теперь ситуация совсем другая - новый закон по-просту лишает гомосексуалистов их человеческих прав. Никто не говорит, чтобы россияне поменяли свои мнения по поводу геев. Они просто выступают против несправедливого закона.

правительство
за то, что
за то, что не было разрешено
тогда я неодобрительно/ без симпатии относился к геям-активистам,
хотя сам-то я и за равенство
актуальные
страна более консервативная, чем США
не стоит осуждать её за это
попросту
россияне поменяли своё мнение