Russia - Gay Rights - Sochi Olympics Megathread

[Nationalist State of Knox]

No-one is suggesting that the Church would advocate violence against homosexuals; rather, the teaching that "homosexuality is sin" (based on the popularity of the Russian Orthodox Church) underlies these general discriminatory actions towards homosexuals, i.e. homophobia.

I believe that horrible people will always find a way to be horrible, whether or not they can use religion as an excuse. Note that National Socialism as it existed under Nazi Germany used Christianity for its own purposes at best and brutally suppressed it at worst. Hitler himself was quoted as being of the opinion Christianity would die out naturally in the next century.

I'm not saying anyone is using a religion as an excuse, I'm saying that the homophobic attitude that exists today in Russian society has developed because of the Church's influence.

Even today 74% of Russians belong to the Orthodox Church, and that's not taking into account any prior cultural impact.

[Geilinor]

Why do they beat them up?

They're Nazis. Nazis=Pure hatred and insanity

[Geilinor]

I would like to remind people that these groups are vigilantes, not backed by the Russian government.

The Russian government hasn't exactly condemned it. Those people took inspiration from the new laws.

[The Merchant Republics]

That's... Horrifying. Truly horrifying.

I find it odd how Russia of all places is so virulently anti-homosexual.


At any rate, this is most distressing. My prayers will be with the oppressed in Russia.

[Geilinor]

That's... Horrifying. Truly horrifying.

I find it odd how Russia of all places is so virulently anti-homosexual.


At any rate, this is most distressing. My prayers will be with the oppressed in Russia.

After the Soviet Union fell, Russia returned to 1917 religiosity. It will take another 100 years for it to get better. What's sad is that 38% of Russia's population says that they are not religious. They must be giving in to the anti-homosexuality. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Russia

[Ifreann]

Why do they beat them up?

as many prominent scholars and many posters have already noted, nazis are usually kinda dicks

well, significant numbers of nazis. wouldn't wanna get into the all X are Y territory.

I'm sure some Nazis place fake contact ads to have a polite conversation with gay teens about how they're degenerates or whatever.

[Mkuki]

That's... Horrifying. Truly horrifying.

I find it odd how Russia of all places is so virulently anti-homosexual.


At any rate, this is most distressing. My prayers will be with the oppressed in Russia.

Why do you find it odd?

[Ceannairceach]

Russia being a homophobic place? I'm shocked. Just shocked.

[Ceannairceach]

That's... Horrifying. Truly horrifying.

I find it odd how Russia of all places is so virulently anti-homosexual.


At any rate, this is most distressing. My prayers will be with the oppressed in Russia.

Perhaps you can attach those prayers to donations to groups like SHRA. That might more directly influence their plight.

[The Scientific States]

That's absolutely horrible, it makes my heart sink.

I hope these Neo-nazi punks learn their lesson one day.

[Liriena]

Russia being a homophobic place? I'm shocked. Just shocked.

Definitely not having my honeymoon there. Sorry, Andreja.

[Dilange]

Russia, why must you try so hard to make me consider not going there for study abroad? WHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHY?

[Geilinor]

Russia, why must you try so hard to make me consider not going there for study abroad? WHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHY?

Go somewhere else. Especially if you're LGBT.

[The Scientific States]

Russia, why must you try so hard to make me consider not going there for study abroad? WHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHY?

Not to be rude, but what reasons do you have for studying abroad in Russia?

[Dilange]

Russia, why must you try so hard to make me consider not going there for study abroad? WHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHY?

Not to be rude, but what reasons do you have for studying abroad in Russia?

Politics and history.

Russia, why must you try so hard to make me consider not going there for study abroad? WHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHY?

Go somewhere else. Especially if you're LGBT.

Im not LGBT. But....but....its Russia...home of the borscht.

[The Scientific States]

Not to be rude, but what reasons do you have for studying abroad in Russia?

Politics and history.

Go somewhere else. Especially if you're LGBT.

Im not LGBT. But....but....its Russia...home of the borscht.

Ah, I see.

[Neo Rome Republic]

Not to be rude, but what reasons do you have for studying abroad in Russia?

Politics and history.

Go somewhere else. Especially if you're LGBT.

Im not LGBT. But....but....its Russia...home of the borscht.

Trust me, borscht isn't as great as you think it is.

[Dilange]

Politics and history.



Im not LGBT. But....but....its Russia...home of the borscht.

Trust me, borscht isn't as great as you think it is.

You are most indeed right....it is the greatest thing ever made.

[Neo Rome Republic]

Trust me, borscht isn't as great as you think it is.

You are most indeed right....it is the greatest thing ever made.

Not what I meant, but okay.

[Terrordome]

If there was a way to spot the fake ads you could show up with a posse of your own and put a beating on the nazis.

[Shofercia]

New York Post.

Neo-Nazis and ultranationalists are luring gay Russians teens to "dates" where they are then bullied and tortured while being recorded on video, according to reports.

The mastermind behind the nationwide coordinated assaults is an infamous neo-Nazi named Maxim Martsinkevich who is the leader of an ultra-violent right-wing group based in Moscow called Format18.

Martsinkevich's newest campaign purports to stamp out pedophiles by posting same-sex personal ads on VK.com, the Russian equivalent of Facebook, according to the Huffington Post.

Followers of Martsinkevich's anti-pedophile campaign have organized themselves into two distinct groups -- "Occupy Pedophilyaj" and "Occupy Gerontilyaj" -- but they have only ever attacked male teenagers responding to the personal ads.

"Video recordings of bullying and tortures are freely distributed on the Internet in order to out LGBT teens to their respective schools, parents and friends. Many victims were driven to suicides, the rest are deeply traumatized," said Spectrum Human Rights Alliance (SHRA), an LGBT rights group that focuses on Eastern Europe.

"These self-proclaimed 'crime fighters' perform their actions under the broad day light, often outside and clearly visible to general public that indifferently passes by or even commend them."

In one of the relatively tame examples of the attacks posted on YouTube, a 15-year-old teen is lured to a date with an older man supposedly named "Uncle Dima" when a group of alleged neo-Nazis confront him.

The bullies start by taking the teen to a bench and interrogating him where the teen admits that he is there to have sex, possibly for money.

The group mocks him but the teen seems to think he is safe, giving his interrogators his name, where is from, what school he goes to and his age.

But things start to turn dark as a figure steps out of frame to seemingly fill a bottle with urine.

Someone then pours the contents of the bottle over the teen's head before another alleged Nazi kicks him.

YouTube
A Russian teenager is confronted by a group of neo-Nazis.
The video then cuts off.

To watch the graphic video click here.

"We do not like homosexuals," an Occupy Pedophilyaj member told Russian online newspaper Lenta.

"I think practically all gay men -- pedophiles. Once you've crossed over once, you can cross over again. Today he likes boys, and then it'll be children. They're not suitable for life in society."

The actions of groups like Occupy Pedophiyaj and Occupy Gerontilyaj come in the wake of two laws signed into law by President Vladimir Putin, which drastically restrict gay rights.

One, signed on July 3, bans adoption by same-sex foreign couples whose homeland recognizes their union as marriage, as well as by single people or unmarried couples from those countries.

A Kremlin statement said the measure is intended to guarantee children a "harmonious" upbringing and protect them from "complexes, emotional suffering and stress."

The second bill, signed into law on June 30, bans the "promotion" of "non-traditional sexual relations" towards children.

Authorities have interpreted the law to mean that public displays of affection between same sex couples are illegal and it also includes a provision allowing "pro-gay" foreigners to be arrested and detained for up to 14 days.

This latter provision was invoked in July when four Dutch LGBT right advocates were arrested at a summer camp, according to the Washington Blade.

Although the two bills strictly limit gay rights in Russia, Putin claims that the laws are not discrimination and are instead "about protecting children from such information."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov echoed Putin's claims while defending the laws which ban what he calls "homosexual propaganda."

"We don't have a single international or common European commitment to allow propaganda of homosexuality," he said.

No words...

I didn't realize that not providing a background and blaming everything on the Russian Government was now the standard of journalism. Damn, I miss Helen Thomas and Walter Kronkite. Perhaps a bit of background on Format 18 is in order. While it's tough to find English Sources on them on the Internet, they started out as the violent wing of Navalny's Khvatit Kormit Kavkaz Movement, but I predict that this will be avoided due to "heightened journalistic standards" when it comes to reporting on Russia, although a Brit forum does a decent job. Yep, a forum, beating the NY Post, why aren't I shocked?

http://www.militaryforums.co.uk/forums/ ... =1&t=35050

Post subject: Format 18
PostPosted: Sun Apr 22, 2007 4:49 pm

These deluded skinheads seem to be inspiring the entire Russian nation. When you consider how much footage they currently display on the web the increase of "recruits" starts to make sense. The easily accessible gang beatings that youtube seems to have no problem in showing are doubling in number. Admittedly relentless beatings of this nature happen all over the world, but since when were the F-18 given the all clear to store them on the web.

Sorry for the ignorance, but what exactly is it?

F-18 are commie haters, they prey on the ethnic minorities in their country. Basically all their attacks are completely unprovoked, they scan the area for immigrants, then proceed to humiliate them and leave them for dead. All of which is taped, usually in the middle of the day due to no police protection, and of course a clearer picture.

Funny how when they were doing exactly the same thing to immigrants, the NY Post didn't give a flying fuck. Perhaps the reason can be provided by Wikidorkia? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Format18

Format18 (Russian: Формат18) was an extremely violent "Russian" neo-nazi group based in Moscow, that was suspected of being involved in the murder of almost 600 immigrants in less than a year[citation needed]. It was led by the skinhead Maxim Martsinkevich, and had close relations with the political party National Socialist Organization. F18 was known for posting videos on their website containing racist attacks, humiliating interviews with their political opponents (mostly militant anti-fascists). When the Russian police shut down their website in 2007 after arresting Martsinkevich, they had posted nearly 200 videos. A lot of them can still be found on filesharing websites like YouTube and AOL Video. They are believed to be the group that started the trend among Russian neo-nazis of taping their attacks on immigrants and posting them online.

Oh wait, that makes the Russian Authorities look like the good guys, doing their jobs, and Navalny look bad. The NY Post simply cannot allow that! That would be a travesty! So why such Gay Hate all of the sudden? I asked one of my friends on RuNet, who wishes to remain anonymous:

It's obvious what F18 are doing. The Russian Government, whom they view as a slave to ethnic minorities, embarrassed them, and they want to humiliate Putin in front of his Western Buddies. They're also hoping to resurge their anti-immigrant bashing, by rallying around the issue of anti-Gay Rights.

And there you have it. A whopping 10 minutes of research, and a contact in Russia, trumps what the NY Post did with their "journalism". Typical.

Do I support F18? FUCK NO!!! I believe they should all be arrested and thrown in jail. Preferably somewhere in the Arctic Circle. Some for direct crimes, others for accomplice liability.

Ironically, these rabid racist pigs have contributed more to Gay Rights, than any Dutch LGBT Movement, since they associated the anti-Gay Rights Movement with Rabid Racism, and Rabid Racism is a HUGE no-no in Russia.

[Rocopurr]

They have my respect (not the teens, the nazis).

Goddamn, I cut myself on your edge, son.

This is disturbing, but I wouldn't expect any more from nazis.

[Geilinor]

They have my respect (not the teens, the nazis).

Goddamn, I cut myself on your edge, son.

This is disturbing, but I wouldn't expect any more from nazis.

Society is in a sad state when we can dismiss things like this by saying "They're Nazis, this is what these people do".

[Northwest Slobovia]

That's absolutely horrible, it makes my heart sink.

I hope these Neo-nazi punks learn their lesson one day.

You could respond to one of their ads... Bring friends, and um, cookies. Yeah, cookies.

[Rocopurr]

Goddamn, I cut myself on your edge, son.

This is disturbing, but I wouldn't expect any more from nazis.

Society is in a sad state when we can dismiss things like this by saying "They're Nazis, this is what these people do".

I'm not dismissing it. I'm saying that it isn't exactly shocking.