Tag Archives: Vladimir Putin

Putin Claims Homophobia In Russia Has Been ‘Deliberately Exaggerated’

President Vladimir Putin has claimed that homophobia in Russia has been “deliberately exaggerated”, before attacking the United States and the anti-gay laws that he says still exist there.

Putin contended that some states in the US still have laws that criminalise homosexuality, before claiming that similar Soviet laws no longer existed.

Talking to CBS’s 60 minutes, he said.

The problem of sexual minorities in Russia had been deliberately exaggerated from the outside for political reasons, I believe, without any good basis. It’s well known that in four states in America, homosexual orientation is a crime,”

He added that he even thought the laws in question were scrapped by the Supreme Court in 2003.

It’s not completely removed from American legislation, but we don’t have. I definitely condemn that.”

Mr Putin then went on to say that he does not believe in the persecution of any minority – including the LGBT community.

He also claimed that Russia allows “people of non-traditional sexual orientation” to “live in peace.”

I don’t see here any infringement on the rights of gay people. In Russia, there are equal rights for everyone. Including for people of non-traditional sexual orientations as well.”

Although many have welcomed the leader’s move, others have argued that his blatant use homophobic words such as like “natural” and “normal” used to describe heterosexual relationships during the interview, reveals a different mind-set.

In addition, Putin recently awarded Milonov with the state’s highest civilian honour, raising further doubts that his comments are to be taken seriously.

Vladimir Putin Offers Elton John Meeting To Discuss LGBT Rights

The Kremlin has confirmed that Vladimir Putin has agreed to meet with Sir Elton John for real – after two Russian comedians tricked him into thinking he was on the phone with Russian President.

Last Tuesday, a spokesman for Putin, Dmitry Peskov, revealed to reporters that a call between the pair has actually occurred since the prank.

Putin phoned him. He said: ‘I know some guys played a trick on you on the phone, but don’t get offended. They are harmless people, though that of course does not justify what they did.'”

The spokesman added that Putin offered to speak with John and “discuss any subject which interested him.”

A representative for John confirmed the call to Rolling Stone.

Following the reveal that it was a prank, John responded earnestly about the situation.

Pranks are funny. Homophobia, however, is never funny. I love Russia and my offer to talk to President Putin about LGBT right still stands. I will always stand up for those that are being degraded and discriminated against. If this unfortunate incident has helped push this vital issue back into the spotlight, then I am happy to be pranked on this occasion.”

https://instagram.com/p/7ulYWIgGTl

John has frequently tried to set up a meeting with Putin during his visits to Russia, which made him more susceptible to the prank. In November 2014, the performer spoke out against Russia’s homophobia during a concert in St. Petersburg after a statue of Steve Jobs was taken down because Apple’s current CEO Tim Cook came out as gay.

As Putin Leaves Argentina, Gay Russians Marry in Buenos Aires

Marina Mironova and Oxana Tomofeeva had been raising their son Nikolai for over a decade in Russia as the policy trend has advanced further against gays.

When authorities eventually threatened to seize Nikolai because of their relationship, the two women left for a better life in Argentina. Now pursuing asylum with the government in Buenos Aires, they finally married last Wednesday as Argentina celebrated the fourth anniversary of its nation-wide legalization of same-sex marriage.

This follows a similar story of a gay couple wedding in February of this year who also sought asylum from Russia, reports the Buenos Aires Herald.

Argentina legalized same-sex marriage for foreigners in 2012, two years after President Christina Fernández Kirchner signed equal marriage for citizens into law. Repression in Russia has amplified since 2013 inaugurated the infamous propaganda law which banned most public activism for LGBT rights.

The anniversary of the 2010 victory has been much celebrated but there is still social backlash against gay peoples and same-sex marriage. Despite this, La Nacion reports over 7,500 gay couples have been married in Argentina since the passage of the law.

This has been in large part due to the efforts of activist groups in Argentina, including the Argentine Federation of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, and Trans (FALGBT) who was present to celebrate the union of Mironova and Tomofeeva. Claudia Castrosín, vicepresident of the FALGBT said of the marriage

“With much joy and pride we will accompany Marina and Oxana in their marriage. They have escaped the laws that criminalize sexual diversity in Russia for our country’s guarantees of legal equality and the right to be.”

The anniversary comes days after Russian President Vladamir Putin met with President de Kirchner in Buenos Aires. There was protesting in the capital by supporters of Ukrainian sovereignty and LGBT equality, however LGBT topics were not raised.