Friday, September 20, 2013

Homosexual Inequality in Russia


Homosexuality has always been a touchy topic for many places in Russia. To avoid discrimination in the more urban junctions of Russia, homosexual partners have to keep their sexual orientation private and undetectable from the public’s eye. In smaller, less populated towns, homosexuals must keep their identities completely secret or risk the fate of death by many prejudice groups such as the neo-nazis. This prejudice exists not only in the mind sets of everyday citizens, but also extends to politics and government policies. Recently, homosexual individuals have been deemed socially unequal by law; due to this title, many individuals who are open about their orientations have lost jobs and career opportunities. Politicians are becoming more blatant about their anti gay agendas and are denouncing homosexual orientation as a sickness and perversion. 
It is an unfortunate thing to see an entire social group denounced based solely on its orientation. Prejudice, as unjustifiable and bigoted as it may seem, is simply a mindset that is free to be held by individuals. It is only when this mindset inflicts upon the rights of another in the form of discrimination that an issue occurs. In the case of Russian homosexuals, both their personal values and their safeties are at stake. The gay population in many cases lives in fear of physical violence and brutality, which is just unacceptable on humane terms. The editor of Queerculture.ru explains, “-if you live in a small town or the countryside, you have to keep your sexuality secret. If you don't you'll be beaten or killed." The most basic human right of safety is being questioned here, all over the trivial subject of sexual orientation. Beliefs, mindsets, and even hatred are technically justifiable in holding; however, every man has a right to be treated fairly and must be insured safety and the freedom to thrive. This is not the case in Russia at the moment, and if there is to be any change, people must be educated and taught to see their fellow gay community in a new light. 

http://www.globalissues.org/news/2013/09/18/17484


1 comment:

  1. I think you point to a scary situation in Russia indeed. When this kind of discrimination is made into law, it gives people the tools with which to LEGALLY act on the prejudices. If they do something against the gay community, they can claim, on legal grounds, they were protecting the state....

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