Tag: Russia

Posted on

Russia: Anti-gay extremist sentenced to five years in prison

Anti-gay extremist Maxim Martsinkevich

A Russian anti-gay extremist who has been on the run from authorities for months has been sentenced to five years in prison.

From LGBTQ Nation:

Maxim Sergeyevich Martsinkevich was convicted of inciting and fomenting cases of extremism by posting videos on the “Vkontakte” (VK.com) social network that contained racial slurs and extremist opinions on Russia’s state of the union, reports Interfax. Videos containing anti-gay statements and abuse were not included in the prosecutor’s case against him, however.

Martsinkevich rose to international attention last year when his group began posting videos on VK.com and YouTube, documenting violent and homophobic harassment of men and gay youth the group claims were seeking to have sex with boys.

Martsinkevich attempted to escape prosecution by running to Cuba, but was arrested and extradited in January for breaking Cuban immigration laws.

Posted on

Study shows Russians have keen appetite for anal sex pornography

In light of the recent anti-gay legislation and rhetoric coming out of Russia, I think it’s ironic to note that, according to mega-site PornHub, Russians apparently have quite the appetite for pornography featuring anal sex.

PornHub did not give any solid figures, saying only that “proportionally speaking, PornHub gets more requests for anal sex from Russia than any other country.”

Russia edged out the U.S., Canada, Britain and China on anal-related searches, according to the study, first published last week.

PornHub also compared the U.S. with countries it had military conflicts with, and found that America also lost out in terms of anal-related queries to Afghanistan, Iraq and World War II foes Germany and Italy.

But Japan, Vietnam and both Koreas were less keen on anal sex than the U.S., the study said.

You know the old saying – “Ye who protesteth the loudest, do it the mosteth!”

Posted on

Tweet of the day: Russian blogger Rustem Agadamov

Russian Orthodox Church priests

Russian blogger Rustem Agadamov, reacting to the Russian Orthodox Church’s denouncement of Eurovision winner Conchita Wurst:

“The ROC [Russian Orthodox Church] categorically opposes bearded men in dresses!”

The comment was sparked by the Church’s opposition to the Austrian bearded drag queen singer.

Hysterical…

(via GayStarNews)

Posted on

Bryan Fischer wishes the US had Russian-style anti-gay laws

Bryan Fischer continues to complain that the United States does not have Russian-style anti-gay “propaganda” laws. In fact, Fischer lauds Russian President Putin as “the lion of Christianity” for leading his nation’s crackdown on gays.

On yesterday’s radio broadcast, Fischer again voiced his support for implementing such laws in America, declaring that it is “inexcusable” that these sorts of laws are not being put into place here.

“That’s a policy we ought to have in the United States,” he said of the Russian laws. “It’s inexcusable that we allow vulnerable, innocent young children to be indoctrinated, brainwashed, propagandized into thinking that homosexual conduct is perfectly normal and absolutely benign behavior when it absolutely is not”:

I want to point out that the kind of activities Fischer is talking about – “indoctrinating,” “brainwashing,” “propagandizing” – in Russia, includes merely carrying a rainbow flag, or holding your partner’s hand.

The anti-gay laws in Russia have emboldened anti-gay vigilantes to literally hunt down gays and lesbians, all for the crime of holding someone’s hand.

Those are the kinds of activities and laws Bryan Fischer supports.

(via Right Wing Watch)

Posted on

Russia looks to mandate fingerprinting of HIV+ people

A bill has been introduced in the Russian legislature that would require the fingerprinting of HIV+ people.

RT reports:

Roman Khudyakov[State Duma deputy Roman Khudyakov] explained he came up with the idea because sometimes infected people change their names and disappear from the state system. Khudyakov says fingerprinting would make it impossible. In addition, universal fingerprinting would make it easier to fight crime, reduce the amount of bureaucratic red tape, and solve many social problems where quick identification is often required.

The bill on universal fingerprinting was drafted by the Liberal Democratic party in August last year. It orders every Russian resident, regardless of citizenship, to register at their place of permanent residence and undergo fingerprinting. The current bill suggests those who refuse can be punished with 50,000 ruble fines (about $1400) and non-citizens could be deported, and banned from entering Russia for 15-years. The bill has been supported by the government but there have been no parliamentary debates on it yet.

HIV Plus Mag points out that due to the stigmatization of the LGBT community in Russia, the law is likely to pass.

(via Towleroad)

Posted on

President Obama denounces Russian aggression against LGBT community to EU and NATO leaders

Delivering the keynote speech to NATO and European leaders at the Palais Des Beaux-Arts in Brussels yesterday, President Obama pointedly denounced Russia’s campaign against its LGBT citizens.

CNN reports:

“We believe in human dignity – that every person is created equal, no matter who you are, or what you look like, or who you love, or where you come from,” he said.

Later, Obama reiterated criticism of Russian intolerance spawned by a law passed before the Sochi Olympics that outlawed promoting gay rights to children. Western ideals and values of openness and tolerance would endure long past repression, he argued.

“Instead of targeting our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters, we can use our laws to protect their rights,” he said. “Instead of defining ourselves in opposition to others, we can affirm the aspirations that we hold in common. That’s what will make America strong. That’s what will make Europe strong. That’s what makes us who we are.”

You can watch his full remarks below:

Posted on

Music: Melissa Etheridge “Uprising of Love’

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/uprising-of-love/id798833447?i=798833476

Via press release: The video delivers a powerful message to create awareness about the many countries around the world where LGBT people are facing harassment, arrest, violence, and in some cases, death.

The new music video, produced and directed by creative agency Wondros, is a montage of peaceful Russian LGBT rallies and protests, and true affection of couples in love.

Etheridge originally wrote the song in response to the systematic discrimination of the Russian LGBT community.

In December, Etheridge co-founded a coalition of celebrities and entertainment executives also called Uprising of Love, in support of the safety and dignity of LGBT Russians.

100% of proceeds from the single will be donated to the Russia Freedom Fund, which is one of the only ways to make immediate and direct financial contributions to LGBT activists in Russia.

Download the song at iTunes now.

Learn more at: http://www.uprisingoflove.org

Posted on

President Obama announces sanctions against officials in the Russia for ties to unrest in Crimea

President Obama today announced sanctions against specific officials in the Russian government for their support of Crimea’s vote to secede from Ukraine in the most comprehensive sanctions against Russia since the end of the Cold War:

The sanctions are some of the most comprehensive placed on Russia since the Cold War. While they do not target Putin directly, that are aimed at individuals in his inner circle in the Russian government.

The measures are directed against 11 individuals, including Vladislav Surkov, a close adviser to Putin, Dmitry Rogozin, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, a Valentina Matviyenko, a senior lawmaker and chair of the upper house of parliament, and Viktor Yanukovych, the ousted former president of Ukraine.

Following a “referendum” in the region of Crimea, which has been occupied by Russian troops, Obama warned Putin in a phone call that the results, which overwhelmingly went in favor of Crimea joining Russia, would “never be recognized by the United States and the international community.”

According to a senior US official there will be further sanctions if Russia acts to formally recognize the referendum and annex Ukraine.

The European Union has announced assets freezes and travel bans for 21 individuals linked to the unrest in Crimea.

(via ABC News)

Posted on

Sec. of State John Kerry on Russia: The President “has all options on the table.”

Secretary of State John Kerry said Russia’s decision was a “brazen act of aggression” and that US President Barack Obama was “considering all options” before responding to the situation.

“This is not, or should not be East-West, Russia-United States, Russia versus Europe: this is about the people of Ukraine, people who stood up against snipers firing at them from the roofs, who are fighting against the tyranny of having political opposition put in jail,” said Mr Kerry.

“And President Putin, I think, needs to think carefully about Russia’s real interests here. You know Russia may be able to invade Crimea, but in the end, Russia will isolate itself,” he added.

(via The Telegraph)