Bleak Future for LGBT rights in Russia?

Today, Vladimir Putin actually made anti-Americanism the key point in his presidential campaign. Now as you might know, LGBT people in Russia are currently going through a rough time with a bill waiting to be read for the third and final time that would make it illegal to even talk about LGBT rights (all links in this article open in new tabs). Writing a book, organizing a pride event or even being open about your sexual orientation would land you with hefty fines, reported to be up to $16,000. Although none of the details about the fines have been released - and rumored sums vary from the above to around $1,400 - we do know that it will basically treat homosexuals the same way as paedophiles.

No matter where you are in the world, you can stand with the Russian LGBT community. Details on how to do so can be found at the bottom of this article. Hurry, there's less than a week left to act before the bill gets put through its third and final reading. It has already passed through the first reading with only one vote against it and one abstention. It got through the second reading on February 10th, 2012 and the last one is scheduled for the coming week.

The fact it's no secret that Putin is anti-American, and that US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, said the United States support LGBT rights in her speech at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland on December 6th, 2011, don't go very well together. Although Clinton's speech was obviously made with the best interests of the international LGBT community at heart, I wasn't convinced at the time that it was going to make things any better for those in certain countries that are strongly anti-American. There was nothing wrong with her speech, it was actually very inspiring and very strong, until she said the following (watch below at 23min 18sec): 

"And finally, to LGBT men and women worldwide, let me say this: Wherever you live and whatever the circumstances of your life, whether you are connected to a network of support or feel isolated and vulnerable, please know that you are not alone. People around the globe are working hard to support you and to bring an end to the injustices and dangers you face. That is certainly true for my country. And you have an ally in the United States of America and you have millions of friends among the American people.

"The Obama Administration defends the human rights of LGBT people as part of our comprehensive human rights policy and as a priority of our foreign policy. In our embassies, our diplomats are raising concerns about specific cases and laws, and working with a range of partners to strengthen human rights protections for all. In Washington, we have created a task force at the State Department to support and coordinate this work. And in the coming months, we will provide every embassy with a toolkit to help improve their efforts. And we have created a program that offers emergency support to defenders of human rights for LGBT people.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, "Free and Equal in Dignity and Rights"
Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland December 6th, 2011
(Transcript from www.state.gov)

 

The major flaw in Clinton's speech was when she started to mention the US. "You have an ally in the United States of America" and therefore if your country is anti-American, you can expect some repression. This is what crossed my mind when she said it, and this is what's happening today in Russia. In fact, just days after Clinton made that speech, Vladimir Putin showed his support for the anti-LGBT bill that will either be passed or scrapped next week. During those same few days, he basically told Hillary Clinton to "shut up" and stay out of Russian politics concerning the Russian elections.

Now don't get me wrong, I love the fact Hillary Clinton has put more emphasis on LGBT rights and it has had a very positive effect on pro-gay countries and allies of the US. I think, thanks to this speech, that a lot of British politicians have started to think long and hard about legalizing gay marriage. The same can be said for a lot of European countries, Australia and some American States. But saying the United States is going to make it an "important part of foreign policies", endorse it and promote it around the world, even though it was with the best intentions in mind, was never a good thing to say. It only gives anti-American people like Putin more things to add to his "To do" list.

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Call your country's Foreign Affairs office now and tell them to use every means possible to stop this law from passing.  If enough of us call, we can create pressure and stop this anti-gay law, or make sure it does not pass without notice. So far, it has received little or no coverage from the media and it needs the attention it deserves. This law would throw the civil rights movement in Russia back decades.

ACT NOW! Click here to find out the right phone number to call:

www.allout.org/en/russia_call