Russia passes anti-gay law

All that's required now are formalities to make it official. The new "gay propaganda" laws were passed in a unanimous vote.

Reaction has been swift, citing the now fact that Russia has isolated itself from Europe and the west.

'The State Duma is following a trend of the government trying to appeal to the illiterate, who are very homophobic,' Alekseev told Gay Star News.

'Russia is isolating itself by criminalizing homosexual relations. We have seen the tip of the iceberg.'

He added: 'It cannot get worse. People are getting killed because they are gay. No one really cares in the government.'

Alekseev further stated that this law is an incitement to genocide against LGBT people in Russia and he will apply against Putin and authors of this bill this week to the International Court Tribunal at the Hague, Holland.

The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association of Europe (ILGA-Europe) slammed the move, stating: ‘ILGA-Europe appeals to international and European institutions not only to condemn this law, but to consider meaningful actions again Russia demanding to repeal this law and to stop state-sponsored homophobia in the country.’

Martin K.I. Christensen, Co-Chair of ILGA-Europe’s Executive Board, said: ‘This is a very sad day for the Russian LGBT community and for Russian democracy.

Today the Russian Parliament cemented its homophobic law at the federal level. Despite strong condemnation by virtually all international and European institutions and human rights organizations, ...the Russian Duma demonstrated that homophobia is an official state policy.’

Gabi Calleja, Co-Chair of ILGA-Europe’s Executive Board, continued: ‘We are deeply concerned by the negative impact of this law. Homophobic rhetoric which accompanied the adoption of this law at the regional and federal level for the last few years already significantly contributed toward a climate of hatred and physical violence against LGBT people which recently resulted in a number of murders.’ more  

I think I said at the very outset of all of this, that these laws may well go down OK in Russia itself, but not in the west. If Russia is to continue to have meaningful relationships with the west then it's homophobic laws need to be addressed. People are after all, already talking about "meaningful actions" against Russia, whatever that is.