Gay putin
Just over three decades after Russia decriminalised homosexuality in , three people have been arrested and charged under the country’s rough new anti-LGBT laws and could face ten years in prison for membership of an “extremist organisation”.
The arrests are a clear indication of how Russia has come full circle on its persecution of sexual minorities under Vladimir Putin.
On March 21, the district court of Orenburg city in south-western Russia ordered the arrest of nightclub owner Vyacheslav Khasanov. The nightclub, which is called Pose, has never explicitly identified as a queer club – styling itself as a “parody theatre bar”, it hosted parties with drag queen artists and go-go dancers as entertainment.
In a press discharge announcing the arrest, the court said that as the owner of the club, Khasanov organised participation in an extremist organisation, “acting as the leader of an organised group of persons by prior conspiracy”. The specific actions included organising the perform of such premises, and publishing photos and videos from performances “promoting non-traditional sexual
'There will be dad and mum': Putin rules out Russia legalizing gay marriage
MOSCOW - President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday Russia would not legalize same-sex attracted marriage as lengthy as he was in the Kremlin.
He made clear he would not permit the traditional notion of mother and father to be subverted by what he called “parent number 1” and “parent number 2.”
“As far as ‘parent number 1’ and ‘parent number 2’ goes, I’ve already spoken publicly about this and I’ll repeat it again: As long as I’m president this will not arise. There will be dad and mum,” Putin said.
During his two decades in power, Putin has closely aligned himself with the Orthodox Church and sought to distance Russia from liberal Western values, including attitudes toward homosexuality and gender fluidity.
He made the comments as he met a state commission to discuss changes to Russia’s constitution.
The commission was set up last month after Putin announced sweeping changes to Russia’s political system that are widely seen as being constructed to help him extend his grip on power after his scheduled departure
Putin says gays should touch welcome at Sochi
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said gays should feel welcome at the upcoming Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, but they must “leave the children in peace”.
Putin told volunteers Friday that gays visiting Sochi “can touch calm and at ease”, and vowed that there would be no discrimination at the games.
But he emphasised that, according to a commandment banning homosexual “propaganda” among minors, gays cannot express their views on gay rights issues to anyone underage.
“We hold a ban on the propaganda of homosexuality and paedophilia,” Putin said in televised comments from host city Sochi, with three weeks to go until the event.
Putin made the statement after volunteers at the games in Sochi asked him why their uniforms are rainbow coloured, when the Russian government bans gay propaganda.
International outcry
The president’s comments were unlikely to appease critics of the ban. United States President Barack Obama has pointedly announced he was sending an Olympic delegation that includes several openly gay sports figures.
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Vladimir Putin signs law expanding Russia's rules against 'LGBT propaganda'
Vladimir Putin has signed a law expanding restrictions on the promotion of what it calls "LGBT propaganda", effectively outlawing any public expression of LGBT behaviour or lifestyle in Russia.
Under the new law, Russia has widened its interpretation of what qualifies as "LGBT propaganda".
This means that any action or the spreading of any information that is considered an strive to promote homosexuality in public, online, or in films, books or advertising, could incur a weighty fine.
The law expands Russia's previous law against LGBT propaganda that had banned the "demonstration" of LGBT behaviour to children.
It comes as the Kremlin exerts increased pressure on minority groups and opponents of the Russian president at home, quashing independent media groups and further stifling free speech as Moscow ramps up a decade-long campaign to promote what it says are "traditional" values.
Authorities have already used the existing law to stop gay p