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[fluffydelusions]

Thinking of taking a vacation to Europe this summer? If a trip to iconic city of Moscow or the edgier St. Petersburg is on your bucket list, an anti-gay law recently passed in Russia may have you thinking again. It is now outlawed to be ‘out and proud.’

In a throwback to the country’s authoritarian ruling, Russian president Vladimir Putin has signed a controversial law that punishes people for “homosexual propaganda.” The law fines people—including tourists—up to 200,000 rubles ($6,240 CDN) for “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations.” For Canadians—where same-sex marriage is legal—it is unfathomable that Russia’s laws permit the government to arrest and detain gay, or pro-gay, foreigners for up to 14 days before they would then be expelled from the country.

So what is considered pro-gay? Anything from gay-affirmative speech to hand-holding; even displaying a rainbow flag alongside a maple leaf on your backpack is illegal. Recently in southern Russia, there were complaints that Elton John’s stage outfits fell under “gay propaganda.” While LGBT are being told they are unwelcome in Russia, with such vague definitions, one wonders if anyone who even looks like they might be gay could also be fined or deported from the country.

According to Voice of Russia, any display of affection between same-sex couples could cause a “distorted understanding” that gay relations and heterosexual relations are socially equivalent, and risk spreading Western liberalism. Putin claims the law doesn’t discriminate against LGBT people, but rather—in an argument riddled with faulty logic—is there to “protect children from pedophilia.”

With Gay Pride celebrated around the world, from Sydney, Australia, to Toronto, and with same-sex marriage currently legal in 13 countries with still more countries, including New Zealand and Uruguay, following suit, it is difficult to image a country voting to enact such uncompromising and harsh laws.

And how are these new laws going to impact tourism and the world’s spotlight on the upcoming 2014 Winter Games in Sochi? Will LGBT visitors—or anyone who embraces the gay community—want to visit the games? While Russia’s laws stigmatize and target the gay community, Brazil’s Ministry of Tourism is working to encourage the LGBT community to visit. Brazil, which is hosting the 2016 Summer Olympic Games, as well as the 2014 World Cup.

Fortunately, for LGBT travellers looking to take a vacation, there are other parts of the world more receptive to welcoming them with open arms—or at least not promising your vacation could wind up with jail time. Air Canada has gay and lesbian travel packages to places as diverse as Aruba and Tel Aviv, and promotes Copenhagen, Denmark as one of the first countries in Europe to legalize same-sex marriage. Or closer to home, New York’s Out NY Hotel advertises itself as “straight friendly.”

http://www.travelandescape.ca/2013/...er&utm_content=bufferc7df4&utm_medium=twitter

 

[Charles Foster Kane]

What is this devolution?

 

[Busty]

Don't have a Mos-cow man.








Eh. It's late where I am.

 

[Alrus]

Well this just cement the fact that I'll never go to Russia in my lifetime.

 

[Deified Data]

What a hellhole.

It's going to be weird seeing the American right align itself with Russia in the coming years. It's turning more and more into their ideal for the USA.

 

[Devolution]

What is this devolution?

;_;

Recently in southern Russia, there were complaints that Elton John’s stage outfits fell under “gay propaganda.”

Oh wow.

 

[Amir0x]

Putin claims the law doesn’t discriminate against LGBT people, but rather—in an argument riddled with faulty logic—is there to “protect children from pedophilia.”

GODDAMN IT FUCK YOU PEOPLE

 

[ErnieMcCracken]

Republicans are taking notes...

 

[Kinitari]

I'm trying to think of something so flamboyantly 'gay' to wear that I could get russian swat after me.

 

[jambo]

The begins of Stalin 2.0

 

[botty]

GODDAMN IT FUCK YOU PEOPLE

Right? I mean... who will protect the children from ignorance.

 

[IceCold]

The WC in Russia is going to be a blast....


just make sure you are straight and white.

 

[Lagspike_exe]

The begins of Stalin 2.0

Not really. Putin is just using this to get some easy votes.

 

[SteveWinwood]

What is this devolution?

we are devo

 

[Like the hat?]

Wow, wtf

 

[akira28]

So this is like opening the door for a hardcore motherfucker to go over there in a pink butterfly outfit just so he can start a riot and kick the ass of hundreds of angry screaming dudes looking to fight?

 

[Smash]

Go fuck yourself Putin, you piece of shit.

 

[Angelus Errare]

Republicans are taking notes...

Republicans are the ones who sent them the footnotes.

 

[ivysaur12]

Putin claims the law doesn’t discriminate against LGBT people, but rather—in an argument riddled with faulty logic—is there to “protect children from pedophilia.”

Hahahaha fuck you Putin you piece of shit.

Also, c'mon Devo!

 

[bone_and_sinew]

What is this devolution?

Dick riot.

 

[Divvy]

Is this religiously motivated? Or just plain dickery?

 

[Kentpaul]

Im not gay but do fear russians as they seem very hardcore individuals.

 

[Mercury Fred]

What a hellhole.

It's going to be weird seeing the American right align itself with Russia in the coming years. It's turning more and more into their ideal for the USA.

It's already happening. I like to drink the tears at freerepublic when there's positive gay news and they've been praising the militant anti-gay measures of late in Russia. Gross but unsurprising.

 

[entremet]

Is Putin gonna rule forever. I mean, what in the world.

 

[Black Republican]

Almost as worse as a few of the African countries :/

 

[Angelus Errare]

Almost as worse as a few of the African countries :/

America would so be like those countries if not for our Federal government...and that's a scary thought.

 

[Devolution]

Hahahaha fuck you Putin you piece of shit.

Also, c'mon Devo!

Jealous of the FABULOUSNESS, sorry dude.

 

[Amibguous Cad]

The World Cup committee sure knows how to pick 'em.

 

[Blake'sGrave]

Russia will never have the pleasure of a visit from me, that's for sure.

 

[Nokterian]

Unbelievable that country,cannot believe all this bullshit.

 

[grumpy]

Well this just cement the fact that I'll never go to Russia in my lifetime.

I know :/
I have always wanted to visit Moscow and St. Petersburg, but fuck this.

 

[triplestation]

i respect russia's opinion

 

[Colonel Nasty]

I read this as Russian Will Arnett openly gay.

 

[Crayons]

Russia Says It Will Arrest Openly Gay Tourists

There are tourists in Russia? I mean, other than suicide tourism

 

[Deified Data]

If the roving skinhead murder mobs weren't enough before...

 

[FStop7]

This just in - Vladimir Putin so deep in the closet he's in Narnia.

 

[Verdre]

This actually seems to be a cultural problem, rather than just some law slammed into place by Putin and Company.

Anti-gay sentiment is apparently on the rise in Russia, with fewer citizens supporting gay rights than did nearly a decade ago.

...

A whopping 85 percent said they oppose same-sex marriage, according to the recent Levada-Center survey. Approximately 16 percent said they think gays should be isolated from society, while 22 percent said gays need compulsory treatment, 34 percent think homosexuality is a disease and 5 percent said gays should be eradicated. As for their feelings towards gay and lesbians, 50 percent of respondents said they felt irritated and disgusted.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/13/russia-anti-gay_n_2866608.html

 

[Parallax]

so being a minority in certain areas of russia can get your head kicked in, and being gay in areas will get you arrested. fantastic

 

[Aselith]

I'm trying to think of something so flamboyantly 'gay' to wear that I could get russian swat after me.

 

[RE lover]

I'm gay and this is depressing, really. So backwards...

Thank God I live in Spain... Russia wtf

 

[Bisnic]

Haven't heard about this law... Are you telling me that gay russians have to live their relationship in the shadows? Or simply not have any relationship at all to not live in fear?

 

[shira]

What is this?

Might want to edit this, could be construed as personal attack

 

[Sharp]

I wonder what will happen during layovers and such.. A lot of polar flights go through Russia.

 

[Nokterian]

This actually seems to be a cultural problem, rather than just some law slammed into place by Putin and Company.



http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/13/russia-anti-gay_n_2866608.html

Thinking of World War 2 now yes it is not war but the fact that they want gay people gone or even worse makes me think what a in a world we live in today with 'freedom'.

 

[SillyEskimo]

Sounds like a Republican utopia.

 

[CornBurrito]

If the goal is to protect people from pedophilia then it would, logically, make more sense to arrest openly catholic tourists. Higher risk factor given past data.

 

[lednerg]

putin_shirtless_on_horse.jpg

 

[Log4Girlz]

What is this devolution?

You made her cry.

 

[doctordoak]

The World Cup committee sure knows how to pick 'em.

You mean Olympic Committee?

 

[Aselith]

So this is like opening the door for a hardcore motherfucker to go over there in a pink butterfly outfit just so he can start a riot and kick the ass of hundreds of angry screaming dudes looking to fight?

Like a Russell Crowe type figure?