Russian Homophobia: It Needs To Stop

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Recommended: Discrimination against the LGBT community

Homophobia is transporting Russia back in time to the late 1800s and early 1900s—the epoch of the racial issues in America. With several gay rights being legalized, it seemed that Russia had begun to accept the LGBT community into their society. But the violent and repressive actions towards gay people and their supporters have proved that Russia is not becoming any more tolerant of gays. It is unsure if Russians even view gays as humans. The present status of the Russian homophobia problem is starting to spiral out of control. Given Russia’s oscillating history with the LGBT community, it’s nearly impossible to predict whether or not Russia will accept or kill the gay people. Based on the current situation, it seems like the former will start happening. Russia must stop its discrimination of gay people and learn to accept that everyone is different.
Russia’s history with the LGBT community fluctuates between banning, killing, and accepting them. Before the Russian Revolution, Russia was very negative towards gay people. From the early to mid 1600s, Czar Alexis Mikhailovich had male homosexuals put to death and female homosexuals burned. In 1716, Tsar Peter the Great banned homosexual relations in the armed forces. In 1832, further laws were enacted criminalising certain sexual acts between two males. After the Revolution, from 1917 to 1933, Russia became more tolerant towards gays. Inessa Armand publicly endorsed feminism and free love but she never really dealt with LGBT rights. Although the LGBT community faced censorship, Russians just accepted the gays. Under and after Josef Stalin’s rule, which lasted from 1933-1991, Russia became hostile towards gays once again. In 1933, Article 121 was added to the criminal code. Article 1...

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...pported the LGBT community by wearing rainbow attire to the Sochi Olympic Games. Rallies also help raise support for the Russian LGBT community. On International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, which is held on May 17, there are many rallies and protests. In September of 2007, same-sex “kiss ins” were held in 50 cities worldwide in protest against Russia’s anti gay laws.
Russia’s intolerance for the LGBT community has many countries and people worried for the safety of all non-heterosexuals who live there. Even though past actions have suggested that Russia may be warming up to gay people, events of these recent years have made it clear that Russia is once again homophobic. Through a combination of anti-gay laws and the torture of gays, people in Russia have displayed to the world that they are headed down a path of intolerance towards the LGBT community.

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