Any thoughts on the appalling behaviour of the Russian public in Moscow yesterday?

Question

Gay right acctivists were attack by members of the public in Mascow yesterday for trying to convince the mayor for having a Gay Pride. After being attacked the victims were then arrested by the police. I feel disgusted by their behaviour and will never visit Russia.

Answer 1

I think its deplorable and I as well will be boycotting Russia as a vacation destination. Its really unfortunate.

Answer 2

Well if you can remember back the same thing happened in America it was called Stonewall. I should write a book about the history of gay's, we really have been to hell and back. I understand the Jewish people and the Holocaust but we have been there and are still being killed for who we are. One day people will realise that we are here to stay and nobody is going to eliminate us. I am proud of those people who stood up for their rights in Russia. All you can do is to continue to support them and perhaps write a letter to the Russian embassy, Prime Minister and tell them how deplorable it was.

Answer 3

Yes. I was not too surprised at the response of the public, because they're not used to having demo's on controversial opinions after all those years of communist oppression. But the police response was deplorable. Maybe demo's are something they are not trained to deal with yet.

Same thing happened to some Christians I know, in a country with a Muslim majority. Tabaski happened to fall on a Sunday one year, and when they came out of the mosque, they heard hymn singing coming from the church behind (which, as it happens, was there before the mosque was built) and a group from the mosque came and waylaid people as they left the church after the service, and beat some of them up. When the police came, they arrested the Christians and kept them in the cells for two days. It's still a popular holiday destination, so I don't think your boycott of Russia will catch on!

Answer 4

Russia is a long way behind as is the US. It's really a shame that we have just as many intolerant and uneducated folks here as well.

These are the same folks that want African Americans to "go home", that think that the only way is the "white male" way. It's such a shame.

I'm glad to know that as a lesbian, I have so much power as to scare these insecure, intolerant straight folks.

Answer 5

It is because Russian's generally see homosexuality as a perversion akin to bestiality or paedophilia (or are they OK now as well?), they have high moral standards and do not have PC views rammed down them every turn so tend to think for themselves without political interference.

I live in Russia and agree with what happened - Illegal demonstration by a minority bunch of wannabe gay crusaders / perverts in the middle of Moscow - yes, they are going to get their heads kicked in and the general public and police will approve it.

Don’t like it, then great don’t come no problems - but think on this, ask most "normal" people in the civilised US/EU and most if free to speak their mind would say "good, quite right".

Answer 6

I think that is a bit of an extreme reaction. Just because there has been a violent reaction to legitimate gay pride wouldn't make Russia the first (or the last) country to have this happen. If you were to adopt that attitude you would never visit any country in the world, much less your own!
Yes it is appalling, but we need to support rather than desert our gay contemporaries in Russia.

Answer 7

Couldn't agree more but consider this. Russia is a country whose collective psyche is used to an authoritarian rigid society. Anything alternative to that perspective is "wrong". the press is controlled from the Kremlin & this is ever more the case. However Putin becomes ever more popular. The people are simply not psychologically ready for such change. In time, they will be. Imagine such a March in London in the 1950s ? What would have your average "geezer's" reaction have been ? Think of the attitudes shown towards the Windrush generation of immigrants; "No Blacks, No Irish, No Dogs" etc. Collective prejudice is a sign of fear of change & ignorance.

Answer 8

Donald-s
It is the 'marching all over the city' as you call it that has achieved gays the rights they now have in the UK. People like Peter Tatchell are prepared to stand up against the bigots in government in order to educate the general public.

LGBT people are the same as anyone else and deserve the same rights. We are not all made the same way - thank goodness - and it is time modern countries accepted that. I applaud those who are prepared to stand up and be counted. We need people like that to stand up for our rights and they should be applauded. If gays had stayed in the cupboard as you are suggesting then things like Civil Partnership and the general acceptance of gays in the UK would never had happened.

Answer 9

I think what happened in Moscow was appalling, however I would argue that there is an intollerant element in most countries, I think its wrong to single out Russia it could have just as easily happened in London Berlin etc etc

Answer 10

Personally, it made my day, although I have to admit the events have been improved with seeing Right Said Fred getting a slap as well. And I'm pretty sure the Russians will not lose a minutes sleep over you not visting.

AFTERNOTE: To that fruit Lady J, get over your self, you are a minority, thank fck, and we don't have to except your gay opinions, not liking homosexuals trying to take over the planet is neither uneducated or backward

Answer 11

I think that its deplorable what they did, but you have to consider that in russia they are a bit behind the times as far as sexuality goes, give them a couple of years, and they will rejoin the race.