To Russia With Love
I enjoyed this article from the Independent which suggests that Russia's 'macho man' and staunchly anti-gay President, Vladimir Putin, will face good humoured opposition to his refusal to watch movies like Brokeback Mountain.
I especially liked Vlad's 'Lovie Award' inscribed with the memorable words:
"To a man with a heart of stone, here's a heart of Gold"
Now that's funny - and I defy anyone to watch Brokeback Mountain and not be moved or embarrassed by any lingering anti-gay prejudice.
Vladimir Putin says Russia is last bastion of conservatism against ‘infertile tolerance’
Russian president defends anti-gay laws in annual state-of-the-nation address
By ADAM WITHNALL
In an implicit defence of his government’s highly controversial ban on what it calls “homosexual propaganda”, the president criticised the US and other western countries for treating “good and evil” equally.
It came as cold rebuttal to the nations, celebrities and rights groups who have criticised laws which they say have led to harassment and intimidation. Mr Putin pledged to defend the traditional family values which he said were what had made Russia great.
The man described by Forbes as the most powerful in the world said his country did not seek to be a superpower or “lay claim to the world” – a less-than-subtle criticism of the US.
“We do not infringe on anyone's interests, we do not force our patronage on anyone, or try to teach anyone how to live,” Mr Putin said.
Yet he also decried the way other countries “review the norms of morality”, and said: “This destruction of traditional values from above not only entails negative consequences for society, but is also inherently anti-democratic because it is based on an abstract notion and runs counter to the will of the majority of people.”
Addressing a receptive audience at the Kremlin consisting of politicians, religious leaders and federal officials, Mr Putin issued a warning to anyone who thinks a Russia under his government will not protect its values with force.
Again not naming the US specifically, he said the old post-Cold War balance of power could be reduced to nothing by the development of sophisticated new weaponry.
“Nobody should have any illusion about the possibility of gaining military superiority over Russia,” he said. “We will never allow this to happen. Russia will respond to all these challenges, political and military.”
Russia is developing its own effective non-nuclear weapons, he said, adding that in efforts to upgrade its nuclear arsenal “we are reaching new milestones successfully and on schedule. Some of our partners will have to catch up”.
In the lead up to the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia has increasingly been targeted by international gay rights activists determined to raise awareness of the plight faced by those of Mr Putin’s citizens who do not share his traditional values.
To highlight the harsh treatment faced by the country’s LGBT community, the Kaleidoscope Trust and creative agency Mother have created a series of hand-painted Russian dolls made to look like five gay British icons.
In an implicit defence of his government’s highly controversial ban on what it calls “homosexual propaganda”, the president criticised the US and other western countries for treating “good and evil” equally.
It came as cold rebuttal to the nations, celebrities and rights groups who have criticised laws which they say have led to harassment and intimidation. Mr Putin pledged to defend the traditional family values which he said were what had made Russia great.
The man described by Forbes as the most powerful in the world said his country did not seek to be a superpower or “lay claim to the world” – a less-than-subtle criticism of the US.
“We do not infringe on anyone's interests, we do not force our patronage on anyone, or try to teach anyone how to live,” Mr Putin said.
Yet he also decried the way other countries “review the norms of morality”, and said: “This destruction of traditional values from above not only entails negative consequences for society, but is also inherently anti-democratic because it is based on an abstract notion and runs counter to the will of the majority of people.”
Addressing a receptive audience at the Kremlin consisting of politicians, religious leaders and federal officials, Mr Putin issued a warning to anyone who thinks a Russia under his government will not protect its values with force.
Again not naming the US specifically, he said the old post-Cold War balance of power could be reduced to nothing by the development of sophisticated new weaponry.
“Nobody should have any illusion about the possibility of gaining military superiority over Russia,” he said. “We will never allow this to happen. Russia will respond to all these challenges, political and military.”
Russia is developing its own effective non-nuclear weapons, he said, adding that in efforts to upgrade its nuclear arsenal “we are reaching new milestones successfully and on schedule. Some of our partners will have to catch up”.
In the lead up to the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia has increasingly been targeted by international gay rights activists determined to raise awareness of the plight faced by those of Mr Putin’s citizens who do not share his traditional values.
To highlight the harsh treatment faced by the country’s LGBT community, the Kaleidoscope Trust and creative agency Mother have created a series of hand-painted Russian dolls made to look like five gay British icons.
From left to right: Elton John, Stephen Fry, George Michael, Graham Norton and Tom DaleyThe likenesses of Elton John, George Michael, Stephen Fry, Graham Norton and Tom Daley will be auctioned off to raise money for the charity supporting the Russian gay community – and sets will also be sent to the Russian Embassy in London and The Kremlin.
Meanwhile, the Swedish charity Stockholm Pride has been urging the Russian LGBT community to reject events in their own country and instead “#GoWest” for rallies in Sweden. They say public LGBT events in Russia only further “state-sponsored homophobia”.
To mark the campaign, the organisation sent Vladimir Putin what they called a “Lovie Award” – inscribed: “To a man with a heart of stone, here’s a heart of Gold”.
Meanwhile, the Swedish charity Stockholm Pride has been urging the Russian LGBT community to reject events in their own country and instead “#GoWest” for rallies in Sweden. They say public LGBT events in Russia only further “state-sponsored homophobia”.
To mark the campaign, the organisation sent Vladimir Putin what they called a “Lovie Award” – inscribed: “To a man with a heart of stone, here’s a heart of Gold”.
A Lovie Award dedicated to Vladimir Putin from gay rights campaigners
