Nope, no discrimination here

The latest stories about Russia.

The Deputy Prime Minister has declared the anti-propaganda law is not discriminatory because straights who propagandize in favor of gay relationships will also be prosecuted. Somehow, the head of the IOC is pleased with that clarification. Don't waste brain cells on the logic.



At the start of the Pride festivities in Copenhagen perhaps 10,000 people marched against Russia's anti-propaganda law.



Over 100 Canadian organizations including, LGBT, women's rights, labor, and religious groups have issued a joint call for action against Russia's law. They have specific demands of the Canadian gov't, of the IOC, of the Canadian Olympic Committee, of corporate sponsors of the games, and of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.



Members of Kazakhstan's Parliament have looked at Russia's anti-gay law and have been saying, hey we should have one of those too!

Armenia said, Great law! Oh, wait, if it brings that much international condemnation, well, maybe not. Which means our boycotts and protests are working. Though the bill has been removed from the government's agenda the head of PINK Armenia isn't convinced it is dead.



Gay rights groups are asking the Metropolitan Opera to dedicate it's opening gala performance to the support of gay people. Why this performance? The opera is Eugene Onegin by Tchaikovsky, who was Russian and gay. The conductor that evening will be Valery Gergiev, a top Russian conductor. The female lead will be Anna Netrebko, popular Russian diva. Both Gergiev and Netrebko were big Putin supporters in 2012.



Julia Ioffe has an article in the New Republic about examples of gay life in Russia.

Anton Krasovsky, TV host, announced on the air that he is gay. The transmission was instantly cut and he was fired. His presence was scrubbed from the show's website. He has gotten thousands of letters of support.

Mike, American, and Fedya, Russian have consciously not hiding their sexuality in public. Fedya's family is learning to accept him.

Maria Kozlovskaya is a lawyer who does gay advocacy. Violence against gays has spiked and they don't wear rainbow pins anymore. She and her clients were attacked. Police did not respond.

There are lots of YouTube videos of gay men who are lured into sexual encounters only to be attacked as the beatings are recorded.

A group of buddies drinking beer begin to realize one of them is gay. He is attacked and killed.

Andrey is gay and has AIDS. He is amazed at how supportive his friends are in getting him to appointments and paying for treatment. Russia is close to the top of the fastest growing HIV rates.

Magazine Afisha did an edition featuring gay professionals in Moscow. Alexander Smirnov worked in the Mayor's office. He agreed to be in that edition because Putin claimed there was no anti-gay discrimination. After that edition appeared Smirnov was asked to resign.

Sasha wanted a child and asked Boris, a well known gay man, to be the father. Elena was born the week before Putin signed the anti-propaganda law. Their circle of friends think Elena, Sasha, and Boris are wonderful.